God and his beautiful work!!!

God is doing Crazy things ya'll!!!

It has been crazy since Joel and I have been back. We have been preparing to take on my parents three churches for the next 3 or 4 months. AND on November 1st Joel and I have our first Christmas Craft Fair where we will be selling the jewelry that we have been making. We have about 150 necklaces. I am super pumped. Also in December 12 and 13 we signed up for another Christmas Craft Fair.

But God topped it all off with two events that still have us in awe. So my parents decided to have a week at the condos in Montana. They have been asking if Joel and I would go. Mom and Dad wanted to spend time with us and to go over things needed for the churches as well as things around the house while they are gone off and on. Joel and I were going to stay a week but my oldest nephew had his last TACKLE FOOTBALL game that I really really really wanted to see. Joel and I stayed Sunday evening until Wednesday morning. On Wednesday morning we headed to my sisters house which was 4 hours away from the Condos.

On our trip to meet my sister Joel and I had been discussing where the best place to get gas was. We had talked about Sandpoint Idaho. But when we hit Libby Montana we saw great prices and to top it off Joel really had to go to the bathroom. Which was pretty odd because I am usually the one needing a pit stop. When we stopped Joel jumped out and headed to the washroom while I got gas.

But the machine didn't want to take my pin number for my debit card. It kept telling me to re-enter my pin. I tried 3 times on the 4th time I was going to tell the machine that my card was a credit card that way I didn't have to put in any pin number. But just as I was about to put my card through Joel showed up I explained what was happen. I then wanted to see if his visa card got the same response. I left him with the problem and decided to go to the bathroom myself. When I came out he was just about done and told me he had to tell the Machine to read his Debit as a Credit card.

After all of that Joel and I were on our way again. I started dazing off about who knows what and all of a sudden Joel said Jokingly at a stop light "There's Janelle" For all of you that don't know Janelle she worked on the ships at Friend Ships with us. We loved her to death and hadn't heard from her or about her in years. Last we heard she went back to her home state Montana to help a friend on their farm. But we didn't know where the farm was and didn't know if she was still helping her friend.

I looked at the woman Joel had pointed out. She had her back to us. "Joel that is Janelle's hair, Joel that is Janelle's walk.'' "Dess when the light turns green, take a good look at her. If you think it is Janelle I will pull over" I think there was more to the conversation like Janelle is from Montana but where or yeah right like that is Janelle but you get the jist of it.

When Joel drove by her Joel was the one that spoke up "That is Janelle" Joel pulls over I jump out and yell Janelle!!! She looks at me for a second to study who on earth I was and then starts screaming. We ran to each other and gave each other a big bear hug. It was so awesome. We just couldn't believe that we were running into one another.

Janelle convinced us to at least come to her cute little apartment that was just 2 blocks away. On the way to her apartment she kept saying what was on all of our minds "What is God doing?" She asked the most funny question that I love and still giggle at just thinking about First: "What is God doing" Then "What were you just talking about before you picked me up?" I giggle just writing that. It was the cutest question ever.

So Joel and I stayed at her place longer than we should have. It was just too good and we didn't want to leave. But we had to get to my sisters to go to my nephews game. It was sad saying goodbye. For all of three of us (Joel, Janelle, and I) it was so refreshing catching up and talking about the Lord. He is so awesome for putting us back together like that.

The next day Joel and I got an email from Janelle saying that she stayed extra long at Mass that day to pray and she had decided to take a different route walking home then normal. She would usual goes a more residental way but she was right on main street of Libby.

Isn't God awesome. I could just see him working it out step by step so that we could run into each other. What an awesome God we serve.

Second coolest thing happened: Usually when Joel and I come to the Northwest we try and make a trip out to Captian Jakes place to spend time with him. This time I wrote and said HE should come see us. He responded and said he would. During our correspondance I got this idea (or so I thought it was MY idea) that Captain Jake should come be the guest speaker at the three churches for a Sunday. Joel suggested I ask my dad, so we did, and got the approval. (Just a side note. Joel and I wouldn't ask just any one to talk at my dad's three churches but we have heard Captain Jake preach on the ship. We loved his preaching. It is insightful, funny, and easy NOT to fall asleep to. Plus He loves God with all his heart. Who wouldn't want him to preach at their church)

I then wrote Capt. Jake and asked and told him to pray. He, in response, wrote: "Does it count if my praying about this offer came before I was given the offer? Yeah, the thought flashed through my mind when I first read your note on my blog, and then I got all excited and told God that if it was His idea, He could have you mention it without me mentioning it. So you do, and I didn't which I'll take to mean that it is - His idea that is. Oh, if only I could just preach for the rest of my life . . . "

God again puts me in awes of Him. Working things out so intricately. I love the way He works.

Well that is my two coolest stories. God is working Ya'll and I am just glad to be apart of it.

The following pic is with Janelle, Joel, and I.

May God Rock your world.

Love,

The Butlers

Life as we know it!!!

It has been so much fun these past few whatevers. Whether it is months or weeks or even days. Joel and I have had a blast. So as of October 13 we left Kingston, On to head to Hope Idaho. We decided to check out Uship.com. It is a website that has a lot of people trying to ship things around Canada and U.S to name a few countries. Then you bid on items you would like to help ship. We bid on a small beagle to ship from Indiana to Idaho. Joel and I got the bid and she turned out to be the best thing in the whole wide world. Sunny was her name and she was the sweetest cutest beagle I have ever seen or met. She sat on the passengers lap the whole time. With her came a kennel and a back pack. At night in the Hotel she would go right into her kennel with no problems. We could not have asked for a better Uship experience. It was a little sad to say good-bye but it was a huge blessing all at the same time.

Joel and I have a few things on our plate. If you think about it please pray for us as we make transition and decide on other things.

For One thing we are preparing to take on three churches (sub-pastoring as I like to call it) so my parents can have a break. It is a bit nerve racking and I have to keep focusing back on Submitting to Joel and letting God do what he does best; Lead and Love!!!

Second thing is that there are a lot of craft fairs going on and I am hopefully going to send in my application on Monday so that I can be selling for 2 to 3 days. There was one craft fair that I could not attend because our church is having their Christmas Bizzare on that day but my mom found out from a lady that a week later another town is having their craft fair. I am so pumped!!! I have been making a lot of necklaces since getting to my parents place. Joel has jumped in with me and is helping make kids jewelry and other items I feel are needed for this event. Isn't he just the most wonderful guy in the world. I love that man!!!

Third the praying, thinking, and planning for the next step after my parents place. Right now are thought and heart is to go to California and start a food minstry. There are so many detials and things to pray about. I am too excited and trying not to think about it too much because my energy and focus needs to be on the churches. But I am so excited. We are praying that we will clearly see the path that God has for us as we spend precious time with Him!!!

Well that is it for now. Below is a pic of Sunny and I. She is so cute. I wish ya'll could have met her (that is if you like dogs of course!!!)

Love to ya'll,
Joel and Dess

THE SHACK!!

READ "THE SHACK". IT IS SOOOO GOOD.

I HAVE COME AWAY WITH A LOT. I NEEDED IT.

NOW I FEEL ALL GOOGY ABOUT GOD, JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

PRAISE BE TO THE ONE WHO LOVES US MORE THAN ANY ONE OR THING.

READ IT IF YOU CAN!!!!

IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE, I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.
MUST READ!! :) HEHEHEHE

I LOVE YA'LL
READ READ READ

HEHEHEHEH LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH

GOD LOVES YOU AND ME!!!

The Next Step (God Willingly)

Hello Hello,

I have been learning a lot in this new time of Joel's and my Life. I am learning about "Submission" And what it truly means. It is pretty exciting. Before Joel and I left Friend Ships the Lord had been very clear that the next step after Friend Ships was up to Joel . . . COMPLETELY!!! That I needed to stay out of it.

I am learning that by doing that it is a lesson in submission. Laying down my own will and allowing my husband to be the soul leader. Wow. I thought submitting to God was hard. But trusting in someone so much that has faults and could screw up (Not that Joel has) and allowing them to make decisions for your life has been an eye opener baby!!! It has shown me how strong willed I am and how much I want things MY WAY!!! I am starting to actually appreciate the lesson, now that I know what this whole thing is about "what it truly means to submit" NOT OBEY, submit. Children obey - wives submit. Any way I know there are Taboo subjects on this especially in America, Canada, or any "Free" country because woman want equal rights. And I am not dissin' that I am just saying that I have gotten into a lot of trouble trying to have it my way in the relationship and that I need to realize that Joel is the head of the house hold and I am his armor bearer. Just as Jonathans armor bearer said was the two of them were about to attack 25 or more guys on the enemy side

"Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."

Man what a powerful statement not just for that armor bearer but what if all the Godly wives of the world were to say that to their husbands.
I am getting excited that God put me on this lesson. I am learning a lot. So I am starting to see more why God told me that it was Joel's decision next that I needed to stay out of it. Joel and I are both learning. Joel is learning to be the leader of the house and I am learning to submit. It is great.

Now there are other cases out there where it is unbiblical to submit like if your husband said go and murder my enemy. "Just say no"
But if you truly get what I am saying then Cheer with me while I tell you what Joel has decided.
THis is getting exciting you better get the popcorn for this!!!

Joel has decided that if my parents bosses approve we will be taking over my Dad's three churches for three months so they can have a break. And then after that it sounds like we are going to Stockton. I am pretty pumped. I am pumped to submit that is. This is a hard task and I kind of dragged my feet and I am a littler nervous. But after God being kind and showing me some things and learning even more about submission I am excited to follow my husband.

Pretty cool eh!!! So Joel says that after Canadaian Thanksgiving (Oct 13) We will be heading back to the great northwest (God willingly if it gets all approved)

Sincerely,
Joel's Armor bearer

Bare with me here!!!

Hey Guys,
I know I have been writing a lot lately on the blog. It is a mix of nothing to do and having a lot of things happening (if that is possible)

As you know Joel and I are looking hard to finding the next step. It would be nice if someone just dropped something into our lap that fits us perfect. Well something has fallen into our lap, BUT it is NOT for us. I wanted to put it out there on the blog just in case any of you were looking for this type of thing and wanted to go for it. YA NEVER KNOW!!!

So here is what I wrote on my myspace site enjoy:
I recently saw Eduardo Verastegui interviewed by a christian program. At one point Eduardo was making it well in Hollywood. Had everything ever wanted, fame, chicks,money. Then through things happening He got saved.

Now he is making movies that have Christian value and is changing the lives of people that see his movies. His recent move was named Bella. I haven't seen it but I want to. It is about abortion for the most part but has a great story line.

I just got an email from his organization that wants to have a Christian Internship for people wanting to go into the media business.

Here is the website. Check it out if this is the direction in your life you are heading.

http://www.bellamoviesite.com/pmi/new/home.html

Sincerely,
Dess

ps or you can just check out the Bella movie at www.bellamoviesite.com

Things are Happening in Canada!!!

It has been a pretty exciting couple of weeks. We had a blast with the whole (I mean WHOLE) Butler family. We were all nearly under one roof. Then Ben, Kim, and the boys went to Korea and there was half as much under one roof. Joel and I have been spending time with the fam. Hanging out with Sarah and Paul, Making trouble with Tara, and trying to help Mom and Dad around the house.

Joel and I also went to Toronto which was 2 and 1/2 hours away to spend time with Uncle Bill and Aunt Michelle. After we got back Joel and I took mom and dad out for Dad's birthday dinner. We did the progressive dinner fun night and had a blast.

SO here are some pics to catch ya'll up on what has been happening.

This is the only shot we have of the Ben, Kim, Nathan, and Elliot Family.

Paul, Sarah and Tara

Niagara Falls

At the IMAX with Bill and Michelle


The barrel of the First lady that ever went over the Falls. (And SHE LIVED!!!)


At the Zoo







The Air show (It was awesome)


Dad's progressive Dinner


Tim Horton's having the first course (soup)


We were way to hungry at for the main course to shot photos so all we got was this pic.


Dessert at Denny's. It was to die for. (as Mom would say)


Dad Enjoying himself.

Well that is it in a nut shell. We love ya'll very much.
God Bless,
Joel and Dess

Ted Bundy and Secret Sin!

Every since Joel told me that Ted Bundy got saved before they executed him I have been very interested in reading his story and what happened.

I was extremely blessed to have my first and only search be of Dr. James Dobson interview with Ted Bundy. For all of you that don't know anything about Dr. Dobson he is a Christian that is on a radio station called Focus on the Family.

The biggest thing I came away with from the reading the interview was that Ted Bundy had an addiction with Porn that started at the age of 11 or 12. He kept it a secret his whole life and by keeping it a secret the urges just spiraled more and more. Ted went from soft porn to hard porn to having the urges be so great that fantasies could not feed his hunger any more so it went to real life.

This was a huge eye opener for me in that I realize when I don't confess my sin to a person I trust and love and that loves and trusts me back that my sin or craving for a certain sin gets more and more. But when we confess our sin God is faithful to forgive us and when we confess it to the body of Christ whether it be a lot of people or to one person, we trust, we are some how set free. It made me stop and think that I need to be more open with the things I am struggling with and not keep it a secert any more. That is why I wrote about my weight problem because for all these years I kept it inside and it just got worse and worse.

Man God's ways are not our ways but they sure are better. It talks in the bible about confessing our sin. What an amazing God we serve.

So that is all I wanted to share. The following website is the interview between Dr. James Dobson and Ted Bundy. I would highly and strongly recommend reading it. You may walk away with something even better than I did.
http://www.pureintimacy.org/gr/intimacy/understanding/a0000082.cfm

Love you guys,
Dess