Taking Prayer Requests?

For those who are interested in adding to their list of people and things to pray for..... you can pray for me.

I am seeking to graduate in May of 2009 as I eluded to in my last post. So far so good but there are many many details that need to come in order before that can happen. I need to finish this semester strong and right now I have no motivation... AH I'll make it though. For my internship to come together and that everything there would go well. That I would be able to sign up for Senior Assessment in the spring if I need it (I'm waiting to hear back from registrar to know whether I need it or not.) And for my Independent study courses (2 of them) that I would be diligent in getting those completed and do well in them!

Honestly, it feels like there is a lot that needs to happen in order for me to finally be done and I do not do well with jumping through hoops.... Who does? However, I am very determined to do well and to finish strong and not give up until I have that piece of paper in my hand that says I can move past school to other things... If you could pray for strength and just that I would meet all of the requirements (sometimes I feel out of the loop when it comes to knowing what hoops need to be jumped through and how to do that) Thanks very much! I will keep you posted on the process and in May I look forward to celebrating with a graduation post! :D

Thank you thank you!

CW

End In Sight

How appropriate that Pastor Chris would talk about experiencing the glory of God only to press on to walk the gravel of life on Sunday! This week through much prayer and speaking to various people on campus at Cornerstone God showed me a bit of His glory by allowing me to speak to the right people and Lord willing I will be graduating this May! My semester will be jam packed with classes and an internship as well as working part-time at the bookstore but when all is said and done I know that I will be glad that I did it all at once instead of going back later to finish up! I am so excited to finish on time with the rest of my classmates and even more excited to begin a new chapter in my life. BUT like Chris reminded me on Sunday this small bit of glory I am experiencing now is not meant to be "camped" in I am to press on and move to the gravel and work hard to get to the finish line. I would appreciate any prayers you have for me to be diligent in my studying as well as in my personal life so that I don't get distracted or prideful thinking that I'm doing this all on my own because by no means do I intend on getting to graduation in May without God's help. I need Him in every aspect of my journey in the gravel!

Hope you all prayed and voted today!
Sleep tight for we are in God's mighty hand regardless of the outcome of this momentous election!

Let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds...

CW

Fall Flavors

Completely His By: Shannon Ethridge. So far this is a great read for women who want to love Jesus without limits. I'll update you on how it is when I finish it. So Far so good.

Love as a Way of Life Devotional By: Gary Chapman. This is a 90 day devotional book based off of Chapman's latest book. Love as a Way of Life. I'm reading this one at night and it's been really challenging for my faith. Gary includes Scripture passages at the beginning of each devo and then concludes with a thought provoking question. Very good.

Through the Storm By: Lynne Spears mother of Britany, Jamie Lynn, and Bryan Spears. This is a biography of Lynne's life as a daughter, sister, mother and now in the face of fame and a tabloid world. Lynne shares her faith in God and her desire to see her children walk with him. This is an interesting read. It's not what you would expect it to be. Lynne is trying to be a good mother and walk in faith with God while trying to deal with temptations of the world and the storm of stardom that has taken over her family's life. Very interesting read, tell me what you think if you read it.

It's officially fall now and I am absolutely loving every minute of it! I am a jeans and sweater girl all the way and I wish that this weather would last as long as winter does here in MI. School is going good so far. It hasn't demanded too much of me yet but things are starting to pick up now that we are preparing for mid-terms. My life seems very busy right now and my mind wants to be anywhere but school but I know that school is only temporary and If I work really hard to get through this year I will soon be done. What's new?? Hunting season starts tomorrow for Jer and He is super excited about that. In fact he called me today from San Diego CA and started sniffing through the phone saying "it's time"! Ahh the joys of being a hunter's wife, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Trevor Mark is growing leaps and bounds and is already almost 10lbs. He's adorable and a very good baby. No complaints from mommy and daddy. Youth group is huge at church right now and we have been getting anywhere from 80-100 kids every week which is huge for us!! God is doing great things there and it's exciting to be a part of. My sister in-law's wedding is in 3 months and everyone is buzzing for that. Showers have started and we are all looking forward to that happy day. Also my Best Friend from Pine Ridge Camp Anna Ivie is getting married in May and has asked me to be her Matron of Honor so I've been busy busy planning with her and having a blast because it's not my own wedding! :D So needless to say things are busy but God has been teaching me so much through all of this crazyness.

Sleep Well, God Bless,
CW

Kitchen Pictures

Before and After Shots from the kitchen!

This project took just over 3 months! WOW what a difference. Jared and I did a lot of the work but we had a lot of help from my parents, his parents, Rob Vandenberg, and My uncle Doug Weston.

Thanks to all who helped!

PICTURES!!

Trevor Mark Rawson 8.31.2008
7lbs 14.5oz 21 inches long

Uncle Jared and Aunt Christina loving on him.




Sienna Larson and Trevor getting to know eachother!

Mommy and Daddy in the hospital day after he was born. They look great don't they!




Proud uncle Jake was so happy it was a boy; someone he can teach how to do everything he knows. :D
Mommy and baby finally got to go home!
Nana and Trevor loving on one another.

A Very Very Proud Auntie I Am!!

Blah....

What do you do when you're feeling just.... "blah..." Ahh today is one of those days when there is nothing very exciting going on and you're stuck at school (or work whatever makes you say Blah) and you just feel like sleeping the day away. Sleep is good in small regular amounts so it really serves no purpose to want to sleep the day away but thats how I feel today. I think a combination of spending all of last week working on the old church building, transforming it into an amazing youth center, Kasey having the baby on sunday and then this weeks busy work and school schedule has totally wiped me out! I got up this morning only by a miracle at 5:45am and promptly got myself ready and out the door by 6:30ish to meet my good friend Anna Ivie at Biggby Coffee in Grand Rapids before the day's events kicked off. We had a great time chatting and reading God's word together. never the less our time came to a close when she had to get off to her student teaching position and I headed to Cornerstone in hopes of finding chapel today. There was no chapel service today but I did end up going to a great "Java with Joe" session in the student center at CU. This is a very informal coffee time with Joe Stowell our president at Cornerstone. Faculty and students are allowed to attend and ask Joe questions about Cornerstone and what's happening on campus and how he's doing as our leader. I had a great time and plan to go to the rest of the sessions throughout the year. I think it's so great that he wants to take the time to answer our questions and get to know what our thoughts are on the student life and atmosphere at Cornerstone. I think his leadership will be a great turning point for Cornerstone's future. So my morning was awesome but then the day went to Blah when I went to class and now as I'm waiting for my next class to start. If you have any good ideas about what to do during those Blah moments let me know. But for now I think I'll try to read some and perhaps the afternoon will get better. I'm sure it will. :D thanks for letting me ramble on and on.

I'll write again soon hopefully with more pep next time eh?!

God Bless, Sleep Well,
CW

Trevor Mark Rawson

Welcome!

Trevor Mark Rawson!

My sister had her baby boy, Trevor Mark, on 8.31.2008 @ 8:15pm he was 7lbs 15oz and 21 inches long. Kasey, Mark and the baby are all doing well and are going home today. I can't explain how excited I am to be an aunt and to have this new little edition to our family. All of our holidays and family get-togethers will all be completely transformed now and we are all very excited about that. My parents have decided that they want to be called lovingly "papa and nana" but of course Trevor will have a say in that once he starts talking. But lets not rush this time away I plan to simply enjoy my nephew's life stages and enjoy all that is to come. No pictures yet Joanne Sorry. :D

Getting To The Finish Line

Well, after about two months of hard work, sweat, lack of sleep, dust, and details our kitchen project is finally feeling like it's wrapping up. Jared put down the Laminate wood flooring today in both the kitchen and dinning room and it looks great! The cupboards all have one coat of deep chocolate brown (Benjamin Moore's "Barrista" from the Aura Line) and the walls all have at least the first coat of their new, much brighter, colors from BMoore. We bought a dishwasher and plan to make another counter for that to sit in and the stove will then also have a new counter surrounding it whereas before it was just sitting against the wall. Much better!! I'm really excited to see how everything is turning out and it's really kind of fun to work together on our house. Don't worry though I don't think we'll be making a habit out of re-doing things in the house. This has been a long project. If we do though of course I'll let you know. :D The project should be totally wrapped up just in time to invite my new niece or nephew into the world! Perfect new kitchen for the baby to play safely in and around. Additions to the family are so much fun! I'll keep you posted about that too... Hope you all are well.

Sleep Well, God Bless,
CW

1st year Anniversery at Shipshewana

Songbird Ridge: The bed and breakfast we stayed at.

We had a great time just crusing around the countryside and taking pictures of all the Amish country beauty. All the farms are so cute and set up just so. All of their gardens are beautiful and very well taken care of. The horses were groomed and beautiful. I want one now... :D Jared loved seeing the buggie with the boat trailer on it. You don't see that everywhere. The Bed and Breakfast was absolutely adorable and very cozy. Can't wait to go back!

Where We've Been in Pictures Cont.

Easter 2008

Jacob's graduation in May, Kasey is getting a little baby belly by now... how cute!

Just the kids.
Back tracking a little, this is New years eve 2008 in the U.P. with the winell side. In this picture is Jared's sister Abby and her boyfriend Dan Vanderson.

Kitchen Project. Sorry no before pictures but you can see a little bit of the gray that was there before and the plain white countertop... all gone now. :D The picture of the capboard doors has the brown that will be on all the cupboards... "Barrista" brown by Benjamin Moore. LOVE IT!

Since The Wedding (Where we've been in pictures)

The honeymoon resort in Tulum Mexico

Giant Chess and Checkers you play with your whole body... Very cool.
Getting Fancy for dinner.
Salmon Fishing on Lake Michigan August 2007

Me reeling in the big one (on the Lead Core line of course. 300Ft. out. YIKES) "Come in Fish... GIVE UP!"

I got the biggest fish of the day!!! I guess all that work was worth it! :D

More Pictures to come... Stay tuned!

CW