Four By 40

HE IS RISEN!!

2026-04-05T08:59:00.001-05:00

She Said Yes!

2026-03-19T13:08:00.001-05:00

Baby girl got engaged to her Josh in Hawaii!!

Congratulations Sarah and Josh!!

Banquet Night!!

2026-03-06T13:07:00.001-06:00

So very proud of my wife Carla Stream for continuing to tell her story of hope and healing after abortion. She has been doing it since 2008. Last night was at the Options for Women Menomonie Room to Breath Banquet. Well done babe! Continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus!

From Patrick

2026-02-17T11:21:00.008-06:00

Out shopping with my wife, Carla.

She asked "Are you irritating me right now?

Me "Gosh I guess so."

20!

2026-01-14T09:46:00.022-06:00

Happy 20th Birthday Tim!! Timma!!

What an amazing journey to watch our Streamers grow to be 28252220. All of the babies are in their twenties! God be praised for ALL of the memories we have together!

Oh What Fun!

2025-12-25T11:59:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas From The Streams

2025-12-25T11:52:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving 2025

2025-11-28T11:11:00.002-06:00

I miss my Grandma Nora Lorraine Carlson. She told me I was beautiful. She told me I was special. She told me that she loved me. Every Thanksgiving I get up early and spread butter and sugar on the 2 packages of lefse that we buy. Right before we eat I open a can of jellied cranberries and slice up the can shaped cranberries. I put them into a dish that is just like the one my Grandma Nora had. I play George Winston and let the tears fall in gratitude for a grandma that I will see again in heaven. I will grieve with hope. I love you grandma and I miss you.

A Day in the Life

2025-11-19T10:12:00.000-06:00

Me to my wife Carla: "I am going to go for a walk."

Her: "Ok! I am going to finish writing my New Years resolutions for you."

Me: dumbfounded look

Her: "What!!? It's a joke!"

Her: "But I do have some for you."

Mmmmmm

2025-11-01T13:05:00.006-05:00

There are currently 3 fall candles going in our kitchen this morning. I asked my wife "We've got all these candles burning in the same space this morning on purpose?" She replied, "Yes, I am letting them fight it out."

"SENIOR" PICTURES

2025-10-25T11:40:00.001-05:00

Why do I do these? To make my husband Patrick laugh of course. I HAVE THE BEST TIME HEARING HIS JOY at my total goofiness.

60!!!

2025-10-23T10:01:00.001-05:00

Happy 60th Birthday to me!! Grateful to God for 60 years and one year closer to going home! Thank you Lord for all of my friends that have become family! I am soooooo blessed.

Faith

2025-10-21T09:45:00.002-05:00

30 years ago we started attending Faith Community Church. Patrick and I grew up here. Spiritually. We surrendered to Christ. He has helped us raise our children and changed our legacy. Grace upon Grace upon Grace. We are grateful to God for His loving care through our FCC Family.

The Thought I Think

2025-10-20T09:21:00.001-05:00

The first thought I have when I walk into Walmart is,

"I have got to get outta here."

Empty Nest

2025-09-25T09:58:00.001-05:00

Eldest son Josh left for his ministry opportunity with Casas por Christo!! (Homes for Christ) He made his way to El Paso, TX to build the video production crew as they watch servants from all over the world donate their time and talents to build homes for those that are homeless in Mexico. Thank you Lord for this opportunity!

80'S Babes

2025-09-16T08:42:00.001-05:00

45th Friendaversary!!

2025-09-15T10:32:00.004-05:00

Carla Nelson met Shelly Hieb on August 27th, 1980. The first day of 9th grade at Hughes Junior High. We were babies at 14 years old!!

Shelly and I celebrated our 45th Friendaversary on August 27th, 2025!! I flew out to Utah to spend several amazing days with my BFF!! Oh my goodness we DIED OF FUN AS WE ALWAYS DO!! Laughing, talking, reading old calendars, looking through old photo albums, walking down memory lane.

BEST TIME EVVVERRRRRRRRRR!!

LOVE YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER SHELLY! 💖💖

35th Year at the MN State Fair!!

2025-08-21T09:48:00.001-05:00

We missed you Sarah Bearah!!

I Miss You Stuart!!

2025-08-11T09:59:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it has been 20 years since you passed away!! I am grateful that I got to know you and love you as you have been such a blessing in my life. Showing me what a loving husband and father looks like and walking me down the aisle to my Patrick. I pray that you are in heaven. I would love to catch up with you there!

Happy Birthday!

2025-08-07T12:57:00.002-05:00

Happy 25th Birthday to you Sarah Bearah!! You are such a joy and a blessing and always our party girl!! I am grateful to God to be your mom and watch you grow to be a Godly woman!!

I love you SAS!!

31st Anniversary!

2025-07-30T09:40:00.007-05:00

God has truly restored what was broken and filled these years with more joy than I ever thought possible. Each one better than the last.

Carla, you are a fierce woman. You chase justice and truth with fire in your bones, and yet you give your heart so freely to those in your care. I’ve seen you grow in strength, wisdom, tenderness, and courage. But what I love most is your daily walk of grace with Jesus. It marks everything you do.

It’s been the privilege of my life to be your husband. Thank you.

I look ahead with great anticipation for what this next year will hold.

Here’s to 31 years of marriage!

Yes You Did

2025-07-19T10:27:00.002-05:00

My wife Carla asked me what I did today. I told her I went to Menards 3 times in 4 hours. She said, "Oh so you spent your time Menarding. You Menarded all day."

Prophetic

2025-06-25T09:49:00.004-05:00

Josh and I sat on the porch last night. We got to talking about the food I used to make. Cinnamon Streams, tortellini, tacos, spaghetti, grilled cheese and soup, corndogs. The easy peasy foods. Josh wanted to read some stories from this blog. Ohmystars! We laughed until we cried. Especially over this one.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Nack

Nathan "I hab a nack? I hab a nack? I hab a nack? I hab a nack?"

Mom "Nathan if you say the word snack again you are going to your room for a timeout."

Nathan "I hab one? I hab one? I hab one? I hab one?"

And this one.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Typical

Nathan "Can I have a snack?"

Mom "Nathan, we just ate lunch."

Nathan "Yay, time for lunch!"

Mom "No, we just ATE lunch."

Nathan "Oh. Can I have a snack?"

There were so many comments over the years that said," one day you will talk about these days and you will laugh and laugh." Indeed.

She Did It!

2025-05-10T10:57:00.004-05:00

Our daughter Sarah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science today!

What a journey it’s been:

Military basic training right after high school

Two years at the University of MN–Duluth

A 9-month deployment to Kuwait

Returned to Duluth, then endured a serious car accident

Took a semester off to heal

Transferred to UW–River Falls and finished strong!!

Well done Sarah!!

Now heading to grad school at UW–Eau Claire!

See You Soon!

2025-03-15T10:22:00.004-05:00

Lyle David Brooks

January 24, 1959 - March 13, 2025

I had just become a moderator on Jill Stanek's blog Pro Life Pulse and Lyle was a commenter. Obama became president for the first time. I had a speaking engagement for a group of prolife college students. I told my story of abortion regret and God's forgiveness. When I got back from that trip I posted the video of me telling my story on Jill's blog. Later that day, my husband asked me if I knew a Lyle Brooks. I didn't. He had put thousands of dollars into my PayPal account! What? Why? I emailed him to ask. He emailed back to say he had been struggling after the election. Knowing what it might mean for vulnerable mothers and their babies. He had watched the video of me telling my story. He said he was moved. That I was crisp, direct and lyrical in my telling. That in the face of the political landscape I would share something so deeply personal. He said that if I could keep going, he would do everything he could do get my story out there. And so he did. He paid my way to The March for Life in Wash D.C. in 2009 where I was part of the documentary, Life After Abortion. That video has saved countless lives from abortion. The trailer for the video on YouTube has a comment from 2 mothers who chose life! Thank you Lord! Lyle became a man who stood by me and cheered me on and told me to KEEP GOING CARLA! He told me that the world needed my story. The story of Carla and her daughter Aubrey who died via abortion. Since then I have kept going! Still speaking and standing as a witness to the evil of abortion. And Lyle heard me. He understood. He was always there. He knew what I went through and what God had done in forgiving and healing me. I was beyond grateful to learn of his conversion. His coming to Christ! God be praised! He wrote about Aubrey and I on his blog and although I have yet to find that post I remember how proud he was to be my friend and tell me to Keep Going! I had a mom blog forever and Lyle was always there under a fake name with his dry humor and wit. He made me laugh so much!! I have spent the last couple of days reading his comments on my blog. Laughing until I cry and crying until I laugh. He seemed to enjoy my antics in the prolife movement and the antics of my 4 children that I blogged about.

We lost track of each other for a time but I found him still busy, still helping women. He shared with me about Hyperemesis Gravidarum. I was blessed to be able to bring precious resources and hope to several mothers in my area who were struggling with HG.

I never did get to meet Lyle in person but I can't think of a better place than heaven to catch up with him!

I will keep going Lyle with all of the love and support you gave me. The memories I have of you are a blessing to me.

I am so happy for you!! I am so sad for us!

Well done, good and faithful servant! ❤️

Love,

Carla