Happy Birthday, Bryce!

Bryce celebrated his 27th birthday the Monday after graduation. Brad Gaugler made Bryce his famous "has beans" cake. If any of you have had that before you know how good it is! Thank you very much for making that, Mr. Gaugler!!

Bryce wasn't feeling too hot and he doesn't really like birthdays, but he humored us with blowing out the candles and letting us sing to him. Happy Birthday, Bryce!! Thanks for coming to see us.

Family Pictures

We had a good weekend with my family. I was so happy that it worked out for them to come out one more time before we move. Dad & Bryce helped Heston put a deck on the back of the house. Phoebe wasn't sure what to do with all of the extra people, but she did enjoy the extra attention

We took Mom to Four Seasons for Mother's Day. The food was great and we had a great time.


Kelli, Dad, Colton & Bryce at Moose Jackson's in Iron Mountain


Mom & Dad on Mother's Day at 4 Seasons


The kids, minus Bri


The Deck


Heston & Dad working on the deck


Kelli & Colton on the front deck


A picture of us admiring our newly built deck

Thanks Dad, Bryce & Colton for all of your help on the deck! We couldn't have done it without you. Sorry to put you to work!! It was great to have you all and we look forward to having you visit us in PA! We miss you, Bri!!

Heston's Graduation

I know this is long overdue, but better late than never! My parents and two brothers, Bryce & Colton, were able to come up for Heston's graduation. The weather was the best in the 7 years that I have been here at Northland. We had reserved seats so it was nice to not be rushing around that morning trying to get there early. Phil Hunt spoke at the graduation and mentioned my sister who is working for him in Zambia. That was really special! After graduation we made a stop at the Grind.

The Happy Couple


Us with Jen Ramos


Richlene & Colton


Dr. Horn & Heston


Colton & Kelli


The Family


Us & Shannon Murdock


Bryce enjoying his coffee in a "lounge" chair

Update

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and for your prayers. It has been very exciting to see what the Lord has been teaching us through this time of uncertainty. We have been praying since the beginning, that the Lord would make it VERY clear to us whether we are to stay here at Northland or whether we are to move on to another ministry. We are still praying that prayer and still waiting on Him as we seek to make the best decision for our future.

I am very excited that my parents, and two brothers will be flying in tomorrow evening to see Heston graduate on Saturday. We are very excited that the Lord worked it out for them to come out and visit, especially since we may be moving on. I am glad that we will be with Mom on Mother's Day and Bryce on his birthday on Monday. I am sure I will take lots of pictures!!

Here is a quick recap of this past week. Heston & I drove down to Green Bay last Wednesday evening and stayed in a hotel. Heston had hurt his back the night before by moving boxes and playing basketball. Needless to say he was walking like an old man. We stayed in a hotel down by Lambeau Field. We woke up early on Thursday and I dropped him off at the airport. I then went back to the hotel and watched TLC and then headed to go shopping. I met my friend, Sarah Neighbors for a quick lunch at Noodles and Company, did a little more shopping, and then headed home.

Heston spent Thursday and Friday at Lancaster and then the rest of the weekend with his family. I wish I could have gone! Phoebe and I spent a lot of quality time together and she was especially cuddly. On Saturday night, Heston called to say good night and out of the corner of my eye, I see Phoebe chasing a mouse around the woodstove. Heston asked if I was sure it was a mouse! Yes it was! It went back behind the TV so I moved it out so Phoebe could get to it. Sure enough, the mouse comes running out, but Phoebe was still behind the TV looking for it. She is not the world's best mouse catcher. Needles to say, we didn't find the mouse that night.

Sunday morning I went to pick Heston up from the airport. After collecting all of his belongings after the zipper on his suitcase was ripped (of course it wasn't the airlines fault!) we went to the mall for a little bit and then headed home. It was so nice to have him back home!

Heston had two finals on Monday and his exit exam on Tuesday morning. We are thankful that he is done!

The Lord is continually causing us to trust in Him. At times it seems like we have everything figured out and then something changes. We are anxiously awaiting to see God put all of the pieces together. We are thankful that the Lord has chosen to use us.

The Lords Hand

This post is from me, Heston, Kelli's husband. This is a first! The information below is how the Lord has moved in our lives and how He has shown us that He is in control...

The information I am to give you goes out to you because of what the Lord has done in my life and the wonderful love He has provided to us all.

Yesterday, April 30th, this is what I shared with the girls that are currently on the soccer team. (it is a little lengthy, but good)

Names of Christ
He is the Chief Cornerstone
-There is always a start for something, on a building it is the foundation and there is always a beginning part of any building.
-Dr. Bennett always talks about “setting the rudder of the ship”. That setting will define where you are many months and years down the road. In all areas

He is our Counselor
-God has all wisdom. He needs no one to give Him advice. We only need to seek after it and ask for it.
-He loves to give counsel to men. Men often refuse it, but He has given it.
HAVE YOU REFUSED COUNSEL? From God, from Godly authority.

Finally
He is Wonderful
-In the beginning God promised He would send a Savior to deliver them from their sins.
-We have seen God in both forms- God and man- while man he remained perfect
-He remained wonderful-
-AS A SINNER, THAT’S ALL I NEED!
-Are you looking for the external? Pleasure, rewards, etc…


What about obedience- faith living
-Is it easy?
-IT MEANS LIVING BY PROMISES NOT BY EXPLANATIONS
-Abraham and Sarah, Job,
-We must learn to live by faith, or our world will fall apart

When as a child, I laughed and wept,
Time Crept
When, as a youth, I dreamed and talked,
Time walked
When I became a full grown man,
Time ran
And later, as I older grew,
Time flew
Soon I shall find, while traveling on,
Time gone

At the age of 75, Abraham enrolled in the “school of faith”
At the age of 100, he was still being tested through faith
“When we stop learning, we stop grown; and when we stop growing, we stop living”

Gen. 22
1. Expect tests from God
-Family test, fellowship test, fortune test, fatherhood test, farewell test
-We must have occasional tests- why would we trust if nothing ever fails us!
-Understand that not every test is a temptation- but they can just caused by our sin
-if we would have started by obeying-the temptation would not exist

2. Focus on promises not explanation
-Our faith is not really tested unless we are asked to bear what we think is unbearable
-When anything happens, one may ask “why me, Why Lord?” Right away we want an explanation
-As soon as we begin to ask “why” to God, is when this should determine you do not view God as a true provider of all and that He is our only provider we need.
-Faith does not need explanation, faith rests on promises

3. Depend on God’s provision
-As Abraham walked up to sacrifice his son, what could he depend on?
-He could not depend on his personal feelings, friends.
-Abraham could only depend on the promise and provision of God
-It is only then that we see what our Father can really do for us.

4. Seek to glorify God
-Because we are sinners, we will look for “Ways to get out of this!”
-What about glorifying God a asking “What can I get out of this Lord?”

5. Look forward to what God has for you
-God wants to provide for you!
-Abraham was blessed by God- given new assurance, new approval, new son, and finally he was given a deeper love for his God.
-We need to be assured that Gods gifts do not take place of the giver Himself
-It is worth to go through trials when at the end the Lord can say, “well done”
-Do you believe that? Not just believe but is it lived out in your life?

Can change be a trial? Of course! If we do not have our focus set properly on our God, yes, change can feel like a trial.

I say the above to say this- When Kelli and I moved to NBBC we thought it was going to be forever! We were so happy and so ready to become a part of this staff and what NBBC stands for. I still see that as true, but I see that the Lord used the past 6 years to prepare me for other things. With some restructuring in the Athletic office Kelli and I find ourselves being moved by God. With the moves I began to apply at several colleges for specific jobs. The Lord convicted my heart for doing so. He kept me on my knees all night one night and taught me that He is the only one I need to rely on. The next morning I received a phone call from another Christian College. What an awesome answer to prayer. This coming Wednesday, I will be flying to Lancaster Bible College for a final interview.
The Women's Program will continue with qualified coaches! Those alumni, please pray for Kelli and I as we continue to pray for the Lords guidance. Future athletes that I have been communicating with and are a part of this group- continue your future at NBBC if that is where the Lord has directed you! Those current student athletes, as a Coach and Kelli as a "mom", we have had several sleepless nights. This is not easy. But is awesome to see the Lord direct.
We ask you all to continue to pray!
-Those on the Uruguay trip- It will continue. I will have more information on that soon!
In Christ,
Coach and Kelli

Junior/Senior Banquet

This is a bit overdue, and I know I haven't posted for a while! Sorry!
Last Friday night was Heston's Junior/Senior banquet. It was held at the premier center in Iron Mountain. It was fun, especially since we got to sit with our friends, Vivian and Kraig.




Heston & Kraig

Julie, Scott, Heston & Kelli

Heston, Kelli, Vivian, Kraig

Kelli, Shawna, Heston

Kelli & Kim

My wonderful Husband

I just wanted to say that I have a wonderful husband. He is such a wonderful man who works so hard and gives so much. He is kind, thoughtful and compassionate. I am thankful that the Lord led us together and that He has allowed us to grow closer together and closer to Him. I am thankful for his leadership in our relationship and for desire to serve the Lord in his life.

Last week, Heston bought me a special gift, just because. It was a beautiful right hand diamond ring. I have always wanted one and he found one and surprised me! He said it wasn't much, but boy was he wrong...even the thought behind the gift was enough for me to realize what a special husband I have! Thanks, Babe...I love you very much!

Then, I came home from work yesterday, and Heston yells "something is done, wife" (that is his name of endearment for me "wife") and I go into the main bathroom and he tore out the old floor and laid down the new floor, all in one afternoon. What an amazing man! I am so thankful for him and his hard work. I am also thankful for the skills that he has. He has saved us so much money with the little repairs that he can do on our house. He is also in the process of building a retaining wall on the side of our house. It looks great already! The entry way floor is the project for this weekend.

The Lord is taking us through some things that are really causing us to trust in Him completely. I know this is where He wants us and often times God uses different circumstances in our lives to cause us to rely on Him and trust in Him completely. We are thankful for these times and are thankful that God is in control and He knows what is best for our lives. I am so glad we can rest secure in that!

Update

Well, I haven't written in a while. Heston finished his student teaching this past Friday. He is so excited to be done! We went out for Chinese food to celebrate.

Heston spent Saturday installing a water tank to help with our water supply. We have a decent well but the recovery time is very slow. It seems to have helped!

Sunday we drove down to Green Bay and I dropped Heston off at the airport because he was traveling to Oklahoma for a PR trip. It was a basketball tourament for 1,000+ teens. He just got back late last night. I missed him alot! I enjoyed shopping in Green Bay on Sunday and then having some of the soccer girls over on Tuesday night.

Today we are headed down to Milwaukee to stay with our frinedsRuth & Steve. Heston has an appointment at 7 am tomorrow morning at the VA hospital with a surgeon to see whether or not he will have surgery on his back. We are looking forward to the weekend away, spending time with our frineds, and celebrating Haven's first birthday!

Spring Break is next week, but we will just be working. Maybe one of these years we will go somewhere for Spring Break!

Good Quote

Nothing is too great and nothing is too small to commit into the hands of the Lord.

-- A. W. Pink

Praise

Since Heston has been student teaching the past 7 weeks, his paychecks have been very small since he can only work about 10-15 hours per week instead of his usual 40. The Lord always provided for our needs, and we were able to get some extra money over Christmas since Heston was able to snow plow while we were in Colorado. But this past weekend we received a rather large check from the military in regards to Heston's schooling. The Lord is awesome and it is so neat to reflect back on how He has always provided for us, above and beyond what we can ever imagine. I praise the Lord for that!

By the way, Heston only has 9 more days of student teaching! Praise the Lord!

5 years ago today

Five years ago today, my wonderful husband and I began our relationship. I remember being in the library and my friendSharon Jordon pulled aside my other friend, Elisabeth Ashmore, and told her that Heston liked me. Of course, Elisabeth told me, but I didn't know what to do. You see, I knew that Sharon kind of liked Heston. Later that day, Sharon asked if we could go to the Grind. We sat down and she told me that there was a boy that she thought I should like. I was trying to evade the question because I knew where she was going and I kind of knew how she felt about it. She was adamant that she wanted me to like him and told me that he would be calling me later that night. I remember being in my room and then Heston called and asked if we could go to a basketball game. We then walked and talked and went over to the rec hall and talked some more.

There were alot of other things that happened and I am not 100% sure the order of everything, but previously, I had asked him to fix my headlight because I knew he was a "fix-it" kind of guy. He graciously went out in the freezing cold and fixed it. I offered to take him to coffee, but he politely declined. This was before I even knew he liked me. I remember another time we were in the rec hall playing Rook and my teammate left so I asked him if he would play on my team. Apparently he was xtremely nervous, but he did end up playing. It seems like such a long time ago, and it was, but I am forever grateful that the Lord brough the PERFECT man into my life in His own timing.

We got engaged 6 months later, on August 28, 2002 and we were married a year later on August 2, 2003.



Whenever Heston tells people how we met, he always talks about how he asked Shyla who I was, and she told him that he should get to know me. I met Heston the first day or so of class that we had with Dr. Zichterman, Guidance Counseling. I thought he was nice and all, but the guy never even talked to me. We would both get there early, he would wave to me, then sit 1 or 2 seats away from me for the whole entire semester. Apparently he liked me this whole time but never even said anything! Crazy guy! I laugh about this now. He pulls out details of that fall semester that I had no idea he was even paying attention.

Heston, I love you very much and thank you for being a wonderful husband. I have enjoyed these past 5 years with you so much and look forward to many many more! Thank you for all that you do for me and for loving me. You are a wonderful person and I am so proud to call you my husband, my best friend!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Happy Birthday, Grandma! I hope that you have a special day. I miss you very much and wish we could see each other more often. Hopefully I will be coming home in June when Bri comes home from Zambia.

Thank you for being a wonderful Grandma. I think my favorite picture of you and I is when you made us matching shirts (the red ones with little flowers) and you also made me a jean skirt with white fringe on the bottom. I wish I had access to that photo because I would scan it in. Maybe I can find it and to that later.

Thanks for all of the letters and notes that you send and for the little things you send up with mom when she comes to visit.

I hope that you have a special day and that your surgery goes well tomorrow. I will be praying for you!
I love you and miss you very much!!

Grandma & Brianne


Grandma & Laura

Lord, Change us--Change Me

Here is a devotional that came in my inbox this morning and I thought I would share. It really encouraged me to make the changes that would reflect my relationship with Christ. I took a Grad Class with Dr. Zempel last week and one of the requirements was to do a project where you choose a topic(s) to work on in your life. I chose the topic of self-discipline and had 5 categories underneath: 1)Reading my Bible 2)Prayer 3)Eating healthy 4) Exercise 5) Cleaning my home. I am hoping that the accountablility of this project will help to make each of these things a habit in my life. I love practical projects such as this one! Anyways, here is the article:

Lord, Change Us -- Change Me!, by Tom Norvell


God said, "I will also put a new spirit in you and change your way
of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and
give you a tender, human heart. (Ezekiel 36:26 ERV)

Lord, change us. Change me.

How can I remain the same when I've seen what I've seen and heard what I've heard and experienced what I've experienced. I cannot remain the same. I am not the same person. You have changed me. You are working in me and around me to make me more like You. Lord, change us. Change me.

I have heard about children being neglected, abused, kidnapped, ignored, aborted and discarded. Because I have heard these stories I must change.

I scan the channels on my television, and I see the faces of children starving to death in a land far away. I hear of programs designed to help these children, your children, and help is being given. I want to do what I can to make sure they are not forgotten. Because I have seen and heard these stories, I have been changed. Lord, change us. Change me.

I heard that crime continues to rise. Robberies. Home invasions.
Abductions. Murders. Rapes. Some are considered almost acceptable. Some crimes are too horrendous to mention. Because I know these things I am not the same.

I am not the same!

I know that families are falling apart. A husband walks away from his wife and his children. A wife tells her children, "I just don't love your daddy any more." Somehow that is supposed to help them understand why she does not come home at night. Because I know these things happen, because I know some of these people, I have been changed.

Because I have stood with my brothers and sisters and poured out my heart in praise and honor to You, I am not the same. Because I have publicly committed my life to You, I am not the same. Because I have surrendered my heart to You, I have been changed. I am not the same.

Lord, change us. Change me. Continue to put these truths in my mind.
Put these experiences in my path. Put Your people in my life. Show me what it means to worship You. Continue to convict me that I must continue to change so that I can become more like Your Son. Help us to continue to change until we fully become Your people.

Lord, change us. Change me.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

My Grandpa Huffman turned 84 years old yesterday! He is a very special person to me and I am so thankful for him! He served in World War II and married my grandma shortly after (They will be married for 60 years in June).

They had 3 kids, of which my mom is the youngest.

He worked at NWA in Minneapolis until retirement. They then moved to Oceanside, CA for 10+ years. We LOVED to visit them there. They moved to Colorado in 2001 (I think) to be closer to my mom & their son. I love having them so close and it has helped us to build an even more special relationship.

He is such an example of a studier of God's Word and prayer. He knows his Bible so well and shares it with us. He always tells us that he is praying for us, and he is.


Thanks to him and his early teasing, all of us grandkids love coffee!! He laughs about it to this day.


He always use to give us licorice sliders. All of us kids will remember those!

Remember the "no kissing on Tuesdays"? Well, I can think of several times where we got him. Remember that one time at Starbuck's?

My Grandpa is a wonderful man and I am very thankful for him.


Happy Birthday, Grandpa! I love you very much!!

Christmas Pictures

Here are some Christmas Pictures. I know it is late, but that is okay. We got back to WI on January 3 and we haven't stopped since!! Heston started student teaching 2 weeks ago and we had a grad class last week where we had about 50 pastors here on campus. It was a great week! I will share pictures of our banquet later.

Bri, I am sure that you will enjoy alot of these pictures! I am not sure if Mom was able to email any of them to you.

We all had a nice Christmas breakfast with Grandma & Grandpa Huffman and Aunt Brenda. After that Dad read the Christmas story and then we opened presents. After Christmas dinner, the cousins came over. It was a great Christmas! And yes Bri, we all slept under the tree; we missed you!!


Christmas Breakfast


Kelli & Heston Christmas Morning


Dad


Mom


Bryce


Colton


Aunt Brenda & the boys


Grandma Huffman


Grandpa Huffman


Kaylee, Karissa & Kara


Kara


Lesley & Colton


Karissa & Great-Grandpa looking at his new flashlight

Happy Birthday, Heston!

Today is Heston's 27th Birthday! I made him cupcakes to take with him to his 6th grade class at Faith, where he is student teaching. I am also making him a shoofly pie for his birthday cake. He LOVES those! Then it will probably be out to Chinese for dinner.

I am thankful for such a wonderful husband. This is the 5th birthday that we have spent together. Heston, I love you now more than ever and I am so very thankful for you! I love you very much and I know you will love your present!