We had our college and career Christmas party last Friday, and Roger and I both enjoyed our time with this class. It's often a lot of work to find babysitters, coordinate events, and have activities, but we do enjoy it. Our friends, Phil and Autumn graciously came to our house to watch our five young ones as it wasn't a party for little ones! :)
On Saturday, Roger left home early to go cut wood with my dad. However when the boys woke up, they immediately asked if they could go cut wood with daddy. So after breakfast, and chores, we got everyone dressed to go wood cutting. I dropped the four boys off with Roger, and then Emma and I headed to town to drop off a meal for one of the ladies in our church.
Somehow I ended up with a little extra time, so I texted my friend, Autumn to see if she was available for a coffee date. We had a great visit at Target, and I was able to have a deep heart-to-heart conversation. Sometimes those heart-to-heart conversations are difficult because I just don't know where to start or how to say what I what to say. Thankfully, Autumn is full of patience! :) My heart was greatly encouraged and I am so blessed by her friendship. We spent several hours talking and wandering around Target. :) (We did lose Emma once, but we found her! It was a scary thirty seconds when she wandered away too quickly, but God is good!)
After my visit, I dropped off the meal, and headed to spend time with another dear friend. Jenna and I have had our date planned since November, and I was definitely looking forward to spending some uninterrupted time with her. My husband is very understanding and although he was tired from wood cutting, he came and picked up Emma so that just Jenna and I could visit. And visit we did...for hours! We never ran out of things to say or what to talk about, and I am often challenged my her growth in The Lord. I've been saved longer, but she's grown so much since she got saved that I am often challenged to answer why I believe what I believe. We have deep conversations and light conversations, but God has blessed me with a few amazing friends.
However, I don't know very many husbands that would do all that Roger does for me. He watches our children, loves our kids, loves me, desires to do what is best for our family, he has stuck with difficult decisions, and is passionate about his desire to be faithful to The Lord, raise our children, and strengthen our marriage. I love him, and I'm so thankful that God blessed me with this man.
Sunday was a full day with church and our college snack night. When we arrived home after Sunday morning church, we received a phone call. (I had misplaced my crockpot months ago at an event I attended. It was found, and the person who returned it to us made lunch for us!) Rebecca and Ben had found my crockpot, made lunch in it, and then Ben and his dad came out to drop off the crockpot. What a great surprise!
Another huge blessing on Sunday came from an unexpected source. In between services, a lady came up to Roger and handed him a Christmas card. When we opened it at home, the note said that she and her husband try to find a family to be a blessing to every year at Christmas time. They picked our family, and they blessed us with a generous gift of money! Since this was an unexpected blessing, I'm looking forward to using the gift of money in a very special way...more on that in the next few days! :)
On Monday we were planning in having dinner with a couple from church that we'd like to get to know better. It ended up not working out, but Katie and Dane had already made the main dish in Sunday. Katie gave me the dish on Sunday night, so I didn't have to cook supper on Monday night! Woo hoo!!
The boys have been having a difficult time focusing at school this week...maybe because Christmas break starts on Friday?! :)
Friday, December 19,2014
Well, the whole week has flown by...literally! Roger has been trying to fly a lot to make up for the hours hs missed while the weather was terrible, we've been busy with school, making cookies, and visiting wi friends. On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to go with our friends, the Hammonds, to a park that was lit up with lots of Christmas lights. It was free, we had a great time of fellowship, and afterwards we enjoyed dinner together.
Wednesday was busy with school, house cleaning, and baking cookies. A friend, Gretchen, watched our kids while I did plasma, and Roger did some more flying. The Schilders graciously invited us to supper at their house, so I didn't have to cook on Wednesday night either...wow! :) The Schilders also suprised our family with several gifts for the kids and a special gift for Roger and I. I am just so amazed at how many people have reached out with open arms to our family this Christmas season! My heart has been greatly encouraged by several good talks with some Godly women. I know that we can survive and thrive through this experience, by God's grace!
On Thursday, I did school, cleaned someone's home, finished up some cookies, dropped off several bags of treats to a few friends, and made it to the ladies meeting that night! The kids have enjoyed helping with the cookies, and I'm trying to just let things go! :)
Today was the last day of school before break-hallelujah! My dad planned a Christmas party for the boys, and Travis skipped out on his four-k class to come to the party! :) The boys had a great time at the party, while Emma and I stayed at home. She made lots of messes, while I tried to address Christmas cards and make cookie boxes. :) When the boys came home from school, we made homemade taco seasoning for the Sunday School teachers at our church. I try to give a small practical gift every year, and this year it's taco seasoning. Since the boys helped put it all together, my house smells like taco seasoning! :) After that adventure, we headed up to SAMs club. I am planning dinner on Christmas Eve at our house, and also a Christmas brunch. There was also a party for the adult Sunday school class, but since we are out of babysitting money for the month, we didn't go. It's okay though, because we had a great time as a family. The boys ate lots of samples, tried out all the chairs and couches, looked at books, and we laughed our way through the evening. After Sam's Club, we went to the mall. We actually didn't even buy anything at the mall other than the boys using some of their money to shoot targets. So they did that with Roger, while Emma and I wandered around. It was a very relaxing evening with our family, and these are the memories that I hold close to my heart. We are so blessed!
We decided to go and visit the Creation Museum with the money that we were given on Sunday! I'll be leaving on Sunday afternoon with the kids, my sister, and my parents. It doesn't look like Roger will be able to go with us since the weather looks to be good and his instructor will be back in town. While I'm disappointed about that, I am so excited to go to the museum! My parents took the older boys last year, and they still talk about it! Also, children are free though the end of 2014, so I want to take advantage of the fact that I won't have to pay for them! :) We are very excited about this little trip! We will be leaving on Sunday after church, and we will be back late Tuesday night, Lord willing. We'd appreciate your prayers as we travel.
Our family date night!
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