He is good. All the time.

Four months have passed since I last posted on my blog.  So much has happened and so much is about to happen.  So, I will do my best to summarize these many months and share of God's goodness.

We have been living in Iowa for almost six months now.  I have three words to describe these months:

God's faithfulness abounds.

The pace of these months has been slow, yet quieting.  It has been less, yet so richly full.  I have learned so much from just being still.  I've had so much time to think and pray.  So much time to see God's little gifts that He delivers day by day.  I really needed this.  I didn't know it fully six months ago, but now I'm seeing why the Lord slowed me down for such a time as this.

"Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." Psalm 34:5

This verse.  I read it towards the beginning of October and the Lord has brought me back to it time and time again.  As much as I would like to say that I have looked to Him in every moment, I haven't.  It seems like God has wanted to teach me what it means to fall facedown before Him in times of desperation.  Surely, it brings Him glory when I look to Him, if it says that those who do so are radiant.
I've experienced both sides...not looking to Him and looking to Him.  Those times that I forgot to turn my heart to Him were miserable, empty and dark.  The times that I did look to Him, by His amazing grace, I tasted the reality of how He satisfies.  Oh, how desperately I need Him!  I will always be learning this lesson on my life journey, how I need to look to Him always.  I am so glad He is teaching me so much every day....loving me...forgiving me...refining me...making me more like Him.  This journey NEVER ends!

In my last post, I mentioned loneliness.  These months have been everything but lonely.  God has filled the gaps in my heart of that need to be busy.  I've grown closer to my family more than ever; we have walked every piece of this journey together.  I have been blessed to live with my grandparents and share everyday life with them [priceless].  I have made many dear friendships with people in Britt, which makes the thought of leaving Iowa hard.  Oh, how God has provided!  How He has known every single need, and how He has met it by His grace.  Why did I ever doubt that He could sustain me through these months?

We have now come to the last month of our time in Iowa.  Praise the Lord, my family has gotten to 100% of our support, which means that we have now decided a date to leave.  We are going to be flying to Slovakia, Lord willing, in a MONTH!  It feels like I've been waiting for so long, yet it also feels like it's coming so quickly.  What a paradox.  I am so ready and thrilled to begin this next chapter!

Now that I know how much time we have left in Iowa, I want to make the most of it all the more.  Our life here has been precious and I want to finish well.

Last Thursday I got a letter in the mail from Moody Bible Institute telling me that I have been accepted for this coming fall.  What joyous news that I can't begin to express my gratitude for!  Being accepted to Moody is a tremendous gift from the Lord and something that I have desired so much.  It also means that my time in Slovakia will most likely be around five months.  Another transition.  Another time of settling.  I'm ready for all of this, though.  Not because I myself am strong but because Jesus Christ lives in me.  He is my strength, my helper, my JOY.  All of this is to bring His sweet name glory...what a beautiful thing!

"I desire to do YOUR will oh God, Your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8
"Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thes 5:18

If all of this is His will, why wouldn't I rejoice?  Why wouldn't I be excited for where He has placed me and where He is going to place me?  He is accomplishing His glorious task and that is all that matters.  By His strength and His incomparable joy, I can finish well in Iowa.  I can step boldly into Slovakia and I can move to Chicago, Illinois five months later.

GOD IS GOOD.  ALL THE TIME!

He is enough.

Oh, what joy FALL brings my heart!  I love everything about this season... the crisp cool weather, the rainy days, changing colors of the leaves, the smells of pumpkin spice and caramel, sweatshirts, scarves, boots, knitting, hot tea, baking!  You name it about Fall, I love it. :)

I am especially loving getting to experience an Iowa Fall for the very first time.  Even though it's not exactly like the amazing Fall in Colorado... it is just as beautiful in it's own way.  What I've loved the most about Fall in Iowa so far is getting to watch the beautiful crops of soy beans and corn change color... the tops of them looking yellowish and purple-ish.  I especially love driving on the highway when the sun is setting, it makes the crops breathtaking!

Not only am I starting to love Fall here, but I'm beginning to love life here in Iowa.  Yes, it is still a different life (and a temporary one!), but it is all good.

My family and I have started getting into the routine of things around here.  Even though this isn't our "destination", we're beginning to feel temporarily settled.  It's a good feeling!  The boys and I started school a few weeks ago, I'm able to bake to my heart's content (thank you Grandma!!!), take long walks through the grove on the farm or on the gravel road, snuggle up with tea and a good book, skype with friends, etc.  All of these things have been wonderfully refreshing!  It's been great to just have time to focus on school and do all of these things.

You want to know what the high light of this quiet life has been so far, though?  My long times with Jesus that I get every day.  I am loving getting to spend hours with Him, reading His word, talking with Him, being in His presence.  He is truly using this time to teach me, humble me, renew me and grow me.  My heart is so full with Him!  He is fulfilling my every need in the midst of feeling lonely.  He is showing me that He is enough.  I am so grateful.

Here is a passage that describes well what God is doing in my heart:
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace.  And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

It has not been easy to feel at peace about our situation and wanting to go to Slovakia soon.  It also hasn't been easy regarding loneliness.  But God is gently reminding me every day of His grace and His plan that is so perfect.  He has blessed me with some new friends through church and youth group.  He's also blessed me with the opportunity to serve in AWANA... which I am loving!  He provides.

This last weekend my Mom, along with our friend Kris Johnson and her daughter Rachel and I were able to road trip it to Chicago to visit their daughter/sister and my sister at Moody.  It was such a refreshing and beautiful trip!  I loved getting to fellowship with my Mom and the Johnsons on the way, and spend time with my sister and them all in Chicago.  God blessed every conversation and experience that we were able to have on that trip!  He knew exactly what I was needing and provided sweet fellowship.

Our God is so good!  Our time in Iowa has been blessed...not always easy... but blessed!


"I have told you these things so that in ME you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Here is a picture of the Johnson girls (minus Rachel) and the Chase girls enjoying Chicago!  We loved our time with them!

Joy in pain.

Well, as of a couple weeks ago, my family has moved away from the people and place that I grew up: Colorado.  Even though it's been a couple of weeks now, the reality of me not living in Colorado anymore has truly hit me for the first time in these last couple of days.

We're all moved in with my Grandparents in Britt, Iowa on their farm now.  Our family just went to Lake Okoboji (the hot spot in Iowa ;D) for a missions conference and family reunion this last week.  It was so good to get some lake time, cousin time and conference time for that week.  What's funny though, is that us having been in Iowa for nearly two weeks now feels like a normal "Iowa trip" that we always take in the summer.  I'm so used to my family and I leaving for home (Colorado) after Okoboji time is done.  But this time, home is now in Iowa. (for a while at least!)  Us arriving back at the farm yesterday from Okoboji was when that reality of not going back to Colorado really sunk in.

You might wonder what feelings I have when that reality sinks in.  Well, to be honest, through out these many months of preparing for the mission field and this transition, God readied my heart to leave Colorado.  As much as I dearly love all of my friends in Fort Collins, I was beginning to feel extremely disconnected and eager to leave.  It was a painful kind of disconnect though.  I deeply care for the people in Fort Collins and want to be with them, but at the same time am feeling so incredibly distant- therefore making me want to leave as soon as possible.  Looking back though, I know that God was in those emotions and using that "disconnect" to make me ready and eager to leave.

How do I feel though, now that the reality has sunken in?  My heart hurts and wishes that I could be back in Fort Collins doing life with the people I've done life with for so many years.  I realize that I probably won't see a lot of my friends from Colorado for a couple years... how that makes me sad.  I realize that all of my friends will be having a normal senior year while I'm living in one place for part of it and another country for another.  I worry about loneliness.  Worries go through my mind like, "what if we don't get to Slovakia until November?  And if that's the case, who will I hang out with and what will I do that whole time?  Will I be spending my senior year half in Iowa and half in Slovakia?"  These are the thoughts and emotions that have run through my heart and mind over and over in these last couple of weeks.

You need to know though, that God has already used these emotions of transitioning and waiting to draw me closer to Himself.  I can't even tell you how many nights have been spent in tears, crying out to Him to give me peace and joy in the midst of the unknown and loneliness.  But in the midst of the tears He has reminded me over and over again to "Be still and know that HE is God."  I know that He has a reason for everything that happens.  His timing is absolutely perfect.  I don't want to go to Slovakia when the time isn't right, and I don't want to be there when I'm not ready.  Somehow, God uses seasons in our lives to prepare us for the next.  Right now I'm in a waiting season.  What I'm called to do in this waiting season is seek Him with all of my heart and trust in Him. I have a very strong feeling that He's going to use my time in Iowa to draw me closer to Him and to become more satisfied with His company alone.  I really want to use this "waiting room" to spend time with Him.

Another thing that I've seen over and over- is that God provides.  He blessed me so much this morning as I got to fellowship with the body of Christ in the Evangelical Free Church of Britt.  EFCB is the church that my Mom grew up going to and the church that my Grandparents still attend.  I felt SO welcomed by everyone and was told by many that they were excited to have my family around Britt for as long as we will be here.  I was even given ministry opportunities!  I felt so loved and cared for.  That love I know, is from God alone.  I praise Him for filling that need of reassurance that I will have fellowship with other believers and friends while I'm here in Iowa.

I am so very thankful that my Grandparents are keeping my family for however long we need to be here.  They are a huge blessing!  I know that God has some special times ahead while we're living with them.  All of this reminds me that God has me where He wants me to be for such a time as this.  I pray that I will use this waiting time in Iowa for His glory and not take it for granted.  I still long to be in Slovakia as soon as possible, but I will strive to be patient and "Be still and know that HE is God!".

"Wait for the Lord.  Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord!" ~Psalm 27: 13-14

I know this song has met a lot of people's needs since it came out... it has reasonated with my heart SO much lately!

A beautiful month in Colorado Springs.

Let me just say, it has been forever since I last posted on here!  I do have a good reason though, and that is what I'll be talking about in this post. :)

My family and I just got done with five intense weeks of missionary training in Colorado Springs.  The training was at MTI (Missionary Training International) in a little mountain town just outside of the Springs.  The location of MTI is absolutely breathtaking, the teaching there was phenomenal and the people who were training with us were amazing.  It was an encouraging, challenging and over all beautiful experience.

Seeing as I can't sum all of my personal experience at MTI up in one blog post, let me share with you some of the highlights.  

One thing that made MTI so good was the fact that every person/family/couple who was there was also training to go on the mission field and going through the same transitions that we have been going through.  Even though everyone was going to different countries (literally all over the map.... Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, etc.), we could relate on a whole different level than we could with people who weren't going through this transition.  Even things that might seem little like "We just had a garage sale and literally got rid of 80% of what we own.... Oh really?!  Us too!".  Everybody there, whether they were single or married was experiencing similar transitions.  I can't tell you how encouraging it was to find out that I'm not the only one who is leaving everything and everyone I've ever known.

Something you should know about MTI is that you are in class from 8:45 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon Monday - Friday.  And the times that you're not in class, you are hanging out with the MTI community.  As a result of being with the MTI community all day long, you become like family!  

One of my favorite things to do when I wasn't in class, was hanging out with all of the kids of the families who were being trained.  They were each SO amazing!  Even though none of us had been on the mission field yet, we felt so bonded because we were all soon to be MKs (missionary kids).  I was able to build solid relationships with each of the kids and truly treasured spending time with them.  One of our favorite things to do was smashing pennies on the train tracks right up the hill from the training center.  Another favorite was playing long games of tag on the playground together, or "What time is it Mr. Fox?".  My heart aches right now as I remember the memories that were made with those kids.  I miss them a lot.  I am so thankful that God brought each of them into my life and that we were able to encourage each other through this rough transition time.  He really used those kids to bless me!

Here is a picture of me with two of my dear friends from MTI...

Besides loving on and being loved on from the kids, another great thing about MTI was all that I learned and have taken away.  

One important thing that I learned, is that it is okay and healthy to grieve.  It is easy for me to think that this move to Slovakia should be completely positive and all smiles.  Really though, there is a lot of hurt and sadness that goes into it.  Leaving friends that are so near and dear to my heart is a huge loss in my life, and it is easy for me to run away from actually experiencing the pain.  I found out that fleeing from the pain doesn't help anything.  I need to go to those painful places in my heart and identify what the losses are in my life as I move to Slovakia.  If I don't choose to grieve, I won't be released of the burdens that come with painful losses.  I've discovered that grieving doesn't have to be a negative and wrong thing, but that it can be a positive and healthy thing.  If I grieve over leaving my friends and family in the States, that means that I've loved well and have been loved on well.   I'm thankful to know that grieving over the losses that I'm experiencing in my life is okay.

Speaking of grieving, I experienced major grieving on Friday as we waved goodbye to our dear MTI family.  I can't begin to explain what that picture was like as people were saying goodbye to each other. Nearly everyone, including the kids, was weeping uncontrollably.  I think it was because everyone had loved each other well and had been loved on well.  It showed me what the bonds of the body of Christ look like.

Not only did I experience grieving last Friday, but I will be experiencing major grieving in this next week and a  half as our family officially closes out our lives in Fort Collins.  God used that time to prepare me for the next "grieving session".

I could go on and on talking about how MTI impacted me, but I just wanted to give you a little picture of what life was like there and some of what I learned.

I know MTI is not perfect and the people there aren't perfect, but God truly used those five weeks to bless me, renew me, teach me, prepare me and humble me.  He reminded me of the beauty of the body of Christ.  He showed me what love really is.  I praise Him for my experience there!

I miss all of my MTI family so much right now, but my heart is so full knowing that we are forever family.  And if we don't see each other again on earth, we will see each other in Heaven and be able to see the fruit of  God using us in each of our countries!  What a day that will be.

The song "Blessed Be Your Name" has really resonated with what has been going on in my heart lately.  This song kept on coming back into my head all through out training.  I hope it blesses you just as much as it has blessed me.

"You give and take away.... but my heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be Your name!"

Piano teacher? :)

Today was my last day of teaching piano!  Like every other "last" in my life happening, it is very bittersweet to know that I will no longer be teaching my piano students.  However, today was a cool day of reflecting on how my piano teaching career came about as I said goodbye to my last student.

How DID I start teaching piano?  Believe it or not, I actually never sought to be a piano teacher.  It all started when a neighbor friend asked me if I taught piano.  My first response was "Oh..uh...well I stopped taking piano lessons about three years ago, but I do still love to play for fun.  I don't know how good I would be, but I could give it a shot!".  After that, I began teaching that neighbor's daughter.  Once people heard that I was teaching that one student, I began receiving calls from other neighbors asking if I could teach their kids.  Who would've thought?!  I certainly never imagined myself to be a piano teacher!  The rest is history.  I began a small "piano studio" on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Funny thing is, it turned into such a normal after school activity that I never really stopped to think about how much of a God thing it was that I became a piano teacher!  Why?  First of all: being a piano teacher was never an intention of mine... it just came to me.  Second of all: it gave me an opportunity to build relationships with my students and tell them about my love for God.  Third of all: I never would have known how much I love teaching if I wasn't a piano teacher!  Fourth of all: my love for kids and teaching them grew so much through being able to teach and build those relationships.  Fifth of all(and of course, the least important): it was a little way to make some money! ;)  

Looking back, I see God written all over my piano teaching career.  It seems like He gave me this opportunity to provide for me a learning experience, a way to use my gifts in playing piano, discover my gift of teaching and a way to be used by Him in my student's lives.  For that, I am forever grateful!  

It's so cool for me to close my piano studio in FC by looking back and seeing how God literally blessed me with this wonderful opportunity.  I hope and pray that God will bless me with other piano teaching opportunities wherever I go next, if it is His will!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

Here is a picture of one of my dear piano students and I after our last lesson.  I'm going to miss her!

Maroon Ct.

 This is a drawing that an old neighbor, Brenton Cooper drew that so perfectly portrays life on Maroon Ct. 

     It is May 13th, which means my family is exactly one month away from the day we will move out of our house on 2725 Maroon Ct. What a bittersweet thought!  This is the house that my siblings and I have grown up in,  the place that I've called home for so many years.  I don't think I ever thought that my family would actually move out of this house.  But now it's happening.  In one month.  

    As I write this, I can't help but think about how amazing of a street Maroon Ct. is.  Not because of the houses but simply because of the people.  My family has been incredibly blessed to have such wonderful neighbors all these years.  Some have come and some have gone, but each one remains dear to my heart because of the special memories we've shared on Maroon Ct.  One of the big plus's of living on Maroon Ct. has always been having dozens and dozens of kids living on the street.  During the summer, our entire days would consist of this: Water wars with the neighbor kids, lemonade stands with the neighbor kids (always competing for business with the kids who lived one street over ;D), picnic lunches at the park (it was a big deal when our moms let us all be independent by going to the park by ourselves), imaginary games, the neighbor girls playing for hours with our American girl dolls, "Maroon Ct. Olympics" and last but most certainly not least, our beloved games of "capture the flag".  "Capture the flag" is a Maroon Ct. classic among the neighbor kids.  Although it caused arguments about who would be on who's team or who didn't play fairly, it was always the core game that brought all of the neighbor kids on our street together.  

    Not only would we spend nearly every day out of the summer with our neighbors, but during Fall us neighbor kids would walk around the neighborhood with rakes and giant garbage bags asking people if they needed us to rake their leaves.  Or in the Winter time the neighbor kids would build snowmen and snow forts together or pull each other on sleds down the Demmer's super looong driveway.  Ahh.. the memories could go on and on.  

     All this to say, we have many dear memories with our neighbors on Maroon Ct.  Memories that I will never ever forget and always hold close to my heart.  It is so sad to know that we will not be living on the same street as each of these wonderful people anymore.  But my heart is filled with complete thankfulness for these many years that God has blessed us with these amazing neighbors.  Each of them made my childhood all the more memorable and exciting.  

     I'm going to miss all you Maroon Ct friends more than I can say.  I remember when the Cooper family moved to Texas, a big hole was left on our street.  But I know that change has to happen, and people have to come and go.  So I rejoice in the memories that we all have had with one another and the strong friendships that have come out of them.  I pray that whoever continues to live on Maroon Ct. will carry on the legacy of it being an unforgettable street.  

How deep the Father's love for us....

     As most of  you know, yesterday was "Good Friday", the set apart day every year that Jesus Christ's death is remembered and celebrated.  Ever since I can remember, I've attended "Good Friday" services at my church two days before Easter.  And every time, I gain a deeper love for my Savior.  Each "Good Friday" memory that I have is so precious to me.  It has always been a time where the body of Christ comes together to worship Jesus for humbling Himself and sacrificing His life on our behalf.  I wish we could have "Good Friday" services more often!  From the worship portion of the evening to the Pastor reading the story of Jesus' death from God's word, it is one of the richest experiences one could have.  To gather with fellow Believers and praise Christ for dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  It is a beautiful picture to see the King who is SO worthy of our praise and adoration, be lifted high.

There are so many different and overwhelming emotions that come when I remember the day Jesus died...
Hurt - knowing that those He came to die for were the ones hanging Him on the cross and torturing Him.


Guilt- knowing that the most Deserving died for the most undeserving.


Gratefulness- knowing that He died out of pure love for His children.


Joy- knowing that He has Risen and that through His death, He has made a way for His children to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

   While I am experiencing all of these emotions at once, I wonder "How can I ever repay this Man who so willingly offered up His life for me?"  I will never be able to pay Him back.  That's why He did it.  He knew that because I am such a sinner, I would never be able to pay the price for my sin and experience eternal life with Him forever.  So He obeyed His Father, and came to earth to show all of mankind Truth and to set them free from sin.  Praise be to Jesus, my sin is paid for!  What does He ask of me in return?  To let Him live in my heart and have relationship with Him.  To follow Him with an undivided heart and to keep the faith and press on all the way Home to Heaven.

    I want to take this beautiful message to the world, that if indeed you place your faith in Jesus Christ and ask Him into your heart, you will have eternal life in Heaven with Him.  God's word says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him may not perish but have everlasting life."(John 3:16).  I pray that all will hear this message of Truth and that all will worship and love the One who died for them.  He is so worthy.

    Here are the lyrics to what has become one of my favorite songs.  I hope these bless you as much as they have blessed me.  Let us praise our Savior together! ( I posted the link to the song on Youtube at the bottom of the lyrics, if you would like to listen to the song.)

"How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure.
That He should give His only Son,
and make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away.
As wounds which mar the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life,
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
Not gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward?
I can not give an answer!
But this I know with ALL my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Listen to this song~