Run the Race

Run the Race

I looked at this picture and thought of this Scripture verse. It is a picture of my two

youngest granddaughters running at Easter. They're not worried about the race, nor do they

 seem to be competing with each other. They just enjoy the thrill of running. They are racing 

toward some unseen prize that lies before them. It struck me that this should

be my attitude as I run the race of life. I should not worry about the race, or how I am doing 

compared to others who are running. Rather I should run with the desire to be more like

 Jesus everyday. He has set before me a course just for me. 

"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1b

I've been involved in a small group study the last few months on the subject of practicing godliness. I hope and pray that God is changing me into someone who seeks to be gentle and patient and cultivate a heart of kindness that shows goodness to those I encounter along the race that God has set before me. 

My prayers go out for those who were injured as well as the families of those who lost loved ones in terrorist attack that took place during the Boston Marathon. 

Easter Sunday-The Family Gathering

We had a great day on Easter. We all gathered to go to church and were blessed to see our oldest

 grandchild, Pellie, get baptized. It was a blessing to us all. We praise God for the salvation of our

 children and now our grandchildren. Her dad, Josh, sang a special song that was beautiful. He sang

 "Man of Sorrows." God has blessed us!! 

After church we had a delicious meal. The kids were ready for the annual Easter egg hunt. 

Rachel was the easter bunny this year. She hid the eggs.

Vandenberg Family HIstory

Continued from last week.....

While searching for the Vandenberg name we found many spellings for the name due to the different localities it was spelled and pronounced different. This is some of the ways we found it spelled van den Barg, ten Barge, van den berg and many other ways.
When we were trying to find them in the census the Berg was the surname and then the given name with van den following it in some of the records.
Some of the early settlers with the name Vandenberg came to America about 1710 into New York and others arrived in Philadelphia around 1807.
Beginning in 1834 because many of the separatists were imprisoned, and charged large fines for not following the orders of the State Church and there was also a potato blight causing a famine so emigration seemed to be the only answer.
Reverend Hendrik Peiter Scholte and several ministers and their congregations declined to follow the orders of the King to follow the State Church style of worship so he and his family left by steamer for America so he could find a location for the colony the state of Iowa seemed to be an ideal place.
In 1847 the town of Pella, Iowa was founded under the leadership of Schholte and through the years many followed to this town sometimes known as Little Holland.
I will be sharing my ancestral line in my next several posts.