The Kastenbauer Family

I keep hearing that song over and over in my head, it goes, Come, let us sing a song. A song declaring that we belong to Jesus. He's all we need. I'm just thinking about how thankful Tim and I are everyday. We have been so busy, I almost don't even recognize the ways --big and small-- that god has been Provo ding for us every step of the way. Here we are, two months away from sitting at our table, in our kitchen, in our new house, in Bemidji, in Full Time Ministry. What? Yes, only two months away from leaving Colorado, leaving our friends and brothers here, leaving our jobs, leaving the mountains, leaving this dirty and industrial city, leaving traffic jams and chaos. It is bittersweet... We have so much to look forward to, but a lot that we'll look back on. Anyway, I have been thinking about how it is hard to remember that we are in the Lords hands. He cares so much for us, and knows our thoughts, he knows our hearts desires. With a lot of logistics, I often…

Cody's first "swimming" experience was Tuesday! Trixie and I took the kids to Belleview Park, and enjoyed the playground before heading down to Dry Creek to do some splashing and sand play. Fin, Sel, and Andrew all had a good time digging around, pouring things, and making "soup" or "cake" in their sand toys. Trixie and I lounged on the picnic blanket with Cody in the shade to keep cool. IT WAS 85+ degrees out. Phew. Although the water was rather chilly, the air was so warm, and it was shallow... it really wasn't bad. It felt good for a cool down, and I wouldn't complain.
Cody enjoyed the water, like he would a bath, but he didn't seem to want to sit in it very long. I don't know what bugged him: the sand and rocks in his toes, or the cold water rushing around his bottom? He was too cute, though, in his little trunks and swim shirt (thanks Target and cousin Fox)!

Here is Cody's 8 month update!
Cody is a champ when it comes to growing up.
He is strong, active, and funny.
He's around 18+ pounds, give or take a pound from our home scale, and is definitely longer than at his 6th month check up by a lot! He has no teeth, which I am still OK with. I heard a rumor that kids whose teeth break through later, tend to have healthier teeth and oral care habits. Plus, no teeth  benefits me as a nursing mom. He is up to date on his vaccines and has all his paperwork ;)
He is a stubborn little guy with big knees, big pudge, big wrinkles in his eyes and nose when he smiles, a long tongue for sticking out, and a big heart.
He is a total softy when it comes to cuddling with his mama... BUT he squirms, wrestles, and fights going to sleep every time we try to get into the whole nighttime-get-tired scene. He is the most hyper right before bed... especially with his dad.
He is bright. He likes to listen and watch people doing things, and then try them him…

Psalm 40 (NIV)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
   out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
   and gave me a firm place to stand.
3He put a new song in my mouth,
   a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
   and put their trust in him.

4Blessed is the one
   who trusts in the LORD,
who does not look to the proud,
   to those who turn aside to false gods.[b]
5 Many, LORD my God,
   are the wonders you have done,
   the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
   were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
   they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
   but my ears you have opened[c]—
   burnt offerings and sin offerings[d] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
   it is written about me in the scroll.[e]
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
   your law is within my heart.” 9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assemb…

A special Thank You to my cousin Susan, for your pictures :) Believe it or not, I actually didn't even bring my camera that weekend. More on the weekend in MN and Cody's first flight some other time. Love you, my dear family. Love you so!

Cody's "first" from this week is about cheese. I love cheese. SO I'm starting my kids out young, with an affinity for cheese. :) He tried cottage cheese, and liked it. Although, he gagged anytime I had him eat it off the spoon, he insisted on eating it off the tray. So, here's what he has to say about it.

The Lord works in ways that we never expect. He is fruitful and provides for us when we need. Tim and I had been feeling a little discouraged when searching for a place to live in Bemidji. Because it is a college town, renting is pretty hard to find availability outside of the school calendar (we're moving to start a lease the end of June... so college students are neither coming nor going... they're set already). Our friend Paul called the other day and mentioned a potential place for us. We were like, yeah, tell us more...

This is it. We couldn't be any happier to have a place on a lake, two mins from Mokahum!!!
Tim and I are so excited to call this 1982 treasure our home in just TWO and a HALF MONTHS!!!
It has a garage!
It has trees and a lake!  It has awesome linoleum and wood paneling!
The current tenants love to hunt, too. And it has lots of wood paneling.  It has vintage appliances, and more wood paneling!
And a beautiful yard, view, and driveway.

Thank the Lor…


  Christ the Lord, has Risen. We are thankful and blessed beyond explanation for His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Christ died for us!!!!! The punishment for all our sins is death, and HE DIED FOR US. Christ has RISEN from the grave. THANK YOU, JESUS!

This was N.T. Wright's facebook status today, and I thought it was worth sharing.

"We should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts, anything that comes to mind. This is our greatest festival. Take Christmas away, and in biblical terms you lose two chapters at the front of Matthew and Luke, nothing else. Take Easter away, and you don’t have a New Testament; you don’t have a Christianity... This is our greatest day. We should put the flags out."
~ Surprised By Hope

Happy Easter!

This is a picture that Mike graciously took for us after Jordan & Rosa's wedding... unfortunately, the ONLY ONLY ONLY part about being a photographer that I don't like, is that I'm never in the pictures. But, that's pretty much the only drawback. Everything else is the most wonderful! So, I had Mr. Krauel snap this one and a verticle image of the same picture of me and my man in Naperville, IL. We look, pretty good, right? :)

(you can see pictures of Mike and his wife, my bff, Sarah at their blog)