The Battle Belongs To The Lord

I miss her more everyday.

I have to admit that lately I have had many battles. Some of them are silly little ones and some to me seem big. Most of them have to do with the kids. Some days I fear that one of them is going to leave me again or that something is going to happen to them. I have found myself lately being more over protected of them for the littlest things they are doing. Not wanting them to get hurt or doing things that could make them get hurt. When they are sick it's a whole new battle. I find myself in this weird kind of place where I think that something is majorly wrong with them. Right now I am going through this as Sydney is sick. I am pretty sure it's her teeth or the flu that has been going around but I seem to fear the worst. 
 I know a lot of this has to do with Lindsay and all we went through with her. I have spent lots of time crying out to God to help this to stop. Help me not to be this way. Turning over all my battles to him no matter how big or small they are. Some times even begging Him to just take it away or not make me miss something big. I know that He is in control of everything and that He isn't going to give us anything we can't handle. 
 Today in my devotions I read this; Sometimes the darkness in our lives is worse, because we cannot even see the web we are weaving or understand what possible good arising from our experience. Yet if we are faithful to forge ahead and "if we do not give up" (Gal 6:9), someday we will know the most exquisite work of our lives was done during those days when it was the darkest. If you seem to be living in deep darkness because God is working in strange and mysterious ways do not be afraid. Simply go forward in faith and in love, never doubting Him. He is watching and will bring goodness and beauty from all your pain and tears. ~ J.R> Miller

How true is all of this and what I needed to hear today. I can't give up on God just for these silly battles. I need to go forward in my faith and stop doubting what he can do. One of the other devotionals that I read is my Nanny's. Some times when I read nothing jumps out at me and sometimes they do. I know that when this happens this is exactly what God wants me to hear. And sometimes I feel that my Nanny does to. If you own one of these books please go and read the December 10 entry. It's a story about my Aunt Jeanne's leg. Yesterday was one of those days where I knew that God (and Nan) were talking to me. My Aunt had hurt her ankle when she was little and my grandmother was very worried about leaving her at the hospital and that they might have to do surgery. So while she was at home she walked the floors of her house all night long and prayed and looked in the word for comfort. Some of the verses the Lord gave her were Isaiah 66:13, Isaiah 43:19, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:8, Romans 15:32. All these verses was exactly what she needed to hear while my Aunt was in the hospital. God DID everything he said he was going to do. She never needed surgery and she got to go home when my Nanny wanted her to. After I was done reading these verses tears were in my eyes because I knew that everything was going to be o.k. God does here my prayers and he does see my battles. I just need to put my total trust in Him ALL THE TIME.

I am sorry that I have not blogged in a while. Life has been very busy. After sitting here today and writing out my thoughts I feel better. This is a very healing thing to do and I just need to make a point to do it. 

Thank you for those who still pray for our family. We love each and everyone of you.

Lindsay Bear Playground

It is with great excitement that we share with you that the Lindsay Bear Playground at America's Keswick has been completed and a special dedication service will take place this Saturday, October 27th at 2:00 PM.

Friends of America's Keswick raised over $79,000 for this beautiful tribute to Lindsay Alice Groen what will provide enjoyment to kids for decades.

If you can join us, we'd loved to have you come to the dedication. We are thankful for the many supporters and friends who made this possible. The Groen and Welte families will be participating in the dedication service. Our friends from Anderson & Campbell Funeral Homes are donating a beautiful bronze plaque that will be installed sometime in November.

As a part of the dedication service, we will have a balloon launch in honor of Lindsay.

Jon and Laura will be leaving early Sunday morning for Wyndmere, North Dakota. Jon has accepted a new job farming. Please pray for saftey for the family as they travel and begin their new adventures in North Dakota.

We are grateful for all the encouragement you have provided to Laura, Jon and the kids.

4 Years In Heaven

Playing pots and pan drums with Tanner.

4 years ago today Lindsay Alice Groen closed her eyes here on earth and opened them in heaven. I can't even imagine what she saw when she opened her eyes. I am sure she was in the arms of Jesus who held her for a long time. I wonder if our family members who have gone before us were there as well. I can only imagine the reunion they had as they welcomed her home. I can just picture all the little kids surrounding her and welcoming her. I can imagine her walking the streets of gold holding hands with Jesus as he shows her all around. I can imagine her running and playing with her new heart and having no more pain. I can imagine her sitting with our grandparents playing and them spoiling her. I can only imagine what 4 years have been like for her. 
But I know what 4 years without her have been like. Missing her so bad that it hurts, wishing for just one more day or one more hour with her. Seeing her big smile and those big blue eyes. Holding her one more time and getting a bear hug. Imagining her playing with her brothers and sister. Watching her grow, play, and learning all new things. Being the big sister and playing with dolls and dirt. We have missed so much in the last 4 years but we can rejoice knowing that one day we won't have to miss anything else with her. We will be with her forever and ever. Not a day goes by that we don't think of her, miss her, long for her, and talk about her. She is always on our mind and never far from our hearts.


Lindsay Bear, 
Daddy, Mommy, Tanner, Case, Wyatt, Sydney miss you so much. We wish you were still here to be with us. But we know you are always with us every day. We are so proud of you and how strong you were during your stay in the hospital. You spoke to so many people and changed lives. Some we won't know about until we join you in heaven. Your story is still being told and is still being written. When Tanner and I pray at night before bed the last thing we pray is that God will tell Lindsay how much we love and miss her and to give her lots of hugs and kisses. We have now prayed this prayer for 4 years. We love you Lindsay.


To all of you who have stood with us during these past 4 years we thank you. Thanks for the prayers, the support, and encouraging words you have shared.


 To our families, thanks for standing by us through the hard times, the happy times and for just being there when we needed you the most. We love you all tons.


 To all of her doctors, nurses, THANK YOU again for all you did for Lindsay. Thank you for your care for her and for us. We will be forever great full for all you did for her. We love you all.


Thank you Lord for Lindsay's life and for allowing us to be her parents. Thanks for never leaving our sides and always holding us up when we couldn't. Please tell her how much we love her and miss her. Hug her extra tight for us today. 

Time To Start Blogging Again

It has been so long since I have blogged on here. I have been meaning to so many times but never get around to it. Life in the Groen house has been very busy lately. As many of you know any day now Baby Groen # 5 is due to come into this world. We are all very anxiously awaiting she or he's arrival. We have been praying since we found out in July about this new little one that God would once again bless us with a baby girl. Don't get me wrong we will be thrilled with a boy but we really miss having a little girl in the house. We still to this day talk about Lindsay and how much we miss her. Case has been very into her lately which warms my heart every time he talks about her. If you ask him he will tell you her name which comes our Windsay :) and that she is his sister. Let me tell you it's so neat to hear him talk about her. We look forward to some day soon telling him and Wyatt more about her.

I will give you a quick update on the boys. Tanner is now in 1st grade and we are home schooling him. He likes school but doesn't love it. He would rather spend the whole day playing with Case and Wyatt. He goes to Awana at our church every Tuesday night and he loves going. He has been into building legos and is always found coming up with some sort of craft for him and Case to make. Hard to believe he will be 8 this year.

Case is 2 and is our little lover. He is always ready to give you a great big hug and kiss just when you need it. He loves Tanner and is always asking Tanner what they should do next. He likes to copy Tanner in everything :). We have been starting to do a little bit of potty training with him and he is starting to get the hang of it. He has been really curious lately with the baby. He is going to be a big helper when the baby comes.

Wyatt is 1 and a ball of energy. He is walking now and he is all over the place. He loves to try and play with Tanner and Case when he can. He is starting to say a few words but mostly talks in his own language with some really funny grunts. He has the greatest facial expressions and sounds. He enjoys just walking around getting into what ever he can. He knows what he wants and when he wants it.

I got a call from my Dad last night and he shared something with me that was a good kick in the pants to start writing again. He was at a funeral last night and a lady came up to him and told him that he didn't know her but she had been following Lindsay's blog from the beginning. The other night this lady was having trouble sleeping and decided to come to the blog and read from the beginning. What ever this lady was going through that night she was ministered to. So that is a good way to give me a kick in the pants to get going again. You might have to be patient with me but I am going to try and get this going again.

We have been truly blessed this year and last year. God continues to meet us just where we need to be met. Lindsay's story still goes on and is still helping people. I will leave you with a few prayer requests; 1. For Baby Groen and me during the next few days. 2. Jon isn't trucking any more and is searching for work. Pray that God will show him just where he wants us to be. 3. That Keswick will be able to raise enough money to get the new Lindsay Bear playground going and hopefully be ready for this summer. I will write another post on that later. But if you would like to donate money for the playground you can go to; http://www.americaskeswick.org/. Scroll down to the give now button. Make sure you say that you want your donation to go to the playground.

Thanks again for continuing to pray for our family.