Christmas, family, friends, a date...and a reprieve from school!

                         

Wow! One week of Christmas break is already gone! We squeezed in a trip to the Creation Museum, had Christmas with my parents, Christmas with our family, a Christmas dinner with Roger's family and our friends, had a date night, a traveled to Wausau for an extended Prahl family Christmas! Too much rich food, not as much activity, and lots of sweets is reassuring me that my New Years resolution is to get back on my diet! :) 

We've been blessed by an abundance of generous friends and family that have reached out to us in so many ways this Christmas season. God has shown Himself strong, and it's provided a great opportunity to allow us to talk to our children about how much God will always love and provide for us. We are thankful for the generosity from so many of our family and friends, and it has been humbling to receive the abundant shower of gifts and love from so many...thank you. 

We've had a great week, and instead of writing about all the details, I've just included a few snapshots of our activities! Merry Christmas!

                   

                    

                        

The Lull in the storm!

We've had some pretty amazing things happen to our family in the last few days. I want to be sure that I'm remembering the great memories and experiences as well as the ones that don't seem as wonderful. :) 

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!

Digging out of the mud!

So, my life feels like a mud puddle, my emotions are raw, and depression and weariness are heavy on my heart. (Don't look so amazed...you've been there too!) Please understand that I'm not trying to gather sympathy or anything else. I'm merely explaining where I'm coming from...and this is the calmed down version of my writings!  And keep in mind, that my blogging is my life journal; and someday I'll want to go back and read my entries.

            

For the last few weeks now, I've been feeling down, discouraged, and battling depression. I consider myself to be a fairly upbeat person, smiley, trying to see the best in others, and trying to see and meet the needs of those around me.  However, lately I've just been wanting to crawl under the covers and curl up. I think somewhat just to find out if anyone would notice. 

There are lots of dynamics to this equation but perhaps the greatest reason is that for the first time in several long months, I've given myself permission to really think. For the last several months, I've just been trying to keep my head above water and survive. Now that our family is back together, satan is using differnt tactics to attack us. However in thinking, I'm coming to realize that this is not where I anticipated our family being at Christmas. Homeschooling is hard work for me, my husband is feeling the stress of a lot of different decisions, I feel like I pour my heart and my soul into various friends and my family, but it's not always reciprocated like I was anticipating. I'm tired of the Holy Spirit gently reminding me to text that person, bring this one some coffee, stop by that persons home and see how their doing, calling, writing notes...in truth, I'm  just weary. 

Did you know that in the six months my husband was gone, he can count on one hand the people that called, texted, or wrote a note? No wonder he feels tired and discouraged himself. I fear that we are two drowning people with one leaking raft between us. I wonder what would be different in our lives if someone had reached out their hand to him. Did anyone feel the Holy Spirits prompting and just not respond?! 

So, I am certain that I am not the only person that has ever felt this way! And now I'm working on digging out of the mud. I know that these aren't instant solutions, but I'm hoping that as I dwell on the truths I know to be true, I'll find myself feeling better.

Whenever someone asks my dad how he is doing, he always replys, "oh, better than I deserve." How true that is! I am much better than I deserve. I know I have a home in heaven, a husband that loves me far more than I deserve, five beautiful children, and so many more things. Counting my blessings is helping me focus on all that God has already blessed me with. 

Joy...Jesus first, others second, yourself last. I'm still plugging away at my Bible reading schedule, and I'm working on putting my children's and husbands needs above my own. So, yes, I crawl out of bed in the morning, do all the things that mamas and wives do, and keep trying to respond joyfully to all the Holy Spirits pricks on encouraging or helping others around me. Today, I had a difficult time focusing on joy. It's been a long week and I splurged and bought coffee from McDonald's for my mom and I. When we arrived at school, Garett eagerly asked if he could bring the coffee inside. I hesitantly replied yes because the parking lot is slippery. He assured me that he would be very careful. However, he had just picked up the coffee and closed the car door when his feet slipped out from under him and there went the coffee! He felt absolutely terrible, and he was very upset. The Lord helped me keep my mouth shut, and I assured him that I knew it was an accident; and it could've happened to anyone. And God helped me survive the morning without coffee. 

I need to remember to focus on what is true. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to focus on what is true, lovely, pure, honest, and of good report. My feelings aren't always an accurate measurement of what is true, and I need to be reminded of that. 

While I feel very lonely right now, and my poor husband doesn't really know how to help me, I know that the promises of God are still true. He will always be with me. He loves me. He's forgiven me. He doesn't withhold good gifts from his children. I am His child. 

Psalms 61:2

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

  

                         

Christmas Preparations

We are already well into December, and I am not feeling as ready for Christmas as I typically do this time of year. I think it has to do with a myriad of reasons from sick kids, to this being a "different" Christmas for us, and my time seems to be so limited! 

Roger and I have both been battling serious bouts of discouragement in the last few days, but in the middle of that God has also shown Himself strong. On Saturday afternoon, I was feeling particularly discouraged about a certain incident, when out of the blue, a friend called me. This is a friend to whom I enjoy talking to, but we don't do much together. However, Tressa called me to say that she and her friend, Heather, wanted to take myself and another lady from church out to lunch on Sunday afternoon.    My husband was more than happy to let me go and do this, so I said "yes." I made lunch for the boys and Roger for Sunday afternoon, and Roger called up his friend, Sean. Since Sean's wife, Gretchen, was the other lady invited, it made sense to Roger to invite Sean and his kids over for lunch at our house. 

So after church on Sunday, I headed to lunch with my friends, while Roger and Sean ate lunch with the nine children at our house...two entirely different dining experiences! :) Tressa and Heather took Gretchen and I to "The Melting Pot" restaurant. Neither Gretchen nor I had ever been, and it was such a fun and enjoyable dining experience. We had a wonderful time chatting, enjoying each other's company, and eating a delicious meal...wow! 

                           

After lunch, we went to the mall for a bit. I don't know that I've ever gone to the mall just to walk around and try on clothes! All my mall excursions consisted of hauling five kids around to do a few very particular errands in the mall. Or if for some strange reason I'm by myself, I don't take the time to browse the clothing racks and try on clothes. (Maybe that's why I feel out dated and homely when I go to the mall!) :) The four of us had a great time laughing, talking, and laughing! :) The ladies very sweetly and kindly bought be a beautiful new dress along with earrings and a necklace. I love it...and I feel up to date, stylish, and modest! :)

By now you know that I have a very amazing husband. :) He never, ever, complains about watching the kids or me going out with friends. I'm very blessed to have a husband to works to meet my needs, and does his best to help and encourage me. These last few months haven't been easy for him, and I notice small stress lines and a few more gray hairs that weren't there are few months ago. I have a few very specific requests that I'm praying for in Roger's life, and I'm looking forward to continuing to see God work in and through him.

Monday, December 8

This morning the weather was sloppy with ice and snow on the ground. It was a busy day with school, house cleaning, and meal preparations for having company over for dinner tonight. I did manage to squeeze in a plasma appointment, and Roger did get in a few hours of flying. His goal is to have this instrument rating before Christmas...and since we aren't giving gifts, that would be the perfect gift for me! :) 

We had a great time with our dinner guests last night. It was nice to have people over for dinner again. With Roger being gone all summer, we didn't have families over for dinner, and it was nice to fellowship with dinner guests again. Ben and Lois are a sweet couple with two children, and we had a great time around  the dinner table. 

I saw this quote today and it was exactly what I needed. 

"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you Look at God, you'll be at rest." Corrie ten Boom

"....and His name shall be called...the Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6

Photos from our Christmas decorating!

We've been busy fighting sickness in our house, as I know many others have been doing the same! Travis was the first to get sick, and he generously shared with his siblings, parents, aunt, and grandparents! :)

My friend, Heather, kindly brought us supper tonight. I was very appreciative as it's been a long day. We managed to have school, get everyone fed and dressed, but this mama is tired! So far,  Roger has managed to escape being sick; hopefully, it will stay that way!