As for me and my House

It's been a long couple of weeks... I've been dealing with a lot, been WAY too busy with everything in life!
Someday's are easier then others, and then everything gets hard again. I'm constantly being reminded to call on the Lord moment by moment for my supply :)

The Lord is my Shephard and Leader through this life and I've been growing closer and closer to him in these harder, yet such great times.

I'm spending this Thanksgiving without my real family! My Parents are in Cali, Hannah is in London, Naomi is in Ashville, NC, Alissa and her family are in Rochester, MN. Mark is spending it with his girlfriends family, and Matt, I don't know :(... To say the least I'm hanging with my employer's family, which isn't a bad thing, they are saints, but I want MY FAMILY!! I'm being a BIG baby this year....

I truely believe that because of everything I've had to deal with good and bad this year, I am growing as a better person. I really miss my Grandmother, everyday I have thoughts at least once about her! I'm loving my life at the moment, but whose life is without stress and worry? I'm copping the best way I know how, and that is to set my heart and eyes on the Lord each and every moment of each day! I have been growing in Life in the most wonderful way possible.

Philippians 4:6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.

This year will come to a close with the semi annual training in Cali, and spending two split up weeks with my Parents in Big Bear, California. :D I'll be in California the last two weeks of Dec. and the first week in Jan 2012. I'm looking forward to the time off, and spending time with my "rents" :). The week in Anaheim, CA gaining the Lord and studying Pslams, being with ALL the saints 2011, will in fact have a perfect ending.

While 2012 approches, looking back on 2011... My first FULL blooded niece (my mother's first grandchild), Nora Azelea Greising being born Dec. 25th, 2010, She will be 1 years old Christmas day :)! I first got to meet her precious face at the end of January 2011. Feb. brought new beginnings, March brought my Golden birthday when I turned 26, on the 26th of March, along with the SE Blending spring conference the same weekend. April brought spring break and my first trip to visit my parents in Big Bear, California since they had moved there to serve the Lord full time once again. May. brought my sister Alissa's first wedding anniversary. June. brought my last family reunion with my Grandmother Doris Holloway being there. Summer break... Summer June and July off of work and spent in Rochester, MN with my niece Nora :) and her family getting to know my newly bro in law Ian. Also my last week with my Grandmother ever in Minneapolis, and spent with one of my favorite people in the world my cousin Jody. August brought summers end, and work. A trip to Jacksonville, FL for a SE fall blending conference. Sept. brought the death of my Grandmother, and another trip to Minneapolis, MN to spend time with family in a time of mourning. Oct. brought life, through the SE College age blending conference, "Drink the river of water of life to quench your thirst for the Lord!!"... Nov. brought my baby sister's 25th quarter of a century old birthday ;). and Dec. is going to bring new hope... plans for a new year... and a GREAT/ perfect end to what was a great yet REALLY hard year to live through.

I love my family and all my friends. For those of you reading this, thank you for being there for me this year. "it's been a year!" I'm grateful to have y'all in my life standing by my side, if not behind me ;).

Picture Post :)

Thought I would share a couple of these :)

My family ( missing two! from left to right: Ian, Alissa and Nora Greising, Me, Matt, Mom, Dad and Mark)

My Grandpa Holloway's Grave (my Mom's Father)

Back of Grandpa's grave where Grandma's Name will be. She was buried on top of him 10 years later.

My Father and His Grandchild Nora Azeala Greising

My older sister Alissa, Nora and baby bump!!

Momentums

Matt and I went to Grandma's yesterday... I got a trunk full of my Grandma's things. Including her china :)!!

Spent the evening with family, had a dinner at my uncle Jolly's house!! Played smear, which is a card game that my grandmother loved :). I now have the official rules.

Spending the day at my cousin Leah's house the boys are working all day here!

I'm super exhausted, emotionally and physically. Can't wait to see Nora tomorrow!!

Grandma's Funeral

Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life... Saying goodbye yet celebrating my grandma's life! I still can't not cry when I think about it, I honestly don't know how long that will last. Life must go on... I thank the Lord she was saved and knew the Lord very well. My Grandpa was buried in a military grave yard next to the minneapolis airport, and my Grandma was buried right above Him. They have the same head stone, one of them engraved on both sides. I'm glad they are together :). My little brother Matt had never gotten to visit our Grandpa's grave, so we went there after the ceremony to visit him, and lay white roses on their grave! Now when I come to visit, I can stop by and see them each time.

It was a long day, but spent wisely! I enjoyed the company of all my family and could feel the love and support from each one. The children were a joy to be around :)!

Today, we are going to be raiding my Grandma's apartment for momentums!! I know there will be a few things that I really would like to have. But when I walked in the other night it was really hard not to see my Grandma's smiling face greet me. I suppose I'll be in a mist of tears again all day!!

We are having dinner with family, and will probably be going to Rochester, MN with my Mom tomorrow my sister lives there with her family.

Here are the verses my Uncle Gaylin shared at my Grandma's funeral: John 11:25-26  Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes into Me, even if he should die, shall live; And every one who lives and believes into Me shall by no means die forever. Do you believe this?

I love my family!!

Well it's been a LONG day but I though I'd just write a little something while it's fresh on the mind!! I'm in Minneapolis, MN, arrived safely last night at around 1am, after visiting with my sister Alissa and her daughter Nora in Rochester for a couple hours :)!! Pics to follow!

Today we woke up early my cousin Jody and I had some great catching up time (I was just here in July and spent a week with him, so it wasnt too much)! Then off to my grandmothers wake :'(... I loved my grandmother very much and it was hard to see her body just laying there without her really there. Death is a natural thing and it comes to us all when the Lord God chooses to take us from this world and into His!!

Here is a poem that made me cry yet again:
"I'm free"
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path that God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard His call
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I've found the peace at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joys
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My lifes been full I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee
God wanted me now; He set me free.

Here are some verses I enjoyed today!

Psalms 143:8  Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You I trust. Make known to me the way on which I should walk, For to You I lift up my soul.

145:8  Jehovah is gracious and compassionate, Long-suffering and great in lovingkindness.

Then the peace of God will guard our hearts and our thoughts in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).

After the viewing... Most the relatives went over to the older peoples apartment housing that was my Grandmother's last home here on earth. We had dinner together and just enjoyed eachothers company! I really love my family.... We are huge in number along with an abundance of love, it all started with my Grandma! I happened to need to go to my grandmothers apartment for blow up beds for my brothers to sleep on, and it was just a Erie felling of emptiness. It made me cry! I've never been there and not seen her smiling face greet me :'(... Just thinking about it makes me cry right now. I held it together around the family for the most part. I feel tomorrow will be very very emotional. Th funeral starts at 10am we as family have to be present at 9am. Lunch after for the family. Off to the grave site with a police escort. And back to Grandma's "home" for time with family again!

Alright, I'm off to bed.

Rental car companies

Okay yesterday was the longest day of my life... I worked for twelve hours... My brothers were trying to get our rental car, but lots of problems occured! My brother mark was unable to get the car for reasons unspoken. My brother Matthew, oh the devil really pushed and pulled his buttons and cons on us!! In all the hustle and bustle of craziness that has been our lives sin Matthews birthday, grandma dying... Matt didn't realize his license expired on his birthday! Of all the things that could go wrong they seriously did!! We couldn't get the money for the rental into my account!!! So ugh after much trouble, struggling, being jerked from left to right with the rental company. At 12am we called our Dad's bestfriend who is willing to help any any situation we get ourselves into because we are his kids also!! Love him! We finally got our rental car worked out at 1am in the morning we had been working on it for 10 hours!! (3pm-1am) Like I said longest day ever!!

We are now making good time and in the words of a good friend "satan is really good at that, I've found. He knows exactly what buttons need to be pushed to get you out of your spirit and into yourself. Thankfully you know his strategy so he can stand against it. Yeah,and your family is a big one too. That's the awesome thing about the church life...theres always going to be a shoulder, a dad, a mom, brother, sister, etc." Thank you Mark S. For your words oh so wise and encouraging right when I was in need of them :). We are in st Louis and should be in Minneapolis, MN by late this evening will let you know when!!

Also, we are driving a Toyota camry 2011 :)... Smooth ride!!

Obituaries

As scary as this all is it's really hard to read this and NOT cry, obituaries!!

Doing a little better this morning... It's only going to get harder from now until the Funeral monday. My two brothers Mark, Matt and I are driving up to Minnesota tonight. We'll be stoping by to see my niece, Mark and Matt have not met her yet, I think it better that they met her before the funeral. Who wants to met their niece for the first time that their Grandmother's funeral?? Then driving up to my cousin Jody's. The viewing is sunday, and the funeral is Monday. Anyways, we'll be sticking around up there for a week. Then Head off to Indy (Indianapolis), to see some old friends next weekend. And Drive home next Sunday, hoping to be able to stop in Murfreesboro, TN to see some friends too. So I'll try and keep you updated on things this next week, but no promises. Here is a little someone to put a smile on your face she always makes me smile !! :)

Nora Azeala Greising :)

Grandma passing

My Mom's mother Doris Holloway died this morning. This was a not a surprise she had a disease that was eating away at her muscle tissue starting from her legs up, called Myopathy. My Grandma left behind: 9 Children, 8 Inlaws, 25 Grandchildren, and 26 Great Grandchildren.
In June I flew to Minnesota for the summer to spend it with my sister Alissa and her new growing family. We had a family reunion on the 11th of June. My grandma was still able to walk at this point. I was in Rochester for around 6 weeks, spending time with my precious niece Nora Azeala. The last week I was in Minnesota, (before having to come back to work for the school year) I spent in Minneapolis staying with my cousin Jody. Jody took me to see my Grandma every day while I was there, along with giving me a tour of the city and other such things. I thank God for Jody everyday. He's one of the most caring, loving cousins I have. He is defentaly a precious soul in God's family. So I got to spend a entire week with my Grandma! It was nice. We mostly talked ALOT, she talked just as much as my Mom and I do, I'm glad I got that from her. I like to think she has imparted alot of her wisdom on me in so many aspects of my life. She was a GREAT wise lady and one of my favorite people. I'm having a hard time writing this right now, I'm going to take a break and try and come back later... Here is the last picture we took together while i was there.

The one good thing about all this is I get to see my Mom and Dad. Along with the rest of my extended family. I miss Nora everyday!

My "little" Brother turns 23!!

My little brother turns 23 in 10 mins. He being the youngest of 8, this is a kind of scary thought!! He is one of the closet people to me, and I love him with all my heart! I can only hope and pray he grows into a great man! Happy 23rd birthday to my baby brother Matthew :)!

On a side note... One of the greatest people I know and love went into a coma today, I'm praying that my family can get through all of this within God's comforting embrace. I read something today that touched me, it's from "the pure in heart" - Witness Lee "Often, certain things may cause the soul of a saved person to be full of pain and sorrow, yet still, deep within his being, there is a joy which is unspeakable. This proves that other then having a soul within our being, there is a spirit deep within us. Hence, sometimes we may be sad because we have a soul, but the reason we can be joyful is that we have a spirit. When our soul feels sorrowful, the Holy Spirit will strengthen us and give us joy from within." it might not be exactly what I needed to hear (or rather read), but it was close enough. The loss of my Mommies, mother will be felt greatly, but I truly believe she will be going to a better place. Even though she will be missed for the rest of my life :'(, I am thankful I got the great week this past July that I spent with her. The Lord is my comfort in all things sorrowful, especially in all the losses I've been having to deal with the past year. When God desires to take my grandma Dorris, it will be in His perfact timing. My mommy will feel this loss the most, and I feel for her. I don't know what I'd do without my mom at this point. Lord be our comfort!