We have just returned from a week away at Table Rock Lake.  What a lovely week we had.  We were able to just kick back and enjoy beautiful weather and a beautiful lake.  It is always a place of rest and relaxation.  I am always reminded of the verse in the Psalms when I'm there....He leads me beside still waters and He restores my soul.  It's a place to have your soul restored.  We enjoyed lots of laughter, along with family and friends.  I have a few pictures to remind us of a great week.  Thanks Sue for your generous heart and allowing us to all invade your space! 

Memories of growing up at Beach Church

We just celebrated our church's 80th anniversary and so I wrote a few thoughts about what the church has meant to me and Pastor James read them .......


In 1957 I started attending Beach Bible Church.  It was because my parents had recently come to Christ and wanted to raise their children in church. So some of my first recollections of Beach Church were when I was about 5 or 6 years old. When I first prayed to accept Jesus as my savior.
In the early 60’s one of my fondest memories were the “Sunday night drive-in Services”. They would only happen during the summer months. We would pull up to the church parking lot and sit in our cars and listen to Pastor Diehl give a message from the cement platform outside on the west side of old Beach Church. They would have an old sound system set up to hear the preaching, I remember a lot of crackling sounds but I loved those old “drive in services”. I don’t think I paid much attention to the messages but remember fondly, Danny Diehl playing his trumpet and singing. Many times I would beg to sit with my friends in their car! I remember those hot and humid Sunday evenings so well. They were pure joy!
In the winter months, we would once a month on a Sunday night have "Singspirations”,  I loved those “hymn sings”. That’s where and when I gained a great love for old hymns. We would invite other Bible churches in the area. The church would be full to overflowing and the music and voices would fill the sanctuary. We would probably call them praise services now…..but the joy that filled that place, I can still feel in my soul today. We would sing for well over an hour, one song after another with much enthusiasm….many times every verse was sung. It was pure joy to hear, as they say, "the song of the redeemed!"
I grew up going to Beach Church. I never questioned that, it was part of my childhood. I grew to love the church and ministry. I also met my husband Ken through this church. We grew up together, with Beach Church being a huge part of our lives. We share so many stories with Beach church serving as a back drop to those memories. We were married by a former Pastor Ron Petrick. We also raised our family here. I would often pray that what was taught and shared with my children through those years, will stay with them and continue to be a strong and firm foundation in their lives.

As we all know, we had difficult times in the church as well. But I have learned even in the darker moments, God used them to show me more of Himself. I learned that as I stayed connected to Jesus and to the body of Christ, He would in His time grow me in ways that I would never have imagined. I’ve learned that God didn’t call the church to be perfect but to be faithful. That’s what Beach has modeled for me. So this church has certainly impacted my life. It is, in a crazy way, a way of life. So I’m thankful for the many memories of Pastors, Sunday school teachers, youth group leaders, Bible study groups, Gull Lake trips and The Awana Club. All who have, in some way made an imprint in my life, large or small, good and bad. I’m thankful for the memories. They are precious beyond words.

Happy Birthday to Jayden and Brooklyn

      An awesome celebration!Enjoying cake!

Everyone swims!  Even Daddy!Nana with Brooklyn and Jayden!  Mommy is silly!Jayden after the big day! Brooklyn after the big day! 

Simple thanks!

I'm learning to be thankful for simple things lately.  As I was driving back and forth to the hospital the past couple weeks, it always seemed as though I left at the most inconvenient times.....I must like rush hour.   I often thought wow.....some people do this all the time.  But I began to be thankful for the drive, it gave me soul time.  I tend to thrive on what I call "soul care".   I could think and pray!  And really get honest with God.  I'm glad that He can handle my honesty.  As I prayed and poured out my heart to God, I began to be thankful for the journey and began to look for the hidden joy.  I began to look forward to the drive and learned quickly how to maneuver my way into the best lanes.  It began to be a challenge that I loved!  I learned in those drives to praise Him even in the darkness.  He began to show me those hidden treasures.  The treasure of finding joy in the journey.  That a heart of praise begins to take the uglies from my soul.  The uglies sometimes take over and spill out.  Hhhmmm.......!  That's not what I desire.....but the flesh sometimes takes over and out it comes.  But God is patient and reminds me that the journey is where we grow, where we struggle, where we find ourselves most often.  He wants to come and meet us right there at the point of our need.  So, I can only say thank you Jesus. 

I'm thankful for my friend Patti, who came over the other afternoon.  She seemed to know that I needed a friend at that moment.  She reminded me of her prayers for me. I'm so thankful for the prayer warriors among us!   But as I remember,  I only asked her to pray for Jayden, but she took it further and reminded me of her prayers for me as well.  I was overwhelmed because I really needed prayer.  Then on Sunday much needed hugs came from my friends!  So I'm again reminded of God's faithfulness!

Jayden's home!

We can say thank you to Jesus!  Jayden's home!  We missed that active little boy!  But all that activity is back and he's on the go once again.  What a blessing that activity is!  Be thankful for your childrens energy.  It really is a gift from God.  The many trips I made to Childrens this week,  powerfully reminded me to keep life in perspective.  You are sooo reminded of how fragile life is!  To be thankful for simple things......like being able to walk, talk, smile, hug.  Loving unconditionally!  I can't seem to get enough of Jayden's ability to make me smile, to embrace life, to make others smile, to remind me again and again of what's really important.  Thank you Jesus for teaching me new stuff!  Thank you Jayden for reminding me to keep perspective....to love with new fervor....to embrace life.....to really love active little boys named Jayden!  (That's not hard!)

Hooping it up at "Hoops and Dreams"

Prayers for Jayden

Once again we're playing a waiting game! Jayden is back at the ER this morning. Please pray for our little boy. He was home for one night, but continued to throw up. It was exciting to see him in his home last night. He didn't feel well, that was for sure. But to see his sweet smile was worth it!

Dear Jesus, we don't really get it, why does Jayden have to suffer like this? Touch this little boy in a powerful way this morning. Your hand and your touch is powerful, we believe in the power of God. In Psalm 61 your word says ~ O God listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! We continue to lift Jayden up to you and we say thank you!

Jayden's eyes

As I've watched Jayden begin to heal this past week. I couldn't help but notice his eyes. I've found myself really looking into them. His eyes, about a week ago were distant and unfocused and it was unbearable to see them looking like that. But as this week has progressed it's been wonderful to see his beautiful blue eyes begin once again to sparkle. That gleam that was once there, is back again. I love to see his eyes when he smiles. He smiles with his eyes. His eyes light up a room. So I thank the Lord for Jayden and his beautiful blue eyes. I pray that his life and what he has been through the past 2 weeks, will not be in vain but that God will use him to shine His light. That his eyes will reflect those of Jesus. As I look into Jayden's eyes, I pray that I will see love, love of a little boy, love of Jesus. I'm so thankful that Jayden is going to be coming home soon. He will be running around his back yard and driving his truck and smiling with those big beautiful blue eyes. I can't think of anything better. I can only say thank you Jesus for this little boy who is a special gift, who reminds me every day what's really important.