A Birthday, Depression, and a Prayer Request

This is a challenging post to write simply because I’m having a hard time expressing my thoughts. It’s been a challenging and a bit daunting of a week. I’ve actually not been terribly busy this week, which has given me extra time to think and process through some recent events.

Last week Roger celebrated another birthday. I am so very, very thankful for this man who is my husband and best friend. We didn’t have any big plans as Roger worked on his birthday, and it was on a Friday, which means hot lunch, chapel, piano playing, and all the other Friday events. We did have a small celebration with our family, but no cake. The kids were fine with skipping the cake as long as we had ice cream!

On Saturday, I attended the funeral of my dear friend who passed away recently. Roger was unable to attend as he was working, and I left the kids at home. The funeral was at a local church and very close to our house. I was thankful that I had friends that were also attending the funeral, so I had someone to sit with during the service. The church building was packed, and it was just another affirmation that she was so very loved. The service was a beautiful one to honor her life and her testimony for Jesus Christ. One thing I know is that when I die I want the people who come to the funeral to know that they can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I also know that I want lots of music, and I’d definitely prefer no organ music. I mean, not that I will care, but still!

Sunday presented me with the opportunity to led our Childrens choir practice, led in handbell practice, teach Sunday school, play the piano for worship service, and teach Children’s church. I’m glad its not like that every week, but every once in a while, I surely don’t mind. God certainly knew that playing the piano would be like a balm to my weary soul. I chose to play “It is Well with my Soul” for the offeratory. As I reflected on the words while playing the song, I can truly say that yes, it is well with my soul. That’s not to say that I don’t struggle or fail in my walk with Christ, but I also know that He is not done working on me yet. The last verse states, “And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight. The clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The Lord shall descend, and the trump shall resound, even so, It is Well with my soul.” Oh, how I look forward to that day! I love to play that song declaring that the Lord will descend. What a promise!

Emma barely made it until Roger came home from work

On Sunday afternoon, the boys were invited to our Pastors house to play with their son. The boys always enjoy spending time with Austin, out in the woods, being wild, getting dirty, and just being boys. They came back to church a bit muddy, but oh so happy! Roger, Emma and I had lunch at McDonald’s before heading home, and we enjoyed some fellowship with some older folks from our church. The pastor and his family also stopped in to get hamburgers to feed all those boys. And yes, McDonald’s is about the only fast food place around here!

Also this week, we watched the movie, “Facing the Giants” with our family. If you haven’t seen it, I
highly recommend it. It’s such a great family movie with a powerful message about how God does the impossible. It was a good timely reminder that we serve the God of the impossible. As we look to wrapping up another school year, and we prepare for the next one, I am praying for my God to show
Himself strong to our little Christian school. I am specifically praying for 90 students to be enrolled in our school. Think this is impossible? Oh, yes, it is! It’s asking for above and beyond all that we could ask or hope, but that’s the amazing part- God can do it! We’ve already started praying as a family for this request. Could God choose to not answer our request? Oh, He surely could. However, how often do we as Christians sell God short because we simply do not ask?! I often think we don’t
see God work in miraculous ways because we simply do not ask. I think we often have to settle for  something other than God’s absolute best because we didn’t take the time, energy or effort to implore Him to answer our requests.


In addition to everything else, I’ve struggled with depression this week. There- I said it! It’s a big, ugly word that lots of people don’t seem to want to discuss, talk about or address. But the truth is, its a real thing! I’m not in the throws of despair or anything like that, but this week has been a struggle. I
find myself weary, short on patience, lacking grace with my children, lacking energy, and just a desire to do nothing, which is so not me! However, I know that God desires that I fellowship with Him, that I find my joy in Him, and allow Him to give me rest. It’s a daily battle sometimes. I don’t struggle with depression all the time, but every once in a while, it creeps upon me. I know its partially in part because I want spring weather to be here! I want to get outside and walk again and feel the sun rays. I’m a bit bogged down by trying to help four kids prepare for an academic fair. They are doing a great job, don’t get me wrong, but I often wish they could ask someone else how to spell something for the
four hundredth time! (We try to have the projects put away by the time Roger comes home.) I’m also adjusting to finding myself being more of a single parent than I would like sometimes as we are entering back into longer days for Roger. I’m not complaining as Roger has a wonderful boss and a great job. I need to adjust not Roger! I find myself being emotional, which has our poor children completely baffled! Emma tends to be a bit sympathetic, but the boys just tend to disappear! However, the truth of the matter is that God is still on the throne. He knows my name, He knows my heart, and He loves me. (I would certainly be appreciative of a few extra prayers also)

The snow is melting...slowly! The boys are anxious to get out on the roads and start collecting cans and bottles again. We are slowly building up our family vacation fund, and if we all work super hard at it this summer, we might succeed!

A great song that I’ve listened to often this week: https://youtu.be/jdDIjbiVkA4

Joy and Sadness

My parents are safely back in Wisconsin, and our lives continue to move by at a rapid pace! We are now entering what I refer to as M.M.M. or the Magnificent Mayhem Mud season! Although the nights have been chilly, the daytime temperatures have been reaching into the upper 30s. This has created lots of mud and slop! We still have quite a bit of snow that has not melted yet, so more mud is coming!

In other news, our parent group at school hosted a birthday party for Maine last Friday night. Maine turned 199 years old on March 15, and it seemed like a good time of year to have a family fun event! The event was well attended by our school families, and it was a good opportunity for fellowship and enjoying Maine food (whoopie pies, blueberry muffins, Moxie, and pink hotdogs). Roger missed it as he was working. Since we’ve “sprung” forward in the time, it means the start of longer days for Roger. The boys and Emma enjoyed the “Maine” event, and I’m thankful for those parents that helped in the event as well as those families that attended.

Emma is finishing up her last few days of her antibiotic for Lyme. The medicine is affecting her stomach though, so we’ve been trying to encourage lots of yogurt and probiotics! She seems to tire more easily as of late, and Roger asked if it was “just him or does she seem more emotional”!? We are thankful that she takes the medicine without complaining or whining, and she’s good at pretending that the flavor changes every time she takes it. She pretends it’s cherry, strawberry, blueberry or a variety of other flavors. Travis asked if the flavor really changes or is she using her imagination! Its her imagination, buddy!

We are coming down the homestretch in working on these academic fair reports and projects. I do
not think that there is another event that can show the differences in each of our children’s
personalities  more clearly! Wyatt is working on “The Green Mountian Boys”. He has most of his report done, the resource page completed, and he’s been brainstorming about his project. Travis is completely overwhelmed by the entire thing, and I think he’d like to crawl under the table and ignore everything! Chandler works independently, and he only asks for help if he can’t manage something on his own. Garett is in no hurry or rush, and seems to think that the deadline is ages away...he will think that right up until the day it’s due, if we allow that! The bright spot is that once the academic fair is over, we have spring break! While I do enjoy breaks from school, I do wish that the school year would get done a little sooner around here. But since we already have the week off, we might as well enjoy it!

I’ve been working with our school music classes on preparing for a Patriotic program in May. Some classes are working on poems, or handbells, or Bible verses. And they are all working on various patriotic songs. It is so important that we encourage the next generation to love Jesus, serve God, and
 love their country. So many brave women and men sacrificed so much for this great country, and yet so many people take these liberties and freedoms for granted. We cannot be slack in encouraging and training the next generation!

Also this week, I bought Garett his first pair of pants from the men’s department. Where did time go?! He’s been growing so much and change is happening. I was looking back over pictures from years ago when it was just the four boys...in four years. Those were some long moments, but wow did time ever fly! I am constantly reminded of the changes that are happening as the children grow older and face challenges far deeper than the struggles of years ago. I beg for wisdom on a daily, moment by moment basis. If our children grow up to love Jesus and serve Him, it will be in spite of their mama not because of their mama! I’m just reminded often to keep short accounts with them; to ask their forgiveness as needed; to pray intercessory prayers for them; to love them fervently, and to always point them to Jesus.


In other news this week we had a friend unexpectedly pass away.  In the very first church we visited in Maine, we met a dear pastor and his dear wife. She welcomed me and our children with open arms. Although we didn’t stay at the church where he pastored, we remained friends with them. We attended the church we are now involved with due to their suggestion and the fact that Pastor Welch had been the pastor there years ago. For the past three years, Mrs. Welch has loved on our children, remembered their birthdays, provided a listening ear for me, and has always opened the door to her home with a hug for me. This past Thursday, Mrs. Welch went to be with Jesus. She died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest. I feel like I’ve lost the very first friend I met when we moved to Maine. God knew that I needed an older lady to love our children and to help me through some of those first very long and very lonely months in Maine. We will miss her. Emma cried when I explained that “Grandma” Welch had gone to be with Jesus. She said, “But Mom, you were going to
call her and we were going to go visit.” Yes, the last few weeks have just been a bit crazy with coming back from Haiti, school, my parents visting, and our vacation. I struggle with the fact that I didn’t make time for one more visit. But as Roger so gently told me, “Honey, you can’t  possibly do everything. God knows your heart. And He knows that you can only stretch yourself so thin, and you can only put so many things on your to-do list.” True, but my heart still hurts. I also realized anew that salvation is something that only God can bring about. Emma had a very difficult time understanding how Mrs. Welch’s heart stopped working;  but yet, because she trusted Jesus and asked him into her heart, she is in heaven with Jesus.  I know that God is working in Emma’s heart too as she has asked many questions about heaven as a result of the events of the past week. Please pray that Emma would come to know Jesus as her personal Savior.

Today I had a much needed date with my friend, Allison. For a change we didn’t need to shop for 500
things for the the school, but could instead just spend some time together. Emma was with us too, but Emma is the only one of our children that doesn’t mind shopping. I had a return I needed to make, and Allison was such good company for the day. I am truly blessed by her friendship, our laughter, the memories, and her encouragement to me. God blessed me when He placed Allison in my life. I am blessed.

All that to say...God is still on the throne, where He was when Daniel was in the Lions den, when Paul and Silas prayed in jail at midnight. He’s on His throne, and He giveth songs in the night.

Love,
Sarah

Vacation and Emma’s Test Results!

I’ve been a bit absent from blogging for the past two weeks as we’ve been soaking up some much needed time away for Roger and I. My parents have also been visting for the past two weeks, and we have treasured our time together. Of course, time went by all too quickly, but we are thankful for the opportunity to spend time with them.

My parents arrived about two weeks ago, shortly after our adventure to the E.R. With Emma. Our kids had winter break for the first week my parents were here, so we spent lots of time ice skating, visting, enjoying the outdoors together, and making memories. Also during that week, I called the doctors office to find out about Emma’s bloodwork. Imagine my surprise when our doctor reported that no Lyme testing had been run! I was not a happy mama, and now we had to return to the lab to have Emma’s blood redrawn! Emma did much better this time around, but it still wasn’t very fun. I knew it would take a few days to see what the results were, but I definitely feel like the E.R. Department dropped the ball on doing that test with the first round of her blood!

Roger and I had plans to leave on Friday afternoon for a few days away together. 396 days ago we had saved enough money to book a cruise! Cruising is something we both enjoy, and we find it a very affordable vacation if you’re willing to be flexible! My parents agreed to watch our children while Roger and I went on a cruise. It’s been four years since our last cruise and time away together for longer than two days. As we strive to preserve, protect, strengthen and encourage our marriage, I firmly believe that time away together is a necessity!

Roger and I left on Friday afternoon to head down to Newark, New Jersey. Our cruise was departing from Cape Liberty on Saturday afternoon. Roger was able to get a good deal on a car rental for 24   hours through his work, so we drove down to Newark, dropped off the car, and headed to our hotel   for the evening. On Saturday morning, we met up with some dear friends from Wisconsin. We headed to our cruise ship, and we savored every moment of our time. It was truly a wonderful week!

Our first port stop was in Orlando, Florida. Roger and I did not go with our friends on their excursion to NASA, but instead did some walking and talking around town. The Lord’s hand was in it all, as the doctors office called me on Tuesday. Roger and I did not have cell reception or an internet package on board the ship, but since we were in Orlando on Tuesday, I was able to get in touch with the doctors office. Emma’s bloodwork results had come back. The tests confirmed that Emma does indeed have Lymes. The doctor had called in an antibiotic prescription to the pharmacy. I was able to get ahold of my parents so that Emma can get started on her treatment. It’s not wonderful news, but we rejoice in knowing that God knows all things. I’m thankful that the bloodwork did confirm the Lyme, and that this is probably what caused Emma’s ankle to swell. It was a blessing to be able to talk to the doctors office, and get ahold of my parents on Tuesday. God knew that we needed that day  
 in Orlando.


The weather was beautiful in the Bahamas! We enjoyed the sandy beaches, the water, the friendships, the sun and the soaking up of memories. We went on this cruise with some friends from our church in Wisconsin. Some we knew really well, and one couple was someone we knew but not really well. We enjoyed our time with all of them! We spent many hours in conversations and laughter as well as conversations about the deeper and more painful experiences that life can bring. We are truly blessed.

I’m thankful that my parents held down the fort at home, helped our kids with school work and chores, encouraged them in their walk with Jesus, and loved on them. While our kids were thrilled to see us, they had a great week with Nana and Papa.

It was good for Roger and I to get away and spend some much needed time together. It’s not often that we have the opportunities to discuss everything under the sun without ears in the cornfield ...if you know what I mean! Roger’s job in Maine is a wonderful blessing, but the hours are long. It was good to reconnect as a couple, talk through our dream and desires for our children, pray together, and savor the memories.