Set Free

Sorry, I know, I told everyone I would give updates each month on how the Kaisand's are doing!  The last month I took step by step was October.  However, I did write a thankful November message.  December had the "Blessings" letter, the recap of 2010.  Before January ends I will update you all on how Jon and I are doing here in Ames. We celebrated the new year with Jon's cousins and Kate came up to celebrate with us!  It was a wonderful time!  (Otherwise it would've been weird to be apart from Kate, rarely are we ever apart on new year's.)  New Year's Day was Jon's extended family Christmas.  It was nice to see everyone again.  The next week was a nice week filled with Jon working a lot to catch up on things before he started school again.  On the 10th he had to return to his classes. The next weekend was my Dad's birthday.  It was a wonderful time with family and friends and bowling after going out to eat.  Watching the kiddos bowl was pretty

Had a dream this morning about something that brought up a subject that seven years ago affected me more than I could handle alone.  I took a big leap of faith and got my answer and cried out to God constantly, "WHY?"  This time of year it always reminds me. Waking up after having a dream, can sometimes change the rest of your day.  Yesterday my dream made me fearful and I had to remind myself it wasn't real and God would protect me. But today's dream..... It doesn't help that I'm searching for an active thing I can do while living in Ames.  Lately the thought has been: dance .  Of course!  I want to find a place near here that I can express myself through dance again.  I want to get better at it, and I haven't taken dance lessons for years.  I love given the chance to express myself through dance.  It's a wonderful way for me to worship my God. Another part of dance that I love is what I had a dream about.  What happens this time of year that

After reading a friend's blog post, it got me pondering this thought.  When you serve or do an everyday thing...are you pleasing man or pleasing God?  When is it okay to please man (or please man only)? Doing in act of service pleasing man because they benefit.  What was the motive of the server?  Did the server just do it because they knew it would benefit the man (maybe a man in need)?  What about pleasing the man was the outcome?  Did the act of service please God?  How do you know? I think it comes down to motives and the heart. But let's look at the Truth and see what it says. After reading Psalm 69:30-33 also got me to ponder the idea of being humble. Consider meditating on that for a moment.... but also be careful not to take it out of context. 30  I will  praise  the  name  of  God  with  song  And  magnify  Him with  thanksgiving .  31  And it will  please  the  LORD   better   than  an  ox  Or a  young   bull  with  horns  and  hoofs .  32  The  humble   ha

I just want to thank the car in front of me tonight. Have you ever got annoyed when you get behind a car that is going under the speed limit...you just can't wait until you get to pass it? Well... tonight I had the opposite experience. Driving home to Ames, from Ankeny, the snow was coming down and the wind was picking up.  It was the kind of weather that you drive 50mph (or less) in a 70mph area.  Every time a car or truck would pass on the left you couldn't see for what seemed like minutes.  A couple times I couldn't see the road at all.  I prayed to my Lord, "Please God, get me home safely...if it is Your will for me."  Then I turned up my Christian radio station that had wonderful worship music blasting! "You are mighty to save...mighty to save!  Forever author of salvation...you rose and conquered the grave.  Yes you conquered the grave...." It was a wonderful way to get my mind focused on God, and allow my fears to drift off in the nigh

As I look back on 2010, I am filled with many wonderful memories, experiences, and God-giving blessings. God answered prayer by giving me a wonderful husband.  Married June 12th.  Jon and I talk about how wonderful it is to have someone along side of us living life together.  It's an ongoing learning experience to fully live out God's command of being Jon's help-meet.  I'm so honored to have such a wonderful, understanding husband who encourages me and helps me along the way.  He knows my failures and still smiles in my direction, thanks me for the quick dinner I fixed, or serves me when I stumble.  I know God has given Him such an encouraging spirit, patient heart, the skills to be a great role model for our future children, and a great Spiritual leader.  People told me about the expectations you make about marriage--before marriage, but Jon and I talk about how we had none.  We didn't expect anything--and the blessings are overflowing!! Marriage