Steven Curtis Chapman - Beauty Will Rise - Lyrics

I heard this song on KDCR FM today on my way home from work. Isn't it neat how God uses music to speak to us? This song is one I needed to hear today. Last night a young wife and mother died after a long, hard battle with cancer. I didn't know her as an adult, yet I remember her as a girl. I was older than her in school and she rode my bus. I always thought she was the prettiest little girl...she had the neatest color of eyes...blue/green and they stood out like stars. I now think of her husband and four-year-old daughter...

It also makes me think of a classmate of Sam. Her Dad has been battling cancer for two years...it looks now like the cancer is winning. This father is my age and has a wife and three young daughters...

In both Jen and Rodney's Caring Bridge sites it recounts their treatments and pain, yet also their praises. Praises with cancer? Praises for communities that rally around them, praises for the many lives their stories have touched, praises for the opportunity to tell others that there is hope...hope for healing...and hope in Jesus if healing doesn't come.

Easter has just past. Yet, the hope of Easter lives on in our Resurrected Savior. As difficult as seeing these young ones suffer, leave behind little ones; we know there is still beauty. Beauty in ashes. Please join me in keeping these families in your thoughts and prayers.

Target Field!!

April 23 was a highlight in Sam's life so far. This was the day he got to see the MN Twins play in their new stadium, Target Field. As many of you know, Sam is a sports nut...baseball has always been one of his favorites to play and watch. When Uncle Mike asked Sam if he'd like to go to the game with his Dad, Steph (cousin), and him, Sam's answer was "OH YES!!!" It was a long 24 hours for Sam to get to game time; not sure he ever let go of the tickets in that time.

Mark and Sam had a great time, plus the Twins won 10-3! Here's a few photos of the guy's time at the ballpark. Sam ended up getting two autographs - 2nd Baseman Matt Tolbert & Pitcher Scott Baker. Their seats were great - right at first base - got to see Justin Morneau in action.

It was a whirlwind trip, but as the guys will tell you, well worth it! One of Sam's favorite movies is "Field of Dreams." It was awesome he got to visit his very own field of dreams. Who knows, one day we might be there and hear the announcer say "Batting next for the MN Twins...Sam Uuuuutzig!" ; )

PS - Thanks again Uncle Mike!!! Guys had a blast!!!!

Revelation Song, Mercy Seat, Easter, The Passion

This morning our church presented the drama "The Living Last Supper." This was a very touching play. It showed the Last Supper as it is shown in Da Vinci's famous "Last Supper" painting. It had each of the disciples "come alive" from the painting and speak of how they came to follow Jesus and what they saw in His three years of ministry. Sprinkled throughout the play they also showed scenes from the movie "The Passion of the Christ." It was a very moving experience for all of us. I wanted to post this song and video as a reminder to all of us that this is the true meaning of Easter. As Summer's April Memory Verse says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Happy Easter everybody! To God be the glory!!

Courageous Christians

Sam's school was honored to have guests speakers on Friday. Some of the speakers that you can see were Tony Dungy, Martin Luther King Jr., Florence Nightingale, George Foreman, and Tim Tebow.

The fourth graders were required to do research, write a report, dress as their chosen person, and read their report in front of an audience of parents and classmates. The person the student's picked for their report had to be someone they considered to be a "Courageous Christian."

Sam's "Courageous Christian" was Tim Tebow..a quarterback for the Denver Broncos. In Sam's research he learned Tim was born into a missionary family in the Phillipines, grew up in Florida, was raised to not complain (I liked that one!!), do chores, had to learn many Bible stories/verses, and taught to always try his best.

When Tim was a quarterback in college he led Bible Studies, and put Bible Verses on his eye black (stuff under the eyes athletes wear to get rid of the glare of the sun). Tim figured that since he was a quarterback and got lots of time being shown on the scoreboard or on TV he would use that opportunity to get the Good News of Jesus out. After each game with Tim wearing Bible verses on his eye black, there were thousands of hits on the Internet of people looking up those verses. Tim's Dad, Bob Tebow, has said that before Tim was born he asked God for a Preacher, instead he got a Quarterback. Like Sam said in his report, I think he got both!

Tim has also started the Tim Tebow Foundation for at-risk youth and helps support an orphanage in the Phillipines. Tim prayed at the National Day of Prayer Breakfast in D.C., and visits many hurting kids/families and prays with them before he ends his visit.

As a Mom of a 10-year-old sports addict, I am so thankful for a Christian athlete for Sam to look up to. Way to go Tim, you may not be a Viking but we'll sure cheer you on!!

G & K Sioux Falls

April 11, 2011 was a big day for Coach Mark and the rest of Team Utzig. That was the first day the G & K SF Branch officially opened for business! Mark has been super busy with the preparations, hiring, training, and answering many questions from lots of different people, yet is happy for the challenge. It was five years in the making, but it is finally here! Congrats Mark! Way to hang in there and good job! Your team cheers you on!! (By the way, you can see the whole team got involved. We've all taken turns at the branch unloading things, filing, and Sam's spent 3 afternoons there loading delivery trucks. He's earning money (& muscles) for a new baseball bat. Hope this gives you an idea of what G & K SF looks like.) Thanks for checking in!

Guess Who The Tooth Fairy Visited?

The Tooth Fairy has been extra busy with Team Utzig lately. Summer lost her second tooth (first one's new tooth is half in already) and she wanted everybody to see her new look. In her Kindergarten Class they have a "Tooth Chart." This gives a tally of all the teeth the kids have lost so far this school year. Summer was excited to join the ranks of the "toothless." Her 2 teeth made the tally go to #37 & #38! That's a lot of teeth and makes for an exhausted Tooth Fairy! Sam's been losing teeth left and right (literally) yet isn't as excited about the whole deal as his sister is. It could be an interesting summer for eating corn on the cobb at our house this year! Enjoy her new grin!

Nothing Runs Like A Deere...Except Perhaps Summer

With the start of Spring, comes soccer season in Sioux Falls. To know Summer is to know that she LOVES to RUN. It is one of her favorite things to do. Saturday was Summer's first soccer game. She plays in an all girls league. The teams have candy names, her team is the Hot Tamales, how cute is that? The Hot Tamales played against the Kit Kats and won! The final score was 12-7, Summer made 8 of her team's goals! She had alot of fun, as did Team Utzig as we watched. To say Sum enjoyed herself would be an understatement, she wishes she was still out on the field. Move over Mia Hamm, here comes Summer Utzig!