Wednesday, September 16, 2009

This is my story, this is my song...


This is me, at 4. They say that it renews your faith to tell your story. Heres mine...

We lived in a split foyer in Woodbridge when I was 4. My brothers shared a room and I had my own, one of the benefits of being the only girl I suppose. The stairwell to our basement had wood paneling from floor to ceiling, it was the 80's and it was awesome!

Sunday morning we went to church like always, Im sure I had a fantastic dress on much like the one in the picture and my hair was no doubt curled and teased to the high heavens; it was the 80's and it was awesome!

We did church, we came home. My little heart was so heavy all afternoon. I KNEW that I needed Jesus. I KNEW that He died for ME. At that tender little age I could feel the weight of my sin hanging around my neck. How is that possible? At 4?! It was. What could I have done at 4 to make me feel so vile? It didnt matter, the connection from my head to my heart had been made and I needed Jesus...NOW. I found my Mom in the kitchen and dragged her to our brown polyester sofa, it was the 80's and it was awesome! We prayed right then and I walked away a changed little girl! I could physically feel the weight removed! How does a 4 year old feel so much urgency? Because I was created with a need for a Savior. For 4 years my little soul had been longing to be reunited with its Creator. Whether it had been 4 or 40 years, it didnt matter, the decision was life or death and I am so thankful that in those sweet moments in that little spilt-foyer on Meadowbrook Lane, I was given LIFE!

I was bouncing off the walls. Literally! I put my hands on one side of the hall and my feet on the other and climbed my way up that wood paneled stairwell until my little hiney was touching the ceiling! As anyone passed under me I would relive the whole event in exact detail, like only a 4 year old can. Thank God for that day....it was 1988 and it was AWESOME!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Go Daddy!!


So I have to brag on Dan the Man right quick.....


Going from 2 to 3 kids has been awesome! We are madly in love with sweet Danica and she fits right into Rowenhorst Crazyland! Working out our schedules around here and keeping some sanity is a work in progress, but thanks to my super great spectacular charming (adorable!) fantastic husband, its going smooth as can be! My man has stepped up to the plate in every way I can think of. Im pretty sure he holds the record for most dirty diapers changed by a Dad....ever....in history. So heres to you Daddy!! You are officially "The Man"!

Ive written in earlier posts that Dan and I have been together since we were 16. Just this morning we were doing the breakfast thing and I looked around my kitchen and thought "holy cow! Life is FLYING by me!" Didnt Dan and I just get off the bus from a high school basketball game and sneak a kiss before getting in our cars? SO whose house is this, whose bills are these, and most importantly....who are these kids and why are they asking me for waffles?!


Phil 1:3 - I thank my God everytime I remember you.....

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Timeout!


WOW! What a month! Our family has been on a "timeout" for 3 weeks and today marks the end of this awesome rest. Dan goes back to work tomorrow for the first time since Danica was born, it sounds selfish to say, but the kids and I are totally bummed! 3 weeks seemed like an eternity 3 weeks ago, isnt that the way it always goes though?!

When Danica was 10 days old we packed up the van and headed to Myrtle Beach, SC for a week to relax and recover and spend some time just the 5 of us. It was perfect! Dan took Taylor and Bryce to the beach and baby Danica and I relaxed on the balcony watching them. It was a beautiful time of rest. Most importantly...in the quiet of those moments I rediscovered an intimacy with my Savior that I had lost in the frazzled world of Mommyhood. Reading, praying and just "being" with God: no noise, no distractions(2 week olds to snuggle and hold and smell and love dont count as distraction!). There were definitely some "headphones up as loud as they go, singing at the top of my lungs in the condo" moments too ;) Being forced to do life in slow motion was a wonderful gift that God wrapped in the form of 8lb. 2oz. Danica Jeanne.

SO...tomorrow looms. How do I keep the intimacy with God that comes in those rare moments when life offers us a timeout?

Roman 12:1
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him!


I lay tomorrow at HIS feet. I lay the next day at HIS feet. I lay my everyday, ordinary life at HIS feet and know that he will do something extraordinary with it!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Baby Danica is HERE!




Danica Jeanne arrived on July 20th at 1:14pm!! She weighed 8lbs 2oz. and is 21.5 inches long. We are home from the hospital and are really looking forward to the next couple of weeks of vacation time with all THREE of our beautiful babies ;) GOD IS SO GOOD!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Crazy times....


I havent blogged in a bit so I wanted to write QUICKLY!! Heres whats going on in the life of the Rowenhorst's:
Right now my grandparents, (my kids great grandparents!) are here from Florida looking for a house to purchase. We are SO pumped to have them close, how awesome is it that my kids will grow up with their GREAT grandparents around??!!
This weekend my best friend (above when we were 12, and then 25!) is throwing me a baby shower... SO fun! Are you even allowed to have a baby shower for your 3rd child? She is the best and I am so excited to spend some time with a ton of my family and friends.
In 3 weeks, our great friend Wesley comes home from Bahrain!! Praise God! He has been kept safe for a year and we have missed him so much. (Jenn, I know you've missed him more!)
In 5 weeks our sweet baby girl is making her arrival! I think its just hitting me that we are having another child. My other 2 keep me so busy sometimes I forget Im pregnant! We are exstatic to meet the newest Rowenhorst and figure out just how she fits into our crazy fun house!
A lot happening in the next month around here...one thing is SO clear: God. is. faithful. I stand in awe of Him....

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Today is our Anniversary!!



"I say I love you, I say I need you
I try so many ways to say how my heart beats for you
I say I'm always thinking about you
There's no way I'd want to face this life without you
And even though these words come from deep inside me
There's so much more I don't have the words to say

'Cause what I really want to say
Is what the sun would say to the sky
For giving it a place to come alive

But my words get in the way
Of what I really want to say"

I love you Daniel, happy 6 years...you give me a place to come alive!

Saturday, May 30, 2009


Psalm 51:15-17....

Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I'll let loose with your praise.
Going through the motions doesn't please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don't for a moment escape God's notice.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

"Hug your little ones tighter...."


I was reminded this past week of sweet Maria Sue Chapman, daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman, who tragically passed away a year ago in a terrible accident. She passed away May 21st, 2008, her funeral held May 24th, 2008. The Chapman’s son Will (who was behind the wheel at the time of the accident) graduated from high school this past Sunday, May 24th, 2009 (exactly one year to the day) on the very same stage that the family said goodbye to Maria Sue. Every student in the class walked across that stage barefoot to symbolize they were on “Holy Ground”. Do I even need to go on? Wow.

I have been reading their mother’s blog today, going back to the weeks before the accident up until her last post this Sunday talking about Will's graduation and the anniversary of her daughters passing. As I clicked on other links on her page I read about all of her children (they have 6!) and their involvement in ministry. Every one of them is open and honest about their struggle with sadness and anger over Maria’s death. YET…still they trust. This is one awesome family. I really have no one “pearl” that I have taken away from all my reading; everything this woman has to say has moved me beyond words. Instead, I have a new eagerness to fill my children’s lives with Christ more intentionally, to enjoy who they are and who God created them to be, and to love them fully and deeply. Mary Beth Chapman ends a lot of her blogs with “Hug your little ones tighter”…..I love that……

Thursday, May 21, 2009

It may be a crazy life, but its OUR life!


My newest dearest friend Carmen has inspired me to get writing again! Thanks girlfriend, I’ve been in need of your creativeness in my life! (Just don’t judge my grammer, OK?!! HA! Love ya!)


Since the last time I blogged, (about 9 months ago!) my husband and I are expecting, AGAIN! 3 under 3 in the Rowenhorst house….yes, we need counseling ;) Another baby girl will be joining our ranks in July. It will be a crazy time and we could not be more excited about it! 10 years ago this August, my husband walked into my homeroom class in high school. Sometimes I look around and I absolutely CAN NOT believe we have been married 6 years with 3 kids! I always liked that little line from ‘Jon and Kate Plus 8’ (God bless them right now!) “It may be a crazy life, but its OUR life!”

The band and I had our 1 year anniversary this month leading worship at The Bridge. The freedom in Christ I have found with this group of guys has been like a deep pure breath of oxygen for my soul. This past week I have been listening to the song “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us” over and over and over and over……..there is one phrase that kills me without fail every time I listen to it.

“Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers”

Often I find it difficult to TRULY personalize the cross. Not with my mind or my lips, I have knowledge of the truth. I mean the deep acceptance that I, Staci Rowenhorst, nailed Him to the cross. I, Staci Rowenhorst, called out among the crowd “Crucify Him!” It was me, my sin, my shame that held Him there.

“How deep the Father’s love for us?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart…
His wounds have paid my ransom”

What if I lived every day, sang every song, changed every diaper, dried every tear, mopped every floor and cooked every meal with the heart knowledge that His wounds have paid my ransom??!!