Road Trip

On Thursday, We headed down to Des Monies, Iowa with Levi's parents. We pulled in late to the camp ground and packed up early to get a head start to Castle Rock, Colorado. Our plan was to go through Kansas City and stop at IHOP (International House Of Prayer) then through Kansas to CO. After almost an hour of maneuvering through the big city with a 40 foot fifth wheel on the back of the truck we finally got to IHOP. The fact that IHOP was under construction didn't help our time because then he had to find the second location where they were holding worship. After a strenuous drive of finding the place we were all humbled by the beautiful worship. People of all races and ages worshiping the same God was overwhelming to us.

Then back on the road to CO. By the time we were in the middle of KS it was well over 100 degrees. Levi's parents dog was with which is a pug named Baby. Baby is very cute but is very old and has a hard time with heat. She was panting like crazy and her tongue was turning gray. We though she was about to die. Then a tire blew out on the trailer and took out some of the paneling and scuffed up the side. After Paul got the spare tire on we had to stop a few miles down the road a luckily the guy that owned a tire shop said he would meet us at the shop to help us get another tire on. It was very stressful but we were all safe at the end of the day. We were running behind so we had to make reservations at a different site closer to us than the one that was planned.

In CO we went to the Hoyt Reunion. It was great seeing all of Levi's family. All together there are 8 brothers and 1 sister and they all are very funny.

Now were are at the Black Hills in South Dakota. We went up though Wyoming and got here last night. It finally feels like a vacation. Today Levi and I went to Mount Rushmore. Next we are off to go shopping at a cute little town. We will be leaving tomorrow afternoon and not getting home until late.

Answer to our Prayers

Thank you God!

Our friend from small group is a mechanic. Last night Levi and Dave were talking and he agreed to help Levi put a different motor in the jeep. Since we are leaving to Colorado for 6 days and we are low on time as it is, Levi offered to sell him his Impala SS that we are currently selling on Craig's List for cheap. So Dave agreed to work on the motor while we are away and is interested in buying the car! It is so cool to have two big things off our list in one shot!

Just part of our story

Well a lot has happened within these four days. First off we spoke at Solor Lutheran. It's a little white church that holds about 150 people but since they are in between Pastors there were only about 30 people there. It seems like every time we are invited to speak at a church the night before the enemy is on us. The time before we got into a huge fight about nothing and were up super late. This time we were on the defense and were aware of the attack.

Saturday Levi was working on getting the motor into the Jeep from 11am-9pm. Once they finally got it all put in they started the car and it was making the same knocking noise it did before! We both were upset but trusted that something will work out. "It is just past of our story" I kept saying. That night we got home and both decided that this letdown won't affect our speaking arrangements the following morning. Once we got home we were getting ready for bed and all of sudden I heard Levi scream, "Help!" I raced out of the bathroom to find Levi on the kitchen floor in intense pain. His back went out two years before and I had a feeling that it was happening again.

The next 15 mintues were full of frusteration, panic, and distress. It was hard watching him manuever his way to the bedroom army style. I felt helpless. After getting him into bed with a heating pack and his feet elevated he started feeling better but still could not stand to go to the bathroom. By this time it was well after midnight and still had our speech outline to finised and clothes that needed to be washed and ironed all before 7am wakeup call. I could feel the darkness all over us.

Finally by 3am I got into bed and by 8am we were off to Webster to present our lives to stangers. Thankfully Levi's dad had a back brace and that helped Levi stand up straight. Of course we got lost and the pen I was using to write down directions with got onto skirt! None the less we did great, we had no nerves, and the people and church blessed us with a great offering. Everytime we overcome a roadblock it keeps on getting easier to break through. SO BRING IT ON! :)

Update on our week...

Camping was awesome, and very much needed for our stress levels. It was fun cheering Dan on during his race. We stopped a few places on the way there and got a late start up north so we didn't arrive until midnight at the campsite. We managed to get the tent set up in the dark and woke up early to dirt bikes flying by our tent. It was different :) We did a lot of grilling, eating, biking, and laughing. (At Levi and Dan that is) They are so funny when they get going.

Levi is still working on the Jeep. He is putting in a new motor, and it has been more work than intended. Isn't that always how it goes though? Every spare hour he has has been devoted to the jeep. He says this weekend it should be done. (Let's cross our fingers on that.)

Today we will be moving out all the stuff we are going to sell, and haul it to my mom's house. She is queen of garage sales and has one almost every year since I have been a live. It is a huge blessing for us to drop it off at her house and not worry about taking the time to have a sale ourselves.

Next big event: Speaking at Solar Lutheran Church in Webster, MN on Sunday!

Taking the weekend off!

Saturday we are heading up to Hill City. It is around the vicinity of Brainard. Our close friends Dan and Kim will be with us, within the last year we all have grown together in a special way. They are simply awesome. Dan is really into motorcross and he has a big race that will be taking place here. We are excited to spend some time with both of them before we leave for Mexico. We will update you on all the fun time that will come this weekend!

Seeing Some Progress

The fourth of July was an awesome retreat for Levi and I. It was our first Wednesday date night, and better yet we both had the day off, so it was an all day date! We woke up late, had breakfast, laid out in his parent's pool, went to Stillwater and rode our bikes around. Then we had a nice dinner by the river and then watched the fireworks shimmer over the St. Croux River. Super beautiful!

On Sunday, we were asked to speak at my work. Northfield Retirement Center has a chapel and a staffed pastor. We were amazed at how many people came. The service held a good 80 people, and our presentation ran so smooth. We ended our 15 minute speech with our PowerPoint presentation. Afterwards they had a special offering and we were greeted with many thanks and exciting encouragement. I am close with many of the residents, and I know it will be so hard to leave in August. Levi even got a few kisses on the cheek! It was very sweet and cute to see him blush!

Today we got an encouraging phone call from Julie Manthey(our friend I mentioned a few posts ago) She informed us that the managers of the apartment complex are letting them move into our place for a lesser amount that they are already are paying at their other apartment. If the paperwork works out it will be 100% a miracle of God that they got in! Thank you God! This means now we can keep our garage for storage. It will come in handy when (God willing) we move down to Cuernavaca after our year in Monterrey.

Levi's Dr. Date

I got a call this afternoon from Levi saying he was at the local clinic. He was been extremely tired for the past couple of months. He finds himself falling asleep everywhere, all the time. Taking calls at work, driving, and even when he was underneath a car doing engine work. I think it might be due to stress related events, but it might be more. Please pray for Levi and his health. Thank you!