WELCOME FALL!!!

Well, School is back in session, and Warren & I are working full force... I made it past my 90 day probationary period at work, and I'm excited. I really like my job and the ladies there.  Bryana is in her Junior year and is taking driver's ed.  UGH...It's been a few years since I've had to teach someone to drive.  Britny is in 8th grade and is taking on some high school credits. She seems to be doing well, but is still having some trouble getting adjusted to the "harder" academics of the high school part. 
We are welcoming in the new season with Warren going Elk hunting. Opening day is tomorrow, Oct. 10th. so were praying that he gets a big buck.  We need some meat in the freezer.  God has been doing some mighty things in our family.  He has really shown us that we are to not tarry or lollygag about his business any longer.  We saw the movie Courageous and it really jump started us into knowing that God wants a people who will stand up for him in ALL occasions. 
Bry & Brit spent the month of August in Alaska with Brandon & Cortney & Zion.  They had such a great time... It was good to have all my kids together again for awhile.  Mom & Dad had some fun while the girls were gone too.  Not much, but a little...
Well, here's wishing you all Blessings in this next season.  Be filled with love, laughter & Faith...

Mama got a J O B!!

Finally.... after 8 long months, I finally got a job... Here in Coeur d'Alene, working for an Escrow Company that does ALL the closings for HUD in the state of Idaho.  It's really going well, and it's really good money.  Which is what we need right now, so Warren can get to school in August.
With this new added income, we will be able to send the girls up to Kodiak, to visit with their brother....I'm a little hesitant to let them fly alone...it's scary...BUT I know that God has them in his hand...I know they will have a blast!
Our grandbaby Zion turned 1 year old in June... I can't believe how fast the time flew by.  Pretty soon he'll be graduating from High School.
We had a fantastic visit with my in-laws. They were here for 2 weeks and we went camping.  We had a fantastic camp spot and we were able to see a mama Moose and her calf  just  down stream from our camp.  It was incredible...
God has been so great to us...Warren preached last Sunday at church and it was awesome... He tag teamed with his BF David.  They preached on "hearing God's voice".  It was really good...
Well, not much else for now... were getting ready for some visitors... my sister Debbie will be here in 2 weeks, then my mom comes (while the girls are gone), and I'll get to see my sister Sandi from Seattle....Linda & Dennis come up in Sept.  Maybe my niece Tracee and her family in August too... WHEW...

For Rent: 1BR/1BA Single Family House in Green Valley, AZ, $2,500/year

For Rent: 1BR/1BA Single Family House in Green Valley, AZ, $2,500/year

Living Like a Pioneer

As I have been home, struggling to start my in home business (Real Estate asst.), God has really been revealing alot about who I really am...Even though I was never raised to be self sufficient (live off the land) so to say.  My Grandma taught me ( more like showed me) how to crochet, tat, make bread, my mom taught me the basics, laundry, cooking, house keeping.  I never thought much of it... But as I'm looking around and watching the world go to Hell in a handbasket, (as mom would say), I find myself very concerned about our future....God is prompting me to prepare our selves.  Learn how to raise chickens, beef, fruits and vegetables, make bread.  I find it odd that in this life of pure technology that I am regressing in time and culture...It feels a bit strange, as I'm not yet ready to throw away my modern conveniences of electricity, cell phones, or my laptop.  However, there is something pulling me to learn about all these "old time" chores.  I've always had a facination with Amish people and the way they live, pure, hearty & together.  I am so excited to get started on our garden, and the possibility of us having a cow... LOL  I still think it's funny...
I really don't know what God has in store for me as my career is hanging in the balance.  I do know that my family comes first, I've heard companies say "oh we love the family unit", until you have to take time off for a school function or your child is sick, or has some emotional breakdown, then it's "you're not a team player", "sorry you're fired". That's why I decided to start my own business and Yes it's slow, but I know that God has something Big for me.... I love what I do, and I know that I am an asset to any agent that needs help.  But my bigger project I think is ministry.  Warren and I are meant to do ministry and we love doing it...my poor husband works 2 jobs to make our ends meet and they still don't...God has sustained us and will continue to do so.  He has blessed us with a great church family, (and I do mean family).  We rely on one another the way a family should.  We hold one another accountible, we share, we laugh, we cryand most of all we LIVE and LOVE....I'm 43 and I feel like my life has just started.  It's an incredible ride....Thanks for letting me share my thoughts.....  more to come.... 

Peace...

As I was sitting here relaxing watching Joyce Meyer, she said something that really struck me...She was talking about the scripture that says "Peace I leave with you, not the peace that world gives"...and she stated..."don't pray for peace, you already have it....pray for the revelation of how to tap into the peace".... WOW...what an easy concept... so why do I have to make it so hard???   Our little pea brains get so worked up and over involved and on overload that sometimes just the simplest of things can blow our minds....So excited to pray for the revelation of obtaining peace...everyday....

Get into your "life spot"....

We are the Derton's who don't do anything... we just stay home and lay around...and if you ask us to do anything, we'll just tell you... we don't do anything!!!! (sung to the Veggie Tales, we are the Pirates who don't do anything)....hahahahahahaha That's an inside joke....

My family of now 7, Warren, Karla, Brandon, Cortney, Bryana, Britny and Zion....are nothing out of the ordinary I guess.  We are Blessed of the Lord and we try to live our lives for God as much as we possibly can.  We have definately had our share of hard knocks and we've had some really great times too....

The reason our blog is titles Dezert Ratz go North, is because neither myself or Warren have ever lived anywhere like this.  Four seasons, mountains, pine trees, water everywhere, SNOW.  Warren had lived in Arizona for 40 years....and I grew up in Hawaii then moved to Arizona....Hot to Hell Hot!!!  So this was a HUGE move for us, a blind move as we had never been here before....So what was the hardest thing and the scariest thing we had ever done was to pack up what we had left and move to some unknown place, has become the biggest and the best Blessing we have ever encountered....We have made not only true friends, but family.  Our church is a vital part of our lives and I truly believe without our church family, we would have failed....it's so amazing how Warren and I have been married for 17 years, yet we are only living LIFE now...I now know what it means when they say life begins at 40, because it did for us...Now 3 years later, we are happy, thriving, mentoring and actually loving life...

I want to encourageyou that if you are in a "dead spot" in your life, it's not too late for a "re-do"....God is the God of 2nd chances and reconciliation...we have never been so financially poor, yet so spiritually rich...Is it hard, YES, were there tears, YES, are we a closer family, YES, was it ALL worth it..... YES and YES...

"Be Bold, Be Strong, for the Lord thy God is with thee".  Seek him, to bring you out into your "life spot"....it's never too late....

It's S*N*O*W*I*N*G*

We Love it when it snows, there's just something so serene and peaceful about it...We have been covered in the white stuff off and on this winter season, and it's so refreshing each time to see it fall.  Of course I get a surprise as I take pictures interrupting the snow ball invasion!!