Family Music festival at Lake Itasca, and our attempted trip to Toronto

The Wisseman family singing at the bluegrass festival. These pictures were taken the weekend before we were to go to Toronto.

Joanna enjoying the park

My sweet girls

The Wisseman family did a children's program at the festival

Victoria enjoying the shade. What a face

The cabin we rented for one night at Wandering Wheels in Michigan. No , we did not all fit in the cabin.  Our van blew a manifold gasket at 10:30pm, just outside of Christmas. Ho Ho Ho. What a wonderful gift. But we know that God makes no mistakes in our lives, so we were stuck at this campground without a vehicle for 2 days. By the time the van got fixed, it was late Friday night, and we decided that we were not going to keep going down the road. We were so sad to miss my Dad's 8oth birthday party, but felt that we couldn't go on as we had no idea if the van would get us there and back.  We stayed at this campground just outside of Munising MI. A beautiful area with lots to do.

Mini putt was favorite at the campground, as well as swimming in the pool.

Rachel in the cabin...now that's camping.

We picked lots of blackberries where we stayed. Even got to share some with  the workers at the campground

There were so many beautiful falls, here are just a few pics.

The kids were so good, and really enjoyed themselves. Only ones missing here are Ben and Victoria

Yes, this shot is on the shores of lake Superior, just beautiful. This was taken 300' above.

Do you think they enjoyed the beach???

Caught you Linda. I think she enjoyed her self more than the children

Reuben on some of the pictured rocks

The scenery was just incredible

Thank you Father for remembering your promise

The end of a fantastic day on the beach. So our vacation did not end up as planned, but I guess we never know what is around the corner for us. I guess God wanted us to bless some of the folks we rubbed shoulders with in Michigan.  Victoria traveled okay, but she was also one of the reasons that we did not go on, as her colour in and around her eyes did not seem right. I really missed seeing my family as some of them I have not seen for over 4 years...something to look forward to I guess. One of the lessons that God is teaching me through Victoria is to trust Him when things don't turn out as we plan. Normally I get upset when things do not go as planned, but His peace was so evident in my heart this time (for those of you who have broken down in the middle of nowhere, you will know what I'm talking about.)  We have much to be thankful for. Blessing on  your day, and remember to pack peace, patience and trust on you next family vacation. Bruce

Victoria is Six Months!

Hurray for six months.  Why are we so happy for six months? Only 3% of babies with HPE are born. Of those 3 %, only 50% will ever make it to six months.  So, we count our blessings. At work today as I showed some pictures of Victoria, someone made the comment that life is so unfair to allow something like this to happen. No I said, we don't blame God or think He makes any mistakes in our lives. We are just grateful for the days He gives us, and if He gave us what we deserve, none of us would be here today.  Tomorrow, Lord willing, we are on our way to Toronto for Dad's 80th birthday party on Sat. Would appreciate your prayers for a safe journey,and that the van would run well (307k miles and counting on the van)., and that we would be able to be a blessing to those the Lord sends our way.  We are so grateful for all our children, aren't they a blessing?

Victoria in her car seat

Thank you so much for praying for our family. We are so weak, but God is so strong. May  you be resting in the sweet arms of Jesus today. Sometime today, thank God for how good He is. Blessing. Bruce

Happy Birthday Rachel July 6th

Rachel had some friends over for her birthday this year.

 

They had a wonderful time eating, playing games, and having Caleb take pictures. How many did you have to delete off of your camera Krahn girls?

 

Here she is, our sweet Rachel. Wonderful disposition. Organized. Thorough in her work. Great initiative . Loves Jesus. You are certainly a blessing  Rachel. Lots of love, Dad

Mom and Dad's Visit

WAITING!!!!Have you ever had a hard time waiting for something? I think it goes without saying, that most of us do not like to wait.Whether its in line, in traffic, for appointments...you get the idea. But what about waiting on God, just as tough I think. In Isa. 30 it mentions waiting several times. For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: (and then the sad words) and ye would not." Later it says "blessed are all they that wait for him." Are we part of the waiters, or the others, and you would not rest ? I would love to rush ahead in time to see how certain situations will turn out, but we must wait. I would love to see what Victoria will be like in say 5 years, but we must wait. Thank God its not a hopeless waiting, but it will be an unprofitable waiting if we miss the present. You see, we only live in the present, and sometimes we can miss the joy of the present because of our worry of the future. Quietness, and confidence is to be our strength . Okay, enough preaching.

We had a wonderful time with my parents who came to visit from Toronto.

No visit would be complete without games and food. Mom, you sure made us laugh in the balderdash game
My mom and Victoria
Can you believe that Dad is almost 80? Here he is staying fit in the school playground
Then there was the trip to Macdonalds

Thank you Aunt Ruth and uncle Wilf for providing for this meal. Our famous Roosevelt diner is closed, so had to settle for the Black Bear Cafe.

I am blessed with such wonderful parents. I think they enjoyed Victoria, and all the others too.
The time went all too fast.

 Hello: I hope you are all enjoying our beautiful summer. The flowers are blooming, the grass is growing, the chicks are exploding (sure am glad that children don't grow that fast), and the children are growing older, and wiser. (I hope). these pictures are really in no particular order, just a little bit of what it looks like around here these days.
 


My parents have been up visiting from Toronto (will have pics on that later). Went to the park to play a little soccer, inspired by the World cup I guess.
 







We had another birthday this month.
Happy birthday Joanna. Five is just the right number for you
 

We all love the weekend, and no it is not because we don't have to go to work...its when we get to see Benjamin again. He has been enjoying his job at Digi Key in Thief River falls, and has been a blessing to the seniors he visits every week. He has begun a bible study on Thursdays at work, and had the privilege of leading a coworker to the Lord.
The Lord has officially closed the door for his job with Border Patrol...disappointing, but content in his plan for our lives.

 
 
 
















Victoria continues to do well. Please pray for us as we look for a neurosurgeon who is lets say, on the same page as we are in terms of our view of our daughter. Ones worldview sure affects much of how we live and how we view treasures like our Victoria. Sure will be exciting to see what the future holds for us, but till then, we want to be faithful in all we do. We read that tonight in our family quiet time from Rev. 2 Faithful followers of Jesus, through calm days, and when the storms knock the lights out..faithful, till we see the beauty of Jesus, face to face, and here, well done thou good and faithful servant...that will be enough. Press on dear saint, lift up your eyes, shine for Him, enjoy Him.
I won't really comment on any more of the pics. Blessings, Bruce