Crossroads Mall stabbing... requesting prayers

So two weeks ago yesterday a Somali man stabbed 10 people at my local mall. I'm still in shock and so sickened by this. No one was killed though because a police officer (who was off duty) killed the stabber. Thank God he was there that day.

Its made me pretty nervous and on edge since it happened and I wasn't even there. I actually went to the mall for the first time yesterday and I was kinda nervous, but I only went into Target, but baby steps right? I know because one person of Somali descent has done this does not mean all Somalis are bad, but its pretty scary.

Its been hard to live in St. Cloud lately as we have a lot of Somali refugees, so we could definitely use prayers. I think its been hard because St. Cloud is so small and to have a lot of refugees who don't know english or our customs has been hard. I mean I saw a Somali family cross the road right in front of another car.... so scary. If I ever make it to Austria or Paris, France, even for just a trip, I would want to learn their language and it just feels like a lot of the Somalians are not even trying. I get what they went through back home was probably very, very traumatic, but I wish they would try. I never have ever seen a Somalian person with a translation book, but they just come in and expect someone to figure out what they want, its very frustrating, to say the least.

I think our whole country could use lots of prayers for the upcoming election. I still have no idea who to vote for. I'm very glad that God has a plan, but I sure wish he would tell me who I should vote for as our options are not good, but I still want to vote as I consider this a wonderful privilege we as American citizens have to voice our opinion and I love getting the red I voted sticker too! LOL!!

9/11/2001

Wow, I can't believe its been 15 years since that awful day where America was attacked. I know most of you know this but my dad, cousins, and I were on top of the original world trade center in August of 2001 and its crazy to me how this happened a couple weeks later.

I still remember getting a phone call from my dad at schooling telling me that the towers were both down, and I just did not believe him. "we were just there, those things could never come down". everyone around me was talking about it, but I just wanted to get home so I could show my dad that those towers were still up. I got home and found out that I was wrong, I wish I had been right.

Continuing to pray for those affected by those terrible acts of violence. May we never forget. Thank you to those who protect our great country.

One week ago today....... Jacob Wetterling update

Wow, I never thought in my lifetime that we would find out what happened to Jacob Wetterling. For those who don't know (and if you weren't in Central MN in the late 80's you probably don't), but the day was October 22nd 1989 that life changed in Central MN. Specfically in St. Joseph, MN (which is pretty close to where I grew up). 11 year old Jacob Wetterling and his brother Trevor and Jacob's best friend Aaron Larson were biking to the local Tom Thumb one night to get a movie and a guy stopped the boys on there way back from the gas station to the Wetterling house, which wasn't too far, and he kidnapped Jacob.

This happened almost 27 years ago and no one knew what happened to Jacob that night. His brother and best friend were interviewed countless times on what happened and finally we know the monster who did this. His name is Danny Heinrich from Paynesville (another small town near where I grew up) and he admitted to sexually assaulting and killing Jacob and they found Jacob's remains that Heinrich buried in Paynesville all those years ago.

My heart breaks just writing this. My family and I prayed every night for Jacob to come home and for another little girl Jenna Rae (who was kidnapped in Texas around the same time and still hasn't been found). I'm so glad that Jacob's family now knows what happened. In fact there is going to be a memorial service at St. Ben's college in St. Joe on Sunday 9-25. I feel as though all of MN feels like Jacob was there son, grandson, friend, etc.

I feel like I knew Jacob, we would've been around the same age. I was 5 years old when this happened. I always thought he was so cute in his yellow shirt school picture that was posted all over MN and in the age enhanced photos that came out around 10-22 in recent years to show what he could've looked like now.

I never knew Jacob or the Wetterlings, but I still feel heartbroken for what happened to Jacob and for the Wetterlings to not know this whole time. I always hoped that he would escape and come home. Even a week after they announced what really happened, I've been very emotional.

Here is an article with the details, but be warned its pretty hard to read. http://www.startribune.com/danny-heinrich-confesses-to-abducting-and-killing-jacob-wetterling/392438361/

RIP Jacob. Praise the Lord that Jacob is finally home. Prayers to the Wetterlings and those who knew and loved Jacob personally. #Jacobshope

Happy mothers day!

My momma is the best! she always seems to know what I need before I need it, example-

Summer of 1997- I was at our church camp and mom was there as guidance counselor and I felt the Holy Spirit convict me to get baptized and I was so scared, and I just started crying and I turn around and my mom was behind me crying because she knew that I was ready to get baptized. Amazing right?

Funny story- This is not the first time I told my mom I wanted to get baptized, the first time happened when I was younger and when my mom asked why, I responded "I get so thirsty during church that getting some gra! pe juice would be nice!" LOL! bless my mama, she just said something along the lines of waiting a bit longer!

Plus, its mothers day today right (DER!) and my mom has my brother put together my elliptical (HOORAY!) and delivers it on mom's day, it kinda felt like daughter day, not mother's day. But we got my mom some wood working tools, which she was so excited about! she's so crafty!

So much fun with the family. I went home last night to work out, and we watched Avator- I've never seen it and I liked it, it kinda reminded me of Star Wars-maybe I am a sci fi nerd?!? LOL!!

we watched that because Disney World is launching a new land based off the movie at Animal Kingdom, so dad and I were doing research! and last weekend we watched Frozen. I like Saturday movie night at the Sommers gym! LOL!

and funny story, my dad asked if I could eat ice cream, and my mom jumps in with "I can!" LOL and my dad goes "well I know YOU can!" Sooooo funny! love my family to pieces, so much fun!

Hope you all had a great time celebrating your mom's, let's remembering to celebrate them all the time! Let's have a great week peeps!! :)

beautiful weekend!!

I'm kinda sad to have missed Stars on Ice today, its only the 2nd time I've missed since I first started going in 1998, CRAZINESS! but I just bought an elliptical, and I didn't have any favorites skating, still kinda sad.

in other news-my weekend was awesome! I worked out like a boss! which was awesome, and hung out with the family. my parents, and brother and I watched Frozen together last night. if you don't know my dad, he is horrible to watch movies with, and even a Disney movie he asks questions and isn't sure what's going on. I know most times he is just joking, but he's pretty believable! fun weekend! how was yours??

Let's have a great week!! We got this! :)

my new gym.....

so my elliptical crashed, and it lasted 3 years and I got it for dirt cheap, so it was to be expected, so I found a new one and just ordered it and its pink and super cute,

http://www.sears.com/sunny-health-fitness-p8300-pink-magnetic-elliptical-bike/p-00604334000P?SID=IMx20120601x002000-CoreFitnessSports-V2-activeusersFBX

so in the mean time I've been working out at my parents place and my dog Casey has an overactive bladder (to put it nicely-love you Casey Ann) and whenever she gets excited, she pees-well she saw me and peed, which I love because its a nice feeling to have a dog be so excited to see you. LOL! gotta love it!

its crazy, but I've discovered that I need to work out, my back has been hurting since my old elliptical broke down and now its good, so crazy.... and its such a great stress reliever

also got to hang out with the parents and plan our annual dad/daughter Disney trip in July, while my mom laughed at how crazy we are! ha! i'm so excited! this girl needs a vacay!

my mom is so amazing, she always knows what to say to make me feel better. life is jut crazy and stressful and she knows how to make me laugh-even though I told her "you've worried about me for 31 and 1/2 years + 9 months (!!) and I just want her to worry about other things, but I guess no matter what age you are, you always need your momma! and your family and mine is the best! be jealous!

also PS my old bedroom is where my mom's elliptical is at, so its nice to go back home (literally) and feel like a kid again! being an adult stinks sometimes.

today was a major KICKIN butt day!! woot woot!

guess what I did?!?!

for those of you who don't know, I have major food issues! I lost over 100 pounds with weight watchers two years ago, and I feel like I have been gaining more and more of the weight back. I'm still in a healthy range, but it gets harder and harder to have one cheat day, which moves into multiple cheat days, just because if I get off plan for even one bite, lick, or taste it is over and then I think "well I just wrecked my day, so I might as well eat whatever!". well today I have news. we had pizza for lunch (of course-my major weakness!) and I avoided it at lunch (yah me!) but then I found left overs in the breakroom, ugh! but I decided to just have two pieces, and that was it. and then they had extras at the end of the day and instead of taking a ton home and just saying "oh well, you cheated, you might as well eat the rest of the day!" I just said "nope, not happening!" and I came home and ate my normal "on plan" foods and I did it! woah! I've never gotten back on plan after straying off course! I am so excited! i'm beginning to realize that its not realistic to count points my whole life (I mean I am still and will continue to do so, because weight watchers does work -exhibit A) but now I feel like I can do this. I could eat something at lunch and then get back on plan that night for dinner and maybe I should've stayed away from that pizza, but that is just not realistic, and I saw some old pictures of me at my lowest and I want to get back there so badly, so its time to make a come back! here we go! oh my gosh, this might not seem like a big deal to you, but to me this is HUGE! I could use some prayers! I sure wish we didn't need food to live, but I feel a lot better about this! i'm trying not to deprive myself and just enjoy food, and then not go crazy! I'll keep y'all updated!