As many of you know, I have been "under the weather" since April. Vertigo struck me the second weekend in April, and has not left since. Every day is a struggle to get up and go. To do the things that used to come so naturally. Even a casual walk can make me feel " not so good" Now add to that a recent diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and all of the medication the Dr's are treating me with.

I am trying to take it day by day. With God's grace, to put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes that is what we need to focus on. Just the faithful small steps of a weary traveler, not the storm of indecision, or chaos or frantic lifestyles that sometimes cloud our vision. It is in the times of feeling inadequate, we realize who is in control. And we realize that He has our very best interests at heart.

I am a firm believer that we go through our struggles and triumphs here on earth to learn valuable lessons for the eternity we will one day be rewarded with. My prayer for sometime now has been, "Lord, allow me to learn the lesson the first time around." You see, I feel that until we can come away with a grateful heart, we will experience those trials over and over again, what we, in the Keefer house, call walking around the mountain. I want to come to a place where I can say "It is well with my soul" Even if that means my heart of flesh is breaking. The spirit within us must rise, take up our cross and follow Jesus. He truly is the only way, truth and life.

If nothing else, I pray that is the life that I am living before my children, family and friends. That each of these would realize my faith is what makes me who I am. Sometimes, I fail, sometimes the witness that I demonstrate is not admirable. But I still press on. Asking that His Mercy that is new every morning rest on me.

Ok, so I am not sure when my baby grew up. Glen took these pictures in July o7 and I guess they made me kind of sad. You see, these are the first pictures where my girl doesn't look like a little girl. I can see, (behind those shades) that she is becoming the "little woman" that God placed in our care almost 11 years ago.

What joy there is in watching children grow! Her dad and I look back and remember the cute sayings and the funny little things that she used to do. From the crazy stories that she and her Papa exchanged, to pulling out her playskool medical kit and water, knowing that she could assist with any ailment we had.

Our "Little Miss" growing and maturing, and the parents...wondering if we are ready for it. Her dad says that he is. The biggest baseball bat now rests inside the door jam for any boy that dare thinks of approaching our porch. She is our little mother, always looking out for each of us, advising what is best in every situation.

I want her to know how much we love her. Kelsey Jeanne is a good girl, who loves her family and friends. And most of all Loves Jesus!

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to take a minute to set up a website where everyone can know exactly what we... that is the Keefer family is up to.

This will be the place that happens!

Sometimes we all need a little bit of a pick me up, and sometimes I do too. So I want this blog to be about encouraging others while I encourage myself through life's trials and temptations.