Goodbye La Crosse...

Jeremy and I will be leaving La Crosse in just a few days! I think we are ready but it is still strange to be leaving a place after six years. For me, these past six years marked times of growth, challenge, hurt, healing and for the most part, wonderful memories!

Last night, Jeremy and I took a walk around UW-L campus and remembered many special times both together and apart. Some of the best were mud fights on campus after (or during) a hard rain, bible studies with the girls, long talks as Jeremy and I got to know one another, studying in the grass or on a bench...

Revisiting significant spots in La Crosse has made me pretty nostalgic. I think that is a great way of processing us leaving and getting ready to begin another new chapter in our lives. The nice thing is, we have so many dear friends here that we will be able to visit this city that brought us together and largely shaped us into the people we are today. I will certainly miss the beauty that is La Crosse. The bluffs and Riverside hold dear moments for me. But perhaps the most difficult will be leaving Christ Covenant Church. The people within that church are some of the best I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Sunday was a little bittersweet as our Pastor put it. Bitter because we are leaving and sweet because we are going where God desires us to be now. We can only hope to be part of a Church as amazing and Christ Covenant.

However sad it may be to leave, we are equally as excited to arrive in Minnesota and begin our new jobs, enjoy a house and find a new community of believers of which we can grow within and serve. The future looks to be wonderful....

Thank you to all of those who have been a part of our adventures in La Crosse!

Kate and Jeremy

ps: We will not have much access to Internet in the coming weeks so to get ahold of us, call! :)

Remaining...

The last couple weeks have been completely insane. Two weeks ago our Honda was flooded on Front Street of La Crosse while Jeremy was at work. The water was about 3 feet high and our car wouldn’t start for days. Finally, we called a tow truck and had a mechanic look at it. At first, they thought the damage may be irreversible, but, a day later- the car had finally started again! While our Accord is a bit smelly and sounds a little out of sorts- it is working! The repairs weren’t nearly what it would have been to get a “new” used car. Praise God and thank you for your prayers regarding that situation!

Well, yesterday proved to be another difficult day for the Wenzel cars. I (Kate) took the Oldsmobile to get a needed oil change. Once there, they discovered that the rear struts and springs were broken. According to them and another mechanic we spoke with, this could have been severely dangerous. So, the fact that the Lord let us find this out now and not as a result of a serious accident is huge! Praise God again for that! There were already some needed repairs on this car. The most recent discovery along with the previous issues made it clear that repairing this car with 215,000 miles on it was not a wise investment.

So within two weeks time, we have lost or almost lost both of our cars … within just a few days of closing on our first home! It was easy to panic immediately. It was easy to freak out and forget God’s faithfulness. But one day later, I sit here seeing that once again, He is gracious to His children. Although we don’t have a solution exactly, we are exploring different options and have been offered a car to borrow for this next work week. Time and time again, life has been unpredictable and difficult- throwing one curve ball after another and being as inconsistent as possible. But more importantly, time and time again, God has been constant and good- graciously giving us the strength to endure and revealing His sheer love through His Bride- the Church. Whether thoughtful cards and calls, or a lending of resources- He has always remained. Thus, we remain in Him.

Whatever you may be going through, whether it be sickness, financial issues, loneliness, depression, family difficulties or anything else- stand today on the truth that He will NEVER leave nor forsake you. Just when the bottom has dropped out and there seems to be no other options, no answers or help- His grace shows up and brings hope. Hold tightly to that hope.

In His loving arms,

Kate

Simply Beautiful

Some of you know how much I appreciate dance. It is a passion that began while i was in Gymnastics and has continued. I wanted to post the dance below because it is one of the most beautiful and moving pieces i have ever seen. Enjoy! -Kate

A Great Review

Tim Challies offers a thorough review from the perspective of a respected christian blogger and book reviewer.
As he says, this book is becoming "a phenomenon" so as people in this world but not of it, we should be aware and educated.


http://www.challies.com/media/The_Shack.pdf

The Shack

This weekend Jeremy was lucky enough to see our good friends, the Lickel's. During their time together, Andy mentioned the novel entitled The Shack. While we had not heard of it previously, we did some research and discovered that this book is quite controversial. It is becoming a top seller and is quickly infiltrating our culture. While trying to sleep last night, I randomly thought of some questions that I would love to discuss with you!
First, here is the summary the author provides of the book:

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.
Against his better judgment he arrives as the shack on a wintry afternoon and walk back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.
In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain? The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book.

Have you heard of this book? If so, do you think it is a book beneficial to readers or not?

Is it important for us as Christians to research and read the book in order to engage in the culture?

Is it necessary to read the book in its entirety in order to discuss its inaccuracies or can we trust biblical leaders to do this for us?

Do you plan on reading this book? Why or why not?

Cornucopia

I entitled this entry cornucopia because I don't really have one big thing to write, but rather, several small, possibly uninteresting items to share of various parts of life. I have always liked that word... that and tumultuous were two of my favorite words to use during AP Literature my Senior year in High School. Am I officially a dork? Perhaps.
So, lets start light should we? Jeremy and I have been busy with friends and family the last month. We went to "Wenzel Weekend" in Milwaukee for a long weekend which was enjoyable. There was some "Apples to Apples" going on, as well as just relaxing and getting a tan. Football throwing, So You Think You Can Dance watching and as always, lots of eating went down as well. But, surprise, surprise... holding and caring for sweet little Emily was the highlight for me. :)

Happy Emily:
Tired Emily:

Other than that, we also were busy the last week of June as I celebrated by 24th birthday. It was truly a beautiful week. Jeremy and I did several special things. For one, we went to the bluff and had a picnic of my fav foods. We also went to the Waterfront which is one of the best restaurants in the area hands down. I had a full day of girl time with Jodi and Tressa in which every activity was a surprise. To top it off, Jeremy threw a little surprise dinner for me! So, I was very blessed and it was just perfect to see friends so often before we leave La Crosse. I guess this might be the best place to say THANK YOU for the calls, messages, notes, and cards from everyone!

La Crosse Sunset on 06.24.08 and Jeremy & Kate in the car on the way to a birthday picnic on the bluff.

Jeremy and Kate at the Waterfront Restaurant- La Crosse, June 27th 2008.





Jodi, Kate and Tressa during the full day of fun! Right before taking me to the surprise party!

There are too many more pictures to post all of them from dinner- so I won't. But again, thank you to all that came! I think for right now, i am done with blogging but I hope to be back sooner rather than later. :)

Any topics you readers would like to discuss? Let me know!