Isaiah is born!

We are finally and officially announcing the arrival of our sweet boy, Isaiah John Wenzel!

Thank you everyone for your love, support & prayers during this wonderful time.

An Update Full of Joy

High Falls, Grand Portage, MN

Hello! This update has been a LONG time coming. Most of you know that we were in a horrible car accident on December 23rd and lost our beloved Owen. We were injured but have both recovered since. We are SO blessed to survive and even walk out of an accident of that magnitude and it has been a reminder of just how fragile life really is.

Most of you also know that I was about six weeks pregnant at the time and am now about 27 weeks along! Next week I will be starting my THIRD trimester and will be just three months from welcoming our little baby boy into the world! I was incredibly sick 24 hours a day for the first TWENTY weeks. I am so thankful that is done for the most part and I can function again. Let’s just say this winter was a hard one but this spring has been one of joy.

Ultrasound at 20 weeks: showing he def. IS a boy and a profile view of his sweet little body. :)

In addition to all that, Jeremy’s position was cut at Princeton High School due to budget cuts. He was one of many that had to be let go. It was a shock but God quickly provided another job for him. There were tons of applicants and they interviewed seven highly qualified teachers and Jeremy was selected! He will be teaching Civics and World History at Delano High School starting next fall. Jeremy is my one-interview wonder! He has received excellent recommendations from everyone and many students, athletes and parents have expressed their sadness in seeing him go. It was a great and busy first two years of learning for him and he walks away a strong teacher and coach. The only negative about this switch is that he will have a 45 minute drive instead of a 10 minute one- but we are thankful for the job and the school seems solid.

My photography business continues to grow. I have been very busy since mid-March and it seems I will be up until Isaiah is born. My hope is that I can be full-time mom and part-time business owner/photographer. It would be a great balance with my health and desire to not miss much in Isaiah’s young life.

Another big praise is that my mom was offered a job a few weeks ago! After several months of unemployment is this difficult economy, we are just thrilled for her!

Lastly, Jeremy and I just returned from a few days up north in Grand Marais, MN to celebrate our THREE year anniversary- which just happens to me TODAY. We had a lovely time sitting on the beach talking, hiking, reading, and just enjoying one another in a beautiful place. Our marriage is truly better than ever and we love one another so deeply; I know more each day that Jeremy is the one God intended for me and it brings us both such joy to be together. In some ways the last three years have flown by- in other ways, the trials we have seen have made it seem long- but either way, I couldn’t ask for a better best friend to walk life with.

May 19th, 2007. The day I married my best friend- :)

I promise this blog will be revived as we prepare to welcome Isaiah! Much love to all of you! Thank you for your prayers during this difficult winter. We are so thankful to be enjoying a time of sweet and wonderful blessing.

Owen on the News

A Blessing...

So this little story started with a facebook "conversation" with my sister-in-law, Ang, yesterday. She mentioned that Chris Tomlin had a concert in Minneapolis last night and that her and her husband were possibly going to his Chicago concert the next day, (today). While I had heard it over the radio for the past several months, I hadn't thought twice about it because it simply isn't within our means right now. But later, as I was writing in a prayer request to the local Christian station- about health for various family members, myself as well as a few other pertinent requests, I asked them to pray for my husband. I asked that he would be blessed because we have a had a very difficult few years as far as circumstances go. I shared that it was our 6 year anniversary since our first date and that if they had any extra tickets to the concert, I would love to bless my husband with a night of music and worship. Even as I wrote it, I didn't think for a second that anything would come of it. It just came out from my fingertips to the prayer- requesting e-mail.
I received an e-mail back saying they would certainly be praying, and asking others to pray, but that they didn't have any more tickets to give. I didn't care one bit- because prayer is really the most powerful and significant gift anyone can give us now. I thanked them and shared my whole-hearted appreciation.
A few hours later, I received another e-mail. They has rounded up 2 tickets for us and we could pick them up at "will-call". I started to tear up instantly- I was so moved. It wasn't even that I love Chris Tomlin's music- although I do. And it wasn't that I was so astounded by the kindness of this women- although I was. It was that God had orchestrated this small blessing. It was as if He said, "Kate, I love you and I love Jeremy. You didn't expect these tickets, nor should you, but I want to bless you with a night to enjoy Me and enjoy one another."
So, Jeremy and I enjoyed the concert and I truly met with God during that time. Our absolute favorite was singing "Amazing Grace" with thousands of others. It was simply beautiful.
But really, this wasn't about the concert. It wasn't about the radio station being kind. It was about God showing such love and saying, "I am here with You. I walk alongside you." I didn't need a concert to bask in this truth- but it was what He decided to use yesterday...

Thank you Lord, for your loving kindness.

Kate

Six years ago today...

I just realized that today marks six years from when Jeremy and I went on our first date! I wanted to write something dedicated to the love of my life...

Jeremy,

I love you more than you will ever know. When I met you, over six years ago, I knew instantly that you were different from anyone else I ever met. Once we started to "court", my first impressions were solidified- you were the man God intended for me. We have certainly had our share of 'valleys' in these past few years- but walking through those unintended journeys with you has made all the difference. THANK YOU for being you. Thank you for allowing God to shape you and take hold of your life. Thank you for loving me through sickness and health, joy and sorrow...as long as we both shall live. So here is to 60 more years of being best friends, of making eachother laugh like no one else can, and clinging to Christ together when all else seems to fail. Apart from knowing Christ, YOU are the biggest blessing I have ever and will ever know.

Your wife,

Katey

Be All There

(this picture was taken in November- on a pathway in the woods, just a few blocks from our home.)

Hello friends! Once again, I sit here and realize it has been over two months since my last post. I finished teaching the writing course at Minnesota School of Business and my schedule became much more manageable. Kate Wenzel Photography was busy from May-November but has really slowed down this month.

Jeremy finished up coaching at the beginning of November and it has been wonderful! We have been able to spend a lot of time together and we both love it. We have also been able to hang out with friends and family more. Today marks the start of the 2nd Trimester and Jeremy grows as a teacher with each one; I really believe he does an outstanding job.

We spent Thanksgiving with my family and are looking forward to heading to Milwaukee for Christmas. We have an adorable new nephew to meet and simply cannot wait!

This is a seemingly quiet time in our life and we need that. After several years of medical issues and thus, financial difficulty, we have been looking forward to times of rest. Now that I have a diagnosis- it is about adjusting our life to a place that works best for our little family. I can no longer look at life with the same set of expectations that I had before- but now I appreciate the "little" things so much more. I love going for walks with Jeremy and Owen- basking in the beauty of God's creation. I love watching a good movie, snuggled up by the fire with my wonderful husband. I love getting a long e-mail from a good friend. I love the chance to hold adorable babies at church nearly every Sunday. These are the little things that God gives that make life precious. It really doesn't come down to the house you live in, the car you drive, the title of your position at work or the extravagant vacation you went on...but about relationships- with God, with family and with friends. It is so easy to live a life where you are discontent. Where you just live and forget to live intentionally. So, I am learning the beautiful art of thankfulness- and how it changes the situations of life so dramatically.

I am also being stretched to TRUST God for things I cannot see. To wait patiently for something I believe He has called me to be but not yet; I am speaking of being a mom. Our situation is more complicated than that of a typical 25-year-old couple. With my diagnosis and progression of the illness, we have been told that the window to bear and care for infants is pretty small. We also have been made aware of a condition that impacts our ability to get pregnant quite a bit. All of this is sometimes heart-breaking. But I see His will in this...no, WE see His will in this and are moving forward in obedience and anticipation of what He desires for our lives. I simply ask for prayer. Please pray that I would experience peace and comfort. Only couples who have faced the same circumstance can understand- the longing to be parents and yet the possibility of that not happening on "your timeline" is difficult. Thankfully, others who have struggled through this have been placed in our lives and their wisdom and kindness makes all the difference. I am learning to LOVE the season Jeremy and I are in. I became discontent, wanting to move to that next stage so badly that I was missing the beauty of THIS time. Our marriage is wonderful, our love grows daily and we have a wonderful puppy to make us laugh. We have a great church family and incredible friends....so much to be thankful for! As Jim Elliot, the great missionary, once said, "wherever you are-be all there." I've decided to be "all there" for what God has for me TODAY.

Kate

The Home-Stretch

Hello beloved! We hope you are well! I am in the final week of teaching the college writing course. Due to the fact I have been working 70+ hours per week for the past 10 weeks, I gave my notice at the college. The good news is- I have an open invitation to come back if I want to at any point. Praise God for options. :)
Other than working, I have been sleeping. No, seriously...that is what my life has consisted of. I have an outstanding husband who has done more than his share of work around the house to keep us running. Thank you Jeremy for being wonderful in more ways than I can count. :) I love and cherish you. You are an incredible man.
I have started reading some interesting books in my spare time ( what spare time again?). :) I've decided to share those on the left hand side of this blog- check them out.
God is good and I have much to be thankful for. More to come in the coming weeks!

Blessings!
Kate (and Jeremy)

ps: Congrats to Karen, Casey, Rachel, Jess and more for your exciting news! We are praying for you and your babies wellbeing during these nine months. :)