THE ORTMANN'S

2011-12-23T17:24:00.000-06:00

Dear friends and family,

Merry Christmas from Keystone, South Dakota!!

It has been quite some time since we’ve updated you on life and ministry. The last 9 months have taken us from one extreme to another. The adventure has been tough, at times, yet sweet because all the Lord is doing in us. He is deeply loving us and holding us as we press into Him. Moving twice in the last 7 months is on the list of LEAST favorite things to do. Seriously. However, GOD IS SO GOOD!!

Our time in Houston was by far the most stretching season for us as a family, yet we LOVED ministering there with the Keystone Project Team. We know that we know that God sent us to Houston ~ to learn more about completely trusting Him to be our provider. We learned many lessons and have some incredible memories from being in Houston. There are many new things at the Ortmann home ~ we live in a new town with a different climate, in a different state, in a different house, and new responsibilities. We are looking forward to a new year.

We’ve been in Keystone, South Dakota for 2 months now. We are constantly overwhelmed by the Lord’s abundant blessing. If we started to write out ALL the Lord has provided and done for us, it would be never ending. When we arrived in SD, we thoroughly enjoyed the fall season. Now our kiddos are loving the snow….and the new normal of deer and turkey in the yard. We live in the Black Hills National Forest on an amazing piece of property with a beautiful creek, trees, huge boulders, etc…..And we’re only 2 miles from Mt. Rushmore ~ so come visit!

Suzie is still home schooling ~ Bailey is 16 and a junior, Riley is 14 and in 8^th grade, Kale is 12 in 6^th and Kolton is 7 and in 2^nd grade. One of Suzie’s favorite things (Christmas music is also a fave)is reading Christmas cards/letters…..so bring ‘em on.

Stuart’s responsibilities with The Keystone Project have changed a little with our move from Houston, TX to Keystone, SD. He now spends his days working on the Keystone Ministry Center getting it ready to use for conferences and discipleship training events. It is a enormous blessing to be able to work side by side with his twin brother ~ which hasn’t happened for over 20 years.

We are so anticipating opening of the gifts under our tree. Even more than that, we’re anticipating celebrating JESUS’ birthday. We acknowledge that everything we have comes from the Lord. The greatest gift ever given was the gift of eternal life. Our prayer for you is that you will seek after the Lord and experience the one and ONLY TRUE GOD. It really is all about Jesus!! Happy Birthday Jesus! Hugs……

Celebrating HIS Birth

The Ortmann family

Stuart & Suzie

Bailey, Riley, Kale and Kolton

our new normal...a big ol' post

2011-11-19T18:33:00.001-06:00

from 5.7 million in Houston to 311 in Keystone....
I could literally write a book on all GOD did in and through us while we were in Houston......but suffice it to say that we have been taught to trust in GOD and GOD alone as our provider. We have drawn even closer to Him in the midst of truly relying on and clinging to Him as He provides.

In February this year, God called us to simplify and moved us to HOUSTON, TEXAS to be a part of a team of disciple-making people with a desire to see the nations be touched for Jesus. To make a very long story, short...we moved into an apartment with approximately 1100 sq feet. We experienced apartment living - to say the least. Our prayers were to affect the people in our apartment complex for Jesus. As God brought people and their needs to our hearts, we attempted to obey what the spirit was leading us in daily.
As our 6 month lease was coming to an end, it was very clear to us that the Lord was moving us on to South Dakota for ministry and a job for Stu. God shut EVERY door for a job for Stu in Houston. But, as we continued to pray for a job, this job became available here in Keystone. A door WIDE open because GOD opened it for us. He also opened the door for Stu's twin brother, Stan and Ferral and Amber to be here with us....WE ARE BEYOND THANKFUL TO BE HERE!!

Our new address as of October 15th: 402 Cemetery Rd., Keystone, South Dakota 57751

this is right out our back door....these colors greeted us when we arrived in Keystone. LOVE

this awesome creek runs right through our yard and my boys LOVE it! Also, deer and turkey are a new normal in our lives because they roam free around these parts ~ a national forest. LOVE

On my birthday in October, we went to Mt Rushmore, which happens to be

2 miles from our house!

Bailey~16, Riley~14, Kale~12, Kolton~7

We took a fall drive after Mt Rushmore in the Black Hills

Notice NO MORE GLASSES....for our 23rd wedding anniversary, we did the ultimate romantic thing and got LASIK done. Yes please. We both LOVE not having to wear glasses anymore. So nice.

Happy Birthday to me ~ they surprised me with my favorite!

My guys hiking around Harney Peak not far from our house....Kale is 12 and Kolt is 7

my man LOVING being outside

Friday afternoon - the 18th of November - it started to snow and hasn't stopped....

as of 4:45 pm on Saturday, we have about 14 inches of beautiful fluff.

This massive building is in Keystone, also, and happens to be what Stuart does 40+ hours a week. It is the Keystone Project Ministry Center. He and his brother are working together to finish the inside of this place....

We're ALL enjoying being here. Our kiddos are not liking packing and moving any more than we do but all 4 of them know that this has been God's will for our family. And all of our kids want to obey God's will for their lives. Blessings and hugs...

seriously??

2011-08-25T20:50:00.000-05:00

it has been a very long 6 months since I last put anything on here. SO much has happened in our lives this year. and I mean ALOT !!! God has been so gracious and pruning us of ourselves ~ stripping us, refining us....STRETCHING us....my hope is to share the short version of the process and how God called us to be in HOUSTON, HOT TEXAS. no pictures today, just sayin hi again. God is so good and we are praising HIM....

hugs to you...

2010-12-18T12:45:00.000-06:00

Luke 2:8-20 (NLT)

That night, there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared among them and the radiance of the Lord surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them, "Do not be afraid," he said. "I bring you good news that will be great joy to ALL people. The Savoir - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recongnize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snuggly in strips of cloth lying in a manger."Suddenly, the angel waas joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven -

praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom god is pleased."

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other,

"Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's go see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel told them.

Merry Christmas!!

hugs to you...

fall family pictures 2010...

2010-11-19T16:33:00.028-06:00

family pictures taken by our neice, ellissa, in arkansas.....

bailey ~ 15

riley ~ 13

kale ~ 11

kolton ~ 6

WE ARE COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS THIS THANKSGIVING....
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU...

HE IS RISEN, indeed!!

2010-04-03T21:59:00.005-05:00

it's about the resurrection. it's about Jesus dying for our sins and raising from the dead on the third day. ultimate love. ultimate sacrifice. for us. my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. happy easter!!

we always have so much fun making eggs this time of year. i try to make sure our conversation is focused on the reality of what Jesus did for us. so creative. see...

a few months ago, this tree was covered in white, fluffy snow. but now my beautiful tree is showing off. spring is definitely here...

just have to put a disclaimer in here and remind you that 99% of the pictures on my blog are taken by my daughter, bailey....she is often seen with the camera in her hot little hands. she.loves.taking.pictures....and i appreciate her for it...

hugs to you...

hopefully absent no more...

2010-04-03T16:30:00.025-05:00

here's what we've been doing...

sledding...

the end of january, stuart went to haiti...

this is now home to thousands of people in haiti....it's a tent city. sheets for walls. dirt floor. sad...

the ONLY boy in a haitian orphanage packed with all girls except charlie...

beautiful fresh coconut...

riley...

kolton...

bailey and kale...

since my valentine was in haiti on valentine's day, i treated the 4 other loves of my life to fancy valentine doughnuts(one of our FAV'S around here)...

a few days after stuart got back from haiti, we went all went to exploration place...

on the days that spring attempted to show it's face, we had short school days (because we home school, we can do that...) and ventured to the park to burn off some energy and get some fresh air and take in the sun as much as possible...

this was a different park day...this is kolton and one of his very favorite friends...we did not know they were going to be at the park that particular day, but as soon as kolton saw that his friend, keith reed, was there, he was beyond excited to play. today is the day the reed family move away from us as GOD has moved them to kansas city, mo...

march 21, we celebrated kolton's 6th birthday. his choice of cake this year was the ever popular chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, of course...

also in march, bailey had to get glasses. i think she looks so cute with glasses...

a few days ago, stuart told the kids there was a dead baby squirrel in the back yard under a big tree. he laid the squirrel on our deck until he could take him to the outside trash. then stuart noticed that the squirrel was actually breathing. well, this little guy's (affectionately named 'carl') legs were paralyzed. the kids really wanted to take care of him. they are. carl lives in a cozy little box in the garage. so cute. so little. have no idea if he'll make it, but so far, he's improving every day. my kids have been laying their hands on him and praying for him. his legs are no longer paralyzed. thankful for spring that brings new life...

hugs to you...

broken hearted for Haiti...

2010-01-16T00:05:00.004-06:00

So burdened...

the faces. the suffering. the sadness. the stories. the lives lost without knowing Jesus. the orphans. the hopelessness. the confusion. the voodoo. the hideous water conditions. the oppression in the land. the people who need to be hugged and be told about the hope they can have in Jesus. the inability to bury their loved ones. the lack of food. their dusty faces from once being in the rubble. the widows and widowers.

I can't imagine experiencing something of that magnitude without HOPE that I have in Jesus!! My life is not perfect, by any standards ~ but there is a peace that surpasses all understanding that comes with knowing Jesus.

Jesus is THEE HOPE.
Our only HOPE.

Pour out Your hand of peace to the people in Haiti. I pray for an outpouring of your Holy Spirit to strengthen those who are there working in your name to boldly proclaim Your love. Your peace. Your HOPE

may they respond to YOU, Jesus Christ....

hugs to you...

Merry Christmas from the Ortmann family...

2009-12-20T15:41:00.026-06:00

Merry Christmas to you, friends! 2009 has been an incredible year, full of change and blessings too many to count!! We haven't done a Christmas letter in years. We'll see how this goes....

Bailey is 14, a freshman and does very well in school. She has been taking piano lessons for 2 years and seems to pick up on her music quickly. In fact, she self-progressed through one of her recent books so much that her teacher bumped her to the next level book. She LOVES music....Christian bands. She enjoys taking pictures and seems to have a creative eye with her camera. One of her favorite places to be is with cousins, doing whatever. Bailey is slowly learning to drive....yikes!Riley is 12 and is in 6th grade. She is also a good student....96% in math, although she says it's not her favorite subject. She is also in piano. She has fun playing the piano, yet if she was given the option to not take lessons, she'd opt out. Riley loves puppies and dreams of having one some day. Our Boxer, Cinnamon and Riley are buddies. She knows that for us, one dog at a time works best. The girls spend alot of their time babysitting together....they love it!
Kale is 10 and in the 4th grade. This boy of mine does school because he has no choice. He does pretty good in school! But, he'd much rather spend his time seeing how high he can ride his bike off a ramp, catching things on fire, blowing things up, taking things apart, launching things into the air, rescuing stray animals, hunting, shooting, running around with neighbor kids, being Kolton's favorite playmate and eating. Kale has asked to start piano lessons....he loves music, as well.
Kolton is 5 and is in kindergarten. Mr. Kolton is doing great in kindergarten. He is reading 3-4 word sentences now and is so proud of himself. Kolton is NOT short on words....ever!! Kolton's hero is Stuart, his daddy. Kol spends alot of his time trying to keep up with his brother. He sometimes shows up as Superman, Indiana Jones (complete with a whip), Spiderman, Syd (Ice Age). Kolton and Kale are forever wrestling with eachother. Injuries are daily occurances at our house.
We are so proud of our kiddos. They are growing up too fast, for sure. They bring much laughter and joy to our lives....we're SO blessed!
Suzie spends her days teaching (our kiddos - at home), cooking, laundry, cleaning, decorating, shopping, blogging, vacuuming, dishes, baking, etc.... She also volunteers at the Pregnancy Crisis Center one day a week. She LOVES being a wife and mom.

Stuart keeps busy with Construction. He does anything from roofs, concrete jobs, electrical, finishing basements and literally anything you can imagine needing done for a remodel project. This summer, while doing a siding job on a house, our friend accidentally shot Stuart with a nail gun right into Stuart's elbow. Ring shank nail. Visit to emergency room. After much praying, it finally came out, thus avoiding surgery. That was quite the adventure and we still tease our friend about that day. And yes, they still work together and remain good friends!!

January 1st of this year was the beginning of a new journey for our family. For the previous 17 years, Stuart has been a full time Pastor on staff at Cornerstone Fellowship Church. We know this change is God's plan for our lives. We are learning to trust God more and more with our future. Our hearts are overwhelmed at the peace we have knowing that God is in control.

May you not forget the TRUTH about Christmas. Christmas is about CHRIST! He is our Savior, King Jesus, who lived a perfect life and died for you so you can have eternal life through Jesus. He loves you so intensely! We celebrate Jesus at Christmas. It's really all about Him and what He did for us.

Merry Christmas hugs...

Stuart & Suzie
Bailey, Riley, Kale & Kolton

2009-12-02T09:30:00.014-06:00

wordless wednesday...

beyond thankful...

2009-11-23T20:25:00.028-06:00

for Jesus

my husband

kiddos

the word of God

all elements of creation

family

being a mommy

i can see

babies

i can run (if i really want to)

candles

i can feel

marriage

sisters

bubble bath

good health

puppies

laughter

coffee

smiles

clothes

i can hear

chick flicks

hugs

sunshine

parents

every season

chocolate

adoption

love

pumpkins

flowers

america

i can taste

dates with my man

friends

life

brothers

mexican food

a home

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Psalm 118:1 Happy Thanksgiving!

hugs and blessings to you....

may i have this dance?

2009-11-20T17:19:00.008-06:00

this morning i was getting ready to do school with Kolton, my kindergartner...when he asked if we could dance before we did school. of course, i obliged....we danced to Christmas music

pretty soon, Kale (my 10 year old) came in and wanted in on a dance with me. he tapped on Kolton's shoulder and asked, "may i have this dance with the lady?". Kolton was thinking he needed to 'fight for the lady'...soon, the feud was settled and Kale was victorious in dancin' with the lady...

what a great way to start a friday...dancing with 2 of my favorite boys!!

hugs to you...

2009-11-18T11:20:00.005-06:00

wordless wednesday...

hugs to you...

here i go....

2009-11-17T21:27:00.009-06:00

This is my 1st official post...at what point am I considered a true blogger?
This is my new attempt at giving you the chance to step into my world on occasion, and probably my heart, also. I love the Fall and pumpkins and Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino. Thanks for coming by...

hugs to you...