My Mom: My Encourager

I strive to stay optimistic. I want to be an encourager and lift others spirits. There is a lot of negativity in the world but if you're anything like me then you feel a great desire to spread hope and joy in the lives of everyone you meet. But to be an encourager you must also have someone who encourages you.

My Mom is my encourager. I can be facing the most difficult of situations and she is there with words of love and wisdom to help me get through even the toughest of days. She offers inspiration when I need it most. I always feel more prepared to take on any task with new courage and strength after I have talked to her. Her advice has never failed me. And I believe the reason for that is because she always turns to the scriptures and seeks what God has to say about any specific situation first. Now I don't mean she stops mid sentence and starts looking up verses but she has them stored in her heart and can quote them to me in my time of need. I admire this about her. I am still growing in my own relationship with the Lord but I hope that one day I can be a wise encourager like my Mom.

Today is her birthday and it really got me thinking about how much I not only love and appreciate her but how much I admire her. We didn't always have a close relationship like we have now - the teenage years strike us all and I had my moments of teenage rebellion. But I am so thankful that we can now enjoy a sincere friendship and loving relationship that for years I made impossible due to my own immaturity and lack of respect. There have been days where I was down right ungrateful for her. But I hope she now knows how much I need and enjoy her in my life. She inspires me to be a better wife, daughter, friend and Christian.

Happy Birthday Mama Bear! I love you to infinity and beyond!

Mama Bear and I on my wedding day

Enjoying our mixed drinks on the cruise

standing in front of Lake Geneva together

Hope Amidst Tragedy

We recently received terrible news that the cruise we had booked for our anniversary in November has been canceled because they felt it unsafe to travel to Egypt and Israel. I am so disappointed. I have dreamed of going to these places for such a long time and was very much looking forward to checking them off my "bucket list". But I was also sad because if it is unsafe for us to travel there then it is unsafe for the locals who live there. My heart and prayers go out to those caught up in the unrest going on in these countries.

 Not long after the news of the cruise cancellation I turned on CNN to find the devastation of the earthquake/tsunami that hit Japan was everywhere. I watched a video of collected footage from the aftermath, it had no audio - it didn't have to - what I saw would leave anyone speechless.



It looked like something out of movie. A horror movie. The water was continuing to move forcefully over the land and engulfing everything in its path. Homes were covered, buildings destroyed with people on roofs trying to avoid the rising waters, huge barges were overturned and were being thrown almost effortlessly by the waves - they looked more like toy boats rather than over-sized vessels. The images did not look real. But the reality of what had happened could not be ignored or wished away.

I instantly prayed. I prayed for everyone affected by the devastation. I prayed for safety of the survivors. I prayed that fear would be turned to humility. I prayed that the doubt would be turned to faith. Faith in these words: “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)


There is peace even amidst the most devastating of circumstances because there is victory over misery through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. He has already saved us from certain destruction. When we believe in Him we have the hope and promise of escaping this life and living eternally with Him. My mind frequently returns to this verse because life can often seem hopeless and full of chaos and pain but knowing that the battle has already been won and our future is secure in Christ helps calm the soul.


My prayer is that in the light of recent tragedies you find peace in knowing God is in control even when the world seems to be out of control. He will rescue all of us from this world one day. Trust in that.

Things I Love: Sunsets

I just enjoyed another beautiful sunset here in Switzerland and it was my inspiration for today's "Things I Love" blog post. I don't get up early enough to enjoy the sunrise (I love my sleep) but each evening I make sure to go to the balcony and enjoy the beautiful colors and breathtaking magic of every sunset.

I love that no two sunsets are ever the same. I can be in the exact same spot every evening for months and will never see the same exact sunset. I think that's AMAZING! There is something so captivating about sunsets for me. It's definitely something I look forward to each evening.

I've seen my share of lovely sunsets over the years. Jared and I used to sit on the dock near my old apartment in Indy and watch the sunset when we were dating. It was (and still is) one of our favourite spots. We saw many sunsets there together. Here is a photo I took of us sitting on the dock one of those evenings.

Another favourite was the evening I captured this photo. It was taken from our balcony in Switzerland. The photo has not been altered. This was the actual view I saw with my own eyes that night. I'm so thankful for cameras that can capture beautiful moments like this so we can cherish them forever.

Here are a few other sunset photos I found that capture the awe and beauty of this natural phenomenon. Enjoy!

all photos are from Google images

Rich In Heart

Just when I thought Switzerland couldn't get any more beautiful....springtime arrives and proves otherwise. Buds are blossoming, flowers are blooming and homeowners have begun landscaping and putting out potted plants and flowers. The weather has been mostly sunny and warm all week and the feeling of spring is definitely in the air. Hoping for good weather this weekend so that Jared and I can go walk around with my camera and share this country's beauty with everyone.

Other good news...my parents just confirmed yesterday that they will definitely be making another visit here for the spring in May. Papa Bear has clients in Zurich who have asked him to come for business - so they have a good excuse to make another trip out here. :) We're also excited about my brother and sister-in-law coming in June! I have been feeling homesick lately and missing my family a lot in the last few weeks so this news made my heart smile! Definitely counting down the days until they arrive! We have a few other friends and family making plans to visit later in the year so 2011 should be full and fun!

In unrelated news we finished our taxes last night. According to the government we are considered to be "in poverty". Which on paper...sure...we may be poor but in our hearts we are rich. Rich in happiness and love. We may not have a lot of money but we have a lot to be thankful for that is for sure! God has definitely taken care of us and continues to.

Mama Bear often refers to the first few years of marriage as "the hunger years" - a time in most every newlyweds life where money is short but faith, hope love and humility should be abundant. It's those years meant to prepare us for if or when the time comes that we are more financially blessed so we can maintain the same humbleness towards life. I believe that if we can love and appreciate what we have now we are more likely to truly appreciate any success that may come our way in the future. Disappointment and despair comes when we base our happiness on wealth and status. My most prized possessions are my relationships - the people in my life. They are what make me happiest. That's right YOU make me happy!

Take it from us....being wealthy on paper is overrated. Being rich in heart is where it's at! :)

40 Days For Life - Spring 2011 Campaign

Tomorrow, Wednesday March 9th, will be the start of the 2011 spring     40 Days For Life campaign. There have been seven coordinated 40 Days For Life campaigns since 2007.

The efforts have mobilized people of faith and conscience in 337 cities across all 50 of the United States, seven Canadian provinces, four Australian states, as well as England, Northern Ireland and Denmark.

During these unified efforts, participants witnessed countless blessings from God: 

• Over 400,000 have joined together in a historic display of unity to pray and fast for an end to abortion
• More than 13,000 church congregations have participated in the 40 Days for Life campaigns
• Reports document 3,600 lives that have been spared from abortion — and those are just the ones we know about
• 43 abortion workers have quit their jobs and walked away from the abortion industry
• Nine abortion facilities completely shut down following local 40 Days for Life campaigns
• Hundreds of women and men have been spared from the tragic effects of abortion, including a lifetime of regrets
• More than 1,250 news stories have been featured in newspapers, magazines, radio shows and TV programs from coast to coast ... and overseas
• Many people with past abortion experiences have stepped forward to begin post-abortion healing and recovery

After so many years of legalized abortion, many people of faith are experiencing a renewed sense of HOPE!

The reasons for these victories are simple. God loves the babies, the women and the abortion workers. And when we witness the love of God to them through peaceful prayer, the despair that abortion survives on is crushed by restored hope in God’s love.

Ending abortion starts where YOU live!

If this is the first time you’ve participated in 40 Days for Life, you may be a little fearful and overwhelmed. That makes you normal. But as Jesus told the disciples, “Be not afraid!”

Last fall, Shawn Carney gave a talk about overcoming our fear of praying in front of an abortion facility at the national leaders conference of Students for Life of America. Listen to his real-life experiences from the field along with words of wisdom and encouragement in the following video:


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The spring 40 Days For Life campaign starts tomorrow! Will you be there? Will you be the sign of God’s love that women will see just before they enter that building?



To find the closest 40 Days for Life campaign, and to find out how you can get involved, please to go: http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

Let us be reminded of the words of Augustine: "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”

So what are we waiting for? Let’s get to work!
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*Excerpts from 40 Days For Life Website