A New Thing...

Most of our friends know that Shawn & I and our family are in a new place in our lives.  We have made a tough, tough decision to leave our church of 16 years, and find another place of Worship.  We didn't know WHAT God was doing - what was in our present or our future...but we are walking it out - in FAITH.

It's been hard.  We have Relations in our former church - great friendships - and a GREAT love for the Pastor and members alike.  But still....God has moved us.  I'm not gonna lie...it's different!  Visiting churches has been interesting!  There have been things we liked, hated, loved, felt indifference, missed, and have been excited about.  A gamut of emotions have passed through all 6 of us.

In the midst of it all... God has been faithful.  He has shown us love, grace, restoration, and hope.  God is the SAME God that he was in our former Church that He is in the new Church.  It's a New Thing in US that is different.  We are in a new place (in every sense of the word), and our future is still unclear..but God...

Now we are praying about another ?opportunity? God has placed in our path...That's the thing about God - He always knows how to shake things up!!!

If you are reading this - we just ask you to keep us in prayer as we make some difficult decisions...that we Always be in God's will....

Love to you all....

May Day Baskets

May Day...I had to share this about my kids.

 They wanted to do May Day Baskets for the neighbors. It ended up being the neighborhood. They made their baskets, stuffed them with tissue, and candy...and then went tearing out of the house this morning on their mission...about 15 baskets later, they all come running back in laughing & heavily breathing from all the running. 2 of them "caught", but the rest were successful.

About 1/2 hour later, I had a phone call from a neighbor several houses down, asking if our kids were the ones who left the MayDay treat, I said yes. This elderly lady started weeping on the phone, and thanked me for my children, explaining she didn't do those things with her children.

About an hour later, another elderly lady down the other part of our street a ways (who I have never met), came to the door with a thank you card for my kids - and went on to say that those baskets made her & her husbands day!

I'd like to say this was my idea...it was all the kids. You never know whose lives you will touch by a random act of kindness. My children make me proud.  Happy May Day!!!

Spring

I love spring...when I can leave the windows open, feel the fresh air blowing thru, smell the grass and see the sunshine....there's truly nothing like it.

Today during our Girls Book Club - we sat outside and did our "lesson"...more like talk, giggled, etc. And we had a blast. I love working with these great young ladies, ages 8-13. They are some of the sweetest girls I know, and are so much fun to be around. JayCee and I truly do enjoy our every other Tuesday's with them.

Easter

I'm so excited for Easter this year! Not only do we get to celebrate the resurrection and promise of our Savior, but my older brother from Texas is home, my younger brother is living here now, and my grandmother is here from Missouri! My parents get all of their kids home for Easter together for the first time in about 12 years! Plus, I get to take some generational pics of Grandma, Mom, Me and JayCee! I'm so excited about that!

While I'm Waiting...

If you haven't heard the song, "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller...you really need to. Right now, the Karns' are in a "waiting" period. Knowing God is calling us to something "more" - but not sure what the MORE is...so we are waiting. But while we are waiting, we aren't just sitting around, doing nothing...we will still be Serving Him...Worshiping Him.

Please clieck on the LINK below to listen to the song...

Prayer

Isn't this the cutest picture? But when you get past the cuteness...look at the intensity on this dogs face! When is the last time we have prayed with this kind of intensity?!

Our God Reigns

I just returned from the Joyce Meyers 25th Anniversary Womans Convention in St. Louis where Delirious? led the worship. Talk about amazing. I've heard these guys before, they have written songs like, "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and "Deeper (I want to go Deeper)". But, at this conference they sang their song, "Our God Reigns" and had a video clip to it. I wish I had their actual clip, but I don't, so I found one that does justice to this song, also, on YouTube.

Hope you enjoy and are as deeply touched as I am....

Our God Reigns

40 million babies lost to Gods great orphanage,

It’s a modern day genocide and a modern day disgrace

If this is a human right then why aren’t we free?

The only freedom we have is in a man nailed to a tree.


100 million faces, staring at the sky,

Wondering if this HIV will ever pass us by.

The devil stole the rain and hope trickles down the plug,

But still my Chinese take away could pay for someone’s drugs.


Our God reigns, Our God reigns,Forever your kingdom reigns.


The west has found a gun and it’s loaded with ‘unsure’

Nip and tuck if you have the bucks in a race to find a cure.

Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,

God didn’t screw up when he made you,

He’s a father who loves to parade you.


Yes he reigns, yes you reign, yes you reign,

For there is only one true God,

But we’ve lost the reins on this world,

Forgive us all, forgive us please,

As we fight for this broken world on our knees.

Book(s) Recomendation

I don't know who likes to read, but I have been reading these books (series) by Brock & Bodie Thoene...

The first series is called the Shiloh Series (3 books) - takes place the last part of WWI, and during the stock market crash, etc.... follows 3 guys who were in the war together... AMAZING & AWESOME. Talks about hard things.... the KKK, prohibition, etc. I'm amazed at how real the characters are.

The second series, which I'm only on book 2 of the 9 book series, is called the A.D. Covenant series. These take place pre WWII, and (I'm assuming) thru WWII. Oh my goodness...if I thought I knew about persecution of the Jews...I didn't know anything!

Brock Thoene is an educator and historian. He did all the research for Bodie, and she wrote the books. They are unbelievably real.

I do not have the Shiloh series, but I do have the A.D. Covenant series, if anyone wants to borrow them. The Galesburg Library does have the Shiloh series....

Congrats, Brandon

My "little" brother graduates from college this weekend. I am very proud of him. He actually is the first of us "Wheeler clan" to get his bachelor's!!!! So, I just wanted to send the Kudos out to him.

We will be heading to Missouri tomorrow to watch him graduate, and celebrate with him.

I love my kids, but...

Does anyone else have one of those days, where your kids are the last person(s) you want to be around? UGH. I do love my kids....they are the light of my life! But today, they have been the thorns in my side, and the pains in my neck, etc., etc., etc.

Shawn "finally" got home around 6:30 p.m., and we are all sitting down to dinner, and I couldn't even eat. My whole body is just tense from CONSTANT (no, I'm NOT exaggerating) bickering, arguing, fighting, calling of names, under the breath comments, rolling of eyes, annoying another, being hateful...the list seriously could go on. And, it's not just from one of my kids! All four. Yes, even baby Tanner (OK, he's 2) was in on the "fun". Smacking his lips, because he knows Brock will yell and whine....

CALGON.....take me away! So, I'm telling Shawn all of this - and he says, "just leave for awhile". Well, leave where? Anywhere I go - it's temptation to spend $$, and the Good Lord knows that I do NOT need to spend any money. So, I decide to take Shaley (the dog) for a walk.

When I get in the door, all the yelling, etc. is still there, so Shawn takes the crew outside, and I'm by myself in my house. Rare occasion! So, I just thought I'd blog and VENT...

Farewell, Dear Friend

Our beloved, Valentine, passed away early this morning (Thursday, 3/29/07). Although, we are glad she went as peacefully as possible, at home, we are deeply mourning the loss. She has been a part of our family for 11 years. Shawn and I were still newlyweds (married 8 1/2 mths), and getting ready to move to Galesburg to our own house, so we (I) wanted a dog! Not just any dog - a Dalmation. She was the spunkiest of the bunch.

We've had lots of good times - and some bad times (like eating one or both of my best shoes/boots, etc. The only thing she ever touched of Shawn's was his Bible!). But she was our first "baby"...and the best protector (keeping Hunter safe, when he got lost in the 'high' cornfield when he was 2)! She was greatly loved, and will be greatly missed!

Sunday Services Cancelled

I thought I'd post here - in case someone checked... Pastor's house is without power tonight (Sat), due to all the ice...

No Services Sunday - Feb 25, 2007

Frosty & The Karns

We had great weather and sticky snow...perfect for building a great snowman. So, meet Frosty (the kids aren't real creative with names). Now, we just have to build Crystal (female snow"woman") before the snow melts.

Disney World Oct., 2006

Well, it's only been 3 months since we went to Disney. I'm finally getting a few of our digital (off of the cam-corder) here. I'll put more on after I scan them...

Piglet with Hunter & JayCee












Nana, Brock & Hunter at Animal Kingdom












Tanner & Papa at Dinoland












Uncle Brandon, Papa and Tanner












Mickey's Not So Scarey Halloween Party
Hunter (a Muskateer), JayCee (Snow White) & Brock (Capt. Jack) with the Queen of Hearts












Papa and Hunter Snorkeling w/ Sharks and Manta Rays












Brock & Daddy Snorkeling










Uncle Brandon throwing Hunter into the Tidal Wave











JayCee & Cinderella strike a pose

4 Days To Go and Counting...

We will be seeing some very good friends of our, who live in Orlando, FL, this coming Saturday (see picture insert). We haven't seen these friends for 5 years, Hunter was just 3, and JayCee spent her 1st birthday with them. So, this will be Brock and Tanner's first time to meet them all.

We're going to eat lunch with Pooh and friends the day we get there, Goofy, Mickey & the gang are having us over Wednesday (the 18th) for dinner, then Cinderella invited us to eat with her in her Castle on Friday (the 20th)...then I believe we'll be eating with Chip n' Dale one of these days.

We normally only visit our friends for a short week, but this time, we are going to stay with them for 10 days. We should be closer than ever when we leave.

The kids are so excited, and everyday, they tear off a day of our Countdown To Disney calendar we made. (Ok, Mommy's pretty excited too!) Nana & Papa are going with us, as well as Uncle Brandon...so we are going to have plenty of fun.

Keep us in your prayers...for a safe, sunshine full 10 days! I keep watching the weather - and thus far it looks promising, with only a couple days of (extended forecasted) rain. We may have to re-evaluate some of our days at which park we're going for, but I'm sure we'll have a blast regardless.

Love you all....

Schools In...Summer's Out

This is our first child...er, dog...Valentine. She was born the end of Jan., 1996, and we got her right before we moved to Galesburg. Doesn't seem like it's been 10 1/2 yrs. Anyway, I don't know if you can tell or not, but she's sticking her tongue out. Actually, she was licking, and Shawn just captured it like this.

This is how I feel. I just want to stick my tongue out at everyone/thing, and say FOOEY.
Ok, let me whine for a minute - just to get it off my chest.

Not only did we lose one of the most precious persons in the world right before school started, but we changed curriculums and are trying to get into a routine there (and the curriculum is GREAT, but a lot more for mommy to do right now), the kids are in their fall sports (which means mommy is a true "soccer" mom - & football & dance & Latin & piano), and we have all been sick for the last week with summer/fall colds - the nasty kind, and sick daddy leaves EARLY in the a.m. for Vegas (for work) until Sunday night leaving sick mommy & 3 out of 4 sick kids. WAAAA (Sarah, did I spell that right?).

It's now 12:10 a.m. (Thur), and I'm wide awake, even though I just took 3 "knock-you-out" cold pills...so here I am. Done studying for tomorrows lessons...kids in bed & asleep...dogs all tuckered out...Shawn trying to get a few hours in before he gets up at 2:30 a.m., and even though there are a lot of words, I don't have a lot to say. Hmmm.

Ok...well, now that I've gotten my whining done...I'll try to go to bed.

Quick Edit: It's now 1:08 a.m. Just got back from the kids' rooms... Hunter came down with a bad earache (so make that 4 out of 4 kids sick). So I found his ear drops - gave them to him along with a little nyquil to help him sleep. I go in to make sure he's getting in bed ok, and JayCee is up in Hunter's bunk bed...crying, and Brock was walking around in circles in the middle of the room. So I have JayCee go back to bed, and get Hunter up in his bed, and get Brock settled back in the bottom bed. Then go make sure JayCee's ok. I asked her why she was in Hunter's bed - and she said (crying the whole time) "becasue Hunter told me to get in his bed at 3 o' clock". Now, I have no idea if she even knows what she said!!!! But...this is just another day in the...no make that NIGHT in the life at the Karns'.

Thank You

Pete & Lorraine Karns 2005

Shawn & I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all who sent cards, flowers, support and all your prayers during the death of Shawn's mother. We appreciate everyone so much!

We sure miss mom very much, but are rejoicing with her as she dances above us with her Savior and lover of her soul! It's a JOY to know she's at Peace and effortlessly breathing Heaven's fresh air.

God is good...and we've had reports that Dad Karns' neighbor's came over and asked Pete how there could be such a peace at the funeral - they never felt that before...so dad had the opportunity to witness, and they went to church with him yesterday! Even though God decided to take his humble servant, He's still working and using her memories to win souls!

Thanks again to all our friends.

Love, Shawn & Amber Karns

Off to Cali we go

I haven't posted FOREVER...but I did want to ask everyone's prayers while Shawn & I are gone to California this week.

Shawn is taking a business trip to Irvine, and I'm taking a "resting" trip to Irvine with him. I plan on doing nothing but read, scrapbook, sit at the beach, read, etc.....

The kids are going to be....everywhere. Between Sarah, Anna and my parents, they will be well taken care of, and I'm sure they're looking forward to having a "refreshed" mommy when I return!

I'll be back Monday night (the 19th), and Shawn will stay the rest of that week and return Sat. night (the 24th). We'll spend my birthday and Father's day in California. So, we'll be celebrating Fathers Day on the 25th :).

Well, dear friends, be praying for us, and we'll be praying for you!

Ma & Pa Kettle, Doing Math

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=FB7D5DFBA4DF5EA8

Our House - What should we do?

We are wanting (maybe I should say I am wanting) to take out the hedges on the front, right side of our house, and put in a small patio area. I just wanted to get some opinions of others. If we do this, I'm wanting to take out the big tree next to the drive (not the one in the forefront of the picture below), and the big hedge under the bay window. Maybe replace with nice patio bricks - instead of a concrete slab?


Does anyone have any suggestions?

Then, maybe next year we'll do something with the left side of the steps?