Journey of Faith- The Prayer Board

Family.

An old hymn board.

A Journey of Faith.

Wrapped in the hands of our loving God.

Embracing the good times and 

leaning hard in the challenging times.

Silly smiles.

Hugs.

Sweet moments to capture 

in one place to center prayers.

Oh, Lord bless your hand on this 

family and let them learn of your goodness-

in all things. Amen

 

The Little Things

 

The little things.

 God uses the little things.

As I move through a busy week and transition time,

 I am reminded of God's faithfulness.

He doesn't need big projects or accomplishments

 to extend His will into the world.  

He works through a smile, a hug, a kind word,

 a simple act of kindness, and a heart-felt prayer.

The very tiny petals of the Miss Kim lilac

 are a great reminder of how tiny things

 gathered together create a whole image of goodness.

Our world wants to applaud Big projects, Big goals and 

BIG success.

Won't you join me to make a difference with little things?

Follow #vfm_littlethings on Instagram.

Tag your reports of little things on FB and Instagram.

Join a movement of little things.

 I give thanks that our very BIG GOD uses little things.

Lord, help my heart and soul to be centered on 

the Little Things.

Prayers from a Mother's Heart

 This month has found our family in a serious health crisis 

with our youngest grandchild- Hadley Grace. 

She arrived safely home to Michigan

 this evening after being hospitalized July 17. 

 During her days in the PICU-

 (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) 

our daughter Laura gathered her

 prayers in Visual format.

 From a Mother's heart-

a time for prayer.

 Capturing Holy Spirit nudges 

and documenting the struggle.

 Sometimes the prayer takes shape

 in the swish of a brush of color to paper.

 Perhaps it is ONE WORD 

that becomes a breath prayer.

Repeated over and over.

 God's Word brings hope 

in ALL SITUATIONS.

Great Wonders.

As we bring this little

 "miracle girl" home.

His love endures forever.

In ALL THINGS.

Hadley Grace with mom Laura
 and dad- Joshua.

Artwork by Laura Schumacher-

Visual Faith Coach- 

and our "middle" daughter.

Faith Grows in Waiting

We are living out some 
challenging days in our family 

with the illness of a granddaughter.

We have seen the outpouring of love 

and encouragement from so many-
with a huge dose of HOPE.

 The body of Christ has surrounded us with words

that show love 

and the real way that faith in Jesus connects us.

This card came in the mail today

 from a friend that offered 

Romans 15:13. 

It has become the verse

 we cling to right now.

"May the God of hope fill you 
with all joy and peace 
as you trust in him, 
so that you may overflow with hope 
by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Thank you Lord,
for some many that serve you
 with hands and feet and hearts
for others. Amen.

40 Year Anniversary

40 Years.

 Forty years since my first husband - 

Larry James Martin died.

Dec. 26, 1979.

Somehow I couldn't post yesterday.

Peace has certainly filled my life in the later years.

Nothing prepares you for losing

 your spouse so young.

 I was 24.

Tragic- yes.

But, in the aftermath of God's design- 

He brought restoration.

Beyond my wildest imagination.

 I saw a nephew a couple of weeks ago

 at my mother-in-law's funeral.

That was a treasured hug and a gift.

 A whole family.

 That I still love.

Nieces and nephews and all the in-laws.

Still in my prayers-

  Lord, may your work your mighty ways

 into all their lives - 

with blessings beyond imagination.

With the great hope of eternal reunion with 

ALL of my family, because of your son- Jesus.

Amen.

Family Gathering- New Life Celebration

The funeral for Grandma D- Florene Denninger 

brought us all together from British Columbia, Canada,

Ontario, Canada, Virginia, Iowa and Michigan.

We gathered back at Lutheran Life Villages

 to eat and tell stories.

All the littles were gifted a harmonica- 

to remind us all to dance with joy because we 

"know that our Redeemer Lives."

Time with Papa and his guitar.

 We loved letting them all sing

 and make a joyful noise.

Time was spent looking 

at Grandma D's life albums.

So many stories of God's faithfulness.

 The littles had fun with each other.

 The Nord family gathers together.

 Time to hold and cuddle is always a good thing.

 Then biggest grand love 

with the youngest grand love.

#dengrandloves

 John gets some time to talk
 with his older brother.

Sara, David and Kathy with the 2 littlest grands.

The Denninger sisters- Top

The Graft sisters- Bottom 

(with spouses) 

Funerals are life moments 
to review and see priorities.
We give thanks that this 
faithful servant, Florene, could say:
"I have fought the good fight, 
I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7

We give thanks for the faithful generations 
that have followed Florene.
May the Lord grant us each 
such a legacy too.

(Some edits have been made
 because of an adoption in process. 
We know you understand.)

Faithful Servant- Florene Denninger

Florene Alma Marie Droegemueller Denninger

June 16, 1920- November 12, 2019

Nurse, Sunday School and Bible Class teacher, 
Lutheran School teacher 
for 25 years in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 
pianist and accompanist, Stephen minister.
But most of all, Florene-
 witnessed the life of invitation
 into her home-
 where she shared the truth of Scripture, 
and encouragement to all.
She lived out the joy and peace 
beyond understanding 
that grew out of her faith and trust 
in her Lord and Savior.

 Her Baptism Certificates-
Baptism- June 27, 1920

 An Advent Funeral is a Regeneration-

Genesis Again

New Life Forever.

An Advent funeral 
is our own journey to Bethlehem.

 The remembrance that this season 

before Christmas brings us HOPE.

Rev. Mike Wakeland reads God's Word

 at the funeral held at the 

Chapel at Lutheran Life Villages

 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

 Mother to Four Children.

Doris Denninger Hrachovina (already in Heaven)

David Denninger

Lois Denninger Nord

John Denninger

Grandma D to:

Martin, Micah and Aaron Nord

Jessica (Denninger) Meier

Laura (Denninger) Schumacher

Sara (Denninger) Wilson

Great Grandmother to:

Magdalena and Ezra Nord

Ruby and Eloise Nord 

Jackson and Charleston Meier

Griffin, Gordon and Hadley Schumacher

Levi, Isaiah, and Jonah Wilson

We sang Jesus Loves Me- 

to include all the young children

 as participants in the funeral.

 Funerals are often where 

one generation honors 

the previous generation.

And tries to make sense of death

 for the generation to follow.

Because Christ Lives

 we do not fear death.

Rev. Tom Eggold conducts

 the committal at Concordia Gardens.

 We watched the entombment.

 Grandma's resting space- 

now with Grandpa Bill.

We give thanks for the gift of life

 lived out so generously 

to her own family and others.

We give thanks for 

God's faithfulness to Florene.

The final words she heard on earth were:

 "For I am convinced that...

nothing in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from

 the love of God that is in 

Christ Jesus our Lord."

Set Free

 This canvas hugs the wall 

on the way to the laundry room.

I walk by it numerous times

 in a day. 

Glance - maybe. 

But, today I was just stopped

 in my tracks.

SET FREE.

A crevice just widened.

Those few moments became a 

couple of minutes as I looked at this 

canvas and breathed in the prayer
 of these words.

Created 

Valued

Forgiven

Called 

Transformed.

Oh thank you Lord, 

that there is SO MUCH MORE.

In this place and time on a 

sunny, bright day I can 

STAND TALL.

For this gift I give thanks,

 laundry basket in hand,

breath of sweet goodness,

of my faithful God. 

Baptism of Hadley Grace

The Baptism Day story 

for Hadley Grace.

 Pastor Gabe Kasper of 

University Lutheran Chapel

 officiated for the Baptism

 of Hadley Grace Schumacher 

on September 1, 2019.

 Rev. John Denninger-

 "Papa" was blessed to do the baptism.

Sponsors were Rachel and Kyle Thoms

 and Sara and Joshua Wilson.

The immediate and extended family

 of Laura Denninger Schumacher.

The Denninger clan 

with spouses and the littles.

The extended family of Joshua Schumacher 

- the Decker side.

Great Grandma Decker with the 

Schu family.

   Hadley and her godmother- Rachel

Sponsors - Rachel and Kyle

Miss Hadley Grace 

sporting some of her head gear.

Part of the celebrations of the day.

Aunt Lois Nord brought cherry rolls.

A beautiful baptism cake added to the festivities.

What a blessing to have family 

and friends for such a wonderful celebration.

Micah and Aunt Lois Nord came from Iowa 

and had no trouble finding babies to hold.

 Helpers for gift opening

 Gathering of the littles

The Three Sisters and their youngest

 And the troops?     

 This is our best effort of the 

7 little boys and 1 little girl.

Jonah and Hadley- the 2 littlest.

And we just put them

 both in the same swing.

 Think they liked that.

And big brother Griffin in awe.
So So MUCH
to be thankful for.....