Tag: faithfulness

Happy New Year

On the last day of the year I was driving with my seven year old. I mentioned it was the last day and the new year started the next day.

“Was 2025 a good year?” He asked.

“Well, there were good things and hard things in it. We had some losses and we had some good things too.”

“So it was a normal year?” He asked.

I think all too often we have this unrealistic expectation that we “deserve” a good year or we shouldn’t have any hardships. We want comfort and ease and never ask for difficulties.

But that isn’t real life.

Last year we lost a close friend, a dog, a baby, a lamb, cars. Some were harder losses than others.

But we had good things too. Andrew got a new job that has blessed our whole family in many ways. Projects were accomplished. We had an amazing family trip to our cabin and everyone grew in so many ways.

Charles Swindoll said, “When I ask people when they really grew spiritually, they never describe an easy time. Never.”

We’re all going to face hardships our entire lives. Our mindset in it is what matters. Do you whine and complain and feel envious of those who seem to have it easy? Or do you ask God what He’s trying to teach you in it? Do you find the blessings in the midst of the difficulty or do you just focus on the negative?

Did you know that research has shown that how we think about a situation actually rewires our brain? It’s called neuroplasticity and I don’t think we truly understand the power of this. When we focus on the negative, we will continue to see the negative.

When we look for the good and positive, we start to see it more and more. We actually rewire our brain to see the good. It’s really cool! And it’s really real.

In the past two weeks we’ve had a lot. Truly, a lot.

Our son and his girlfriend came to visit for Christmas. It was our first time meeting her and then we all got sick with influenza. We had numerous Christmas events and in the midst of it all, our cat got really sick. Then we had to say goodbye to Isaiah and his girlfriend, whom we had fallen in love with.  I rang in the New Year with a child on the couch suffering from croup. Then we had to make the hard decision to put our cat down. It still sounds like a symphony of coughing in my house.

I could choose to look at all the negative. But I choose to see the good in it all. We got to see Isaiah and Karli and welcome her into our family. We went sledding and enjoyed good food. In the middle of the night with the croupy child, we stood on the porch letting her breathe in the cold air. She looked at me and said so sweetly, “I’ve never been outside at this time before. It’s nice.” (It was 3:30am)

Then yesterday, two of my girls got in an accident. It could have been so terrible but praise Jesus he protected them. They hit a snow drift and spun, sideswiping an oncoming car. Had he not swerved when he did, it would have been a head on collision. Again, I can focus on the terrible fact that they had an accident. Or I can thank God they are safe.

So, how are you wiring your brain? Are you going into this new year thinking it’s going to be “your year” and it’s going to be amazing and perfect? Or are you ready to look for the good and blessings in the midst of real life? Are you ready to thank God for the good and for the way He carries you and refines you in the hard?

I don’t look at all the hard in the last two weeks as a premonition of what’s to come this year. I don’t see all those things and think, oh great 2026 is going to be terrible. They are all just part of life. And God is so faithful. Every single time there’s something difficult, I see Him. I see His love for us and His goodness to us.

As you enter this new year, remember we aren’t promised all ease and comfort. But we are promised that He will never leave or forsake us.

Happy New Year!

The Last Hour

The last six months have been an interesting ride. We’ve lost and gained and through it all God has shown up.

Just today a friend posted how her car broke down today, right before she was headed on a trip and how amazing it was that God protected her and took care of her. Her car could have broken down on the road, away from family to help her, but instead it happened right where she could get help.

That’s the kind of God we have. Sometimes it doesn’t look like help and protection and provision. She could have looked at that as a total negative; what if her trip had to be moved or cancelled.

We have to have the right perspective about the things that happen in our life. And when we look for God’s provision, we see it!

We can see the darkness, or we can choose to see the light.

From the moment Andrew lost his job another company began pursuing him. They offered him a good salary and he knew the industry. But we knew it wasn’t the right fit. It was so tempting though because he would have been getting double paid and we wouldn’t have had to worry about finding a job. But we just knew.

In September Andrew’s Rolodex of business cards fell. It scattered cards everywhere. In all the mess, one card was face up. Just one.

Andrew picked it up and thought, hmm, maybe I should reach out. So he did. He had a great meeting with the gentleman who was, in fact, going to be needing someone. He just wasn’t sure when.

So Andrew pursued anything and everything, applying to many, many places. He had a few interviews, a lot of “no thanks” emails. It’s hard to see those over and over again. I kept trying to reassure him that he was amazing and the right job was out there and God knew where it was. But it’s hard to face rejection repeatedly.

In November, we heard a speaker talk about God’s timing. He said something like this, “God is the slowest person I know. He likes to create a little drama, ramp things up a bit before he comes through. But He always comes through, usually at the last hour.”

My Spirit reacted to that. The Last Hour. On the way home, I told Andrew, I think God just told me today He’s working and we have to keep waiting and trusting. He’s going to come in at the last hour.

Now for us impatient folks, that’s not what we want to hear. But God. More than desiring to give a job, He desired us to learn to wait on Him, to trust Him more deeply, and to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He’ll keep His promise to take care of us.

In early December Andrew made it to the third round of interviews at a really great company close to home. We were excited and it seemed like a good fit. Then he got the “sorry but we went with someone else email”. We felt very defeated and sad.

Yet, I heard that quiet whisper again…it’s not the last hour.

There’s nothing quite like going through Christmas unemployed, knowing severance is going to run out soon, with no prospects on the horizon.

Then, Andrew got a text, hey I posted a job, you should apply. It was from the person whose business card had landed face up. So he applied. He told them plainly what he’d need to make and how important our family time is. He laid out all his parameters up front, just feeling like he needed to.

They interviewed him and then it was quiet for quite a while. Andrew kept sending out his resume, grasping at suggestions from friends and anything he found online. It’s truly a testament to Andrew’s diligence and perseverance. To see him up early every morning, scouring the internet, filling out applications, writing cover letters tailored to each job, answering emails. He really put in his all.

But there’s only so much you can do when job hunting. A lot lies in the employers and their willingness to say yes. And, of course, as we know, most of it lies with God and His workings.

Fast forward to the new year and Andrew finally got a call for a second interview. He felt both interviews went well and he really enjoyed getting to know everyone he talked to. Still, they hadn’t said anything about pay which made us a bit nervous.

Another couple weeks went by and Andrew got a text from this same gentleman. He wanted to come down and meet with Andrew. We thought, surely he’s not going to travel all the way down here to say “no thanks”.

But he didn’t offer the job. He asked a lot more questions. Andrew got the feeling he really liked Andrew but had reservations. After the meeting he told Andrew they were going to make a decision in a week.

Four days later, Andrew received an offer letter! And, well, let’s just say, God knew exactly what He was doing all along. I’m still standing in awe of how he has orchestrated every detail.

He gave Andrew all his requests, even ones we hadn’t prayed for!

And He came in at the very last hour. You see his severance runs out three days before he starts his new job! If that isn’t the last hour, I don’t know what is!

Andrew is now the store manager at Heartland Outlet in Shakopee, a place that marries business with ministry. There literally isn’t a better fit for Andrew! He loves sales and he loves Jesus and He gets to combine them everyday now at work!

We are excited and hopeful and praising Jesus for this. We also recognize it’s a long commute, so please pray for safety over him as he drives 2 hours everyday. And please pray for a better all-wheel drive vehicle he can commute in. We know God gave him this job and we know He’ll provide for all the details too, including a car. The one he drives now has almost 300,000 miles on it!

I want to say, truly and from my heart, if you’ve been praying for our family, thank you. We serve a listening Father, who comes through, even if He does wait until the last hour!

Even When it Rains

Sometimes, try as you might, you just can’t control things. I don’t know about you, but I like control over situations in my life. I like to fix what’s not right, repair the broken.

Lately God has been reminding me that no matter how much I want to be in control and no matter how much I think I’m in control, I’m really not at all. I’m just telling myself a big lie!

We had the most beautiful winter and early spring. Usually in Minnesota winter is harsh with below zero temps, blustery blizzards, and slick ice. But this past year was mild, at least in comparison. And spring came early which made me eager to get gardening. Our seedlings were doing well, I had the plots all laid out, and the ground was ready.

We spent hours planting, weeding, and tending. And then…

Then it started to rain. From the beginning of May until now, June 21st, we’ve had 40″ of rain! That’s almost 3 1/2 feet of rain! And it’s come in 3 and 4 and 7 inches at a time. Just this morning we had 3 more inches in 4 hours.

Needless to say, I’ve just stood and watched my garden go under. Every downpour it floods. Every rain storm more plants die. Only lettuce is thriving.

I want to fix it. I want to pump the water away somehow. I want to wish the rain away when I see it in the forecast.

As I feel panic rising with every new rainfall, I have to remind myself to breathe deeply and pray.

The first few floods, all I heard was raindrops splashing off every surface, thunder crashing, and running water trickling everywhere.

I don’t even know how many times our garden has been underwater now. Five, six, more?

Now in the midst of those devastating noises, I hear something else. Something better.

That still small voice that brings peace that surpasses understanding.

It’s often hard to hear in the rush of life when there are demands and noises all around us. Kids need something, another item is broken, people are causing chaos around us, the schedule is demanding we keep up, and on and on.

Do you ever stop to hear that still small voice? Do you hear Him calling you? I know I don’t listen for it at first. I have to be reminded somehow.

In the midst of this spring, He’s telling me to let go control, something I never had anyway.

‭Psalm 55:22 ESV‬
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

He’s asking me to let Him carry my anxiety because He loves me so much, He’s willing to do that.

‭1 Peter 5:7 ESV‬
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.


He is speaking to me about how good, faithful and trustworthy He is, no matter what is happening around me.

‭Isaiah 26:4 ESV‬
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

‭Psalm 46:1 ESV‬
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

‭Jeremiah 16:19 ESV‬
O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble

‭Psalm 91:1-2 ESV‬
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”


As I watch the garden go under, I hear Him remind me I can still trust Him. He is still on His throne, unmoved by man or weather or disaster.

I can honestly say I am truly sad right now. It’s so hard to watch something you’ve worked so hard for get destroyed. But I can also say I have a good, good God who loves me and knows exactly what I need.

Seek Him, read His Word, hide it in your heart, and ask Him to show to He is faithful. Life will bring trials and hardships. But God won’t change. He’ll always be there with you, walking you through, and showing you how much He loves you.

We can still grieve. We can mourn and shed tears.  It’s ok to feel the hard. It’s just not ok to sit there forever. Feel it and then remind yourself of God’s truth and let that fill those places that are filled with the hard.

God is good, even when it rains.

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day!

This is always such a bittersweet day for me, as I know it is for many. While my mom is rejoicing in heaven, I don’t take for granted that I enjoyed a wonderful relationship with her while she was on earth. She was my dearest friend and I know my sister would say the same of her. We could talk to her about anything without fearing anger or judgment. She had a great sense of humor, an awesome accent, loved coffee and a good chat!

The list could go on and on. She was truly an amazing woman.

I count it as no coincidence that as Mother’s Day approached I was required to read Proverbs 31:10-31 for a study I’m doing with the young people I mentor and tutor. God works like that, you know.

As I read and studied this passage I remember a sermon I heard preached on it. The pastor taught that the Proverbs 31 woman was a myth and unattainable. He said that it was likely a parent telling their son, “An excellent wife who can find?” with dripping sarcasm. He shared how the rest of the passage went on to detail all the things the parent was saying he could hope and wish for but never actually find.

You know what? I think he was completely wrong.

I’ve seen this woman. I watched her as I grew up. She rose early and provided for her household with wisdom. She dressed herself in strength and confidence everyday, even as she faced deep hardships. She dealt with living thousands of miles across an ocean from all her family, she persevered as a young adult through learning a new language, how to drive in a new country, and school with toddlers so she could provide a better life for her family. Even after she got us through toddlerhood and started working, it wasn’t all peaches and roses. She was married to an alcoholic and that reared its ugly head time and again. And long before her time, she faced cancer with grace, dignity, and a strength that was superhuman.

The Proverbs 31 woman exists. I’ve witnessed it.

Was she perfect? Of course not. As surely as my mom was imperfect, the Proverbs 31 woman was imperfect too. But she persevered and endured. Her strength was not temporary or fleeting. She remained steadfast in the Lord’s love, faithfulness, and strength.

Recently it was said of us, “I guess I can see what the Schwabs are trying to do.” I’m not totally sure what was meant by this and could take it two ways. One, they perceive us as working to engrave our names in lights, make a name for ourselves, and have others look up to us. The other, that they know the words of Proverbs and see we’re trying to live by them.

Certainly, I don’t need my name in lights. In fact, when people point me out in a crowd and make a big deal of the fact that we have 12 children, I am just embarrassed. I’d rather be in the back, quietly working on what God has called me to. I don’t care what others think; I do care what He thinks.

I want to be that Proverbs 31 woman. I want to be that woman my husband can wholly and fully trust with our home. I desire to take care of my family and make profits for their wellbeing and care, not my own. Hopefully wisdom and kindness come from my mouth when I speak because I’ve spent time with the Lord.

My goal is for my husband and children to rise up and call me blessed and to hear from the Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant” as I know my mom heard when her fight here on earth was over and she stood before her Savior. My sister and I, 22 years after her death, still rise up and call our mom blessed.

She was the Proverbs 31 woman I still try to model after.