Weddings, Vacations, and More Adventures!

 

Week #2 of summer break has come and gone and we are headed into week #3! The days of June are flying by as we welcomed summer break with a visit from my parents, a wedding on the western side of the state, a trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge with friends, home again for a few days, and now Emma and I are heading to Maine for a few days to visit my sister and family! 

We are always happy to have family and friends come and visit us, and we enjoyed having my parents and sister, Jen, here for a few days two weeks ago. Time flew by, and Jen was busy with job interviews. I was wrapping up the school year, so it felt like a bit of a rushed visit. Jen left on Thursday (6/1) to head towards the western side of the state to visit with my Aunt Lisa and family. My parents left on Friday to head that way, and they took a few of our kids with them. Roger, Garett, Travis and I left on Saturday morning as we had a wedding to attend in the afternoon. Weddings are not favorite events for children and teens, but it was a beautiful wedding…albeit very hot! It was good to see some extended family that I haven’t seen in several years and to visit and catch up. The kids were all happy when it was time to head back to Aunt Lisa’s house so that they could go swimming! However, they did very well at the wedding and playing with the little ones at the wedding reception. 

On Sunday morning we attended church with my aunt Lisa and family. After church we said good by to my parents, sister, and headed for the mountains for a few days! It was a few very full, but very fun days in the mountains of Tennessee. We went to Dollywood, did the Alpine coaster, visited the Black Rifle Coffee company, ate lots of good food, wandered around and spent a lot of time laughing, visiting and fellowshipping. We went with our good friends, the Everett’s. You know your kids get along when after four days of spending time with each other, the boys ask if Brody can have a sleepover that night! We really enjoyed Dollywood and our time spent there at the amusement park. Emma got a little scared on the first roller coaster, but everyone said that they would love to go again sometime! On the way home from the mountains, we took a trip to the Biltmore. I’ve been to the Biltmore before, but that was a very long time ago! It was fun to see the house, the gardens, and picture what life might have been like over 100 years ago. Travis was in a bit of a bad mood at first, but once we started on the tour, he really enjoyed it. He enjoys history re-enactments, and learning about history, but he’d prefer not to read about it on his own. All the kids seemed to enjoy the tour, and I’m glad we took the time to go, as I’m not sure when the next opportunity might be. 

We arrived home on Wednesday, and Roger went back to work for Thursday and Friday. On Saturday we hosted a few families over for the day. Since five of the kids will be on the cross-country team in the fall, we first had practice. I had walked out a hill running routine for them, so they ran hills for a while. Then they jumped in the pool, ate lots of food, went to the park to play softball, ate some more, played whiffle ball in the yard, went swimming again, and played volleyball! They went to bed tired! It was a fun and full day with our friends, the Harrison’s and Everett’s. We are thankful for good friends to have fellowship with and encourage us. 

Today, (Monday, June 12th) Emma and I are heading to Maine! We will be there just for a few days to visit my sister and family. We are excited to go, and the boys are a bit disappointed that they aren’t going. They were hoping to be working for the neighbor again this summer, but he doesn’t have work for all of them. Please continue to pray that God will provide a job for them this summer. 

Thank you for your love and prayers and for following us along on our crazy adventures! God is good! 

When Life Feels Like “Dèjá Vu”, and It’s Still Hard!

 Life has felt a little bit like “dèjá vu” for me these past few weeks. I’ve struggled so much with many feelings these past few days. Lots of tears, feeling overwhelmed, and just plain sad have all run the gauntlet on my emotions. 

Six years ago, we moved to Maine. We enrolled our children in the Christian school in the fall, and about mid-September, we realized that one of our children was really struggling in school. Feeling like I had failed him as a mom and teacher, overwhelmed with how hard school was for him, and feeling all the big emotions that come with a major decision, we decided to move him back a grade. Years later, I don’t necessarily feel any regret over that decision, and I don’t think that child even thinks about it much anymore. It’s been easier also since we’ve moved to a different school, and no one in his class knows that he was moved back a grade. 

And yet here we are again in a similar position. Emma has struggled with school since she’s been in kindergarten, which was also the year school was shut down due to Covid. First grade was very hard, and her teacher thought that she might have a learning challenge, but everyone was so behind from Covid that there was no hope of getting her tested. Second grade came along and with it another new year of challenges. The class was big, and Emma functions best in a quieter environment. Her teacher and I were a bit concerned, but to be honest, we were barely hanging on. Last year was a rough year all around with Roger working in Michigan, I was teaching kindergarten, trying to keep our family stable, and trying to love God and keep all the children alive! (We made it- by the grace of God!) So yes, I was concerned about Emma, but in the back of my mind, I figured I could catch her up over the summer. Well, we worked at it. My mom worked with Emma when she came to visit, and we did try to catch Emma up. But sometimes it seems like no matter how hard Emma is trying, it’s like pouring water in a strainer! Emma has been stressed about school in N.C. From early on, and constantly being overwhelmed or coming home to do more school work did not seem to be working for any of us! I love that the boys have the opportunity to play sports, but it also means that our time at home is limited. When we arrive home, it’s time for supper, showers, homework, Bible time and bed shortly to follow. 

All that to say, we’ve decided to put Emma back in Second Grade. I’ve cried, struggled, and have fought depression over this. However, at the end of the day, it’s what is going to be best for Emma. She was upset at first about moving back since she’s working on trying to make friends in third grade. But also, Emma has seemed a bit relieved since the decision has been made. She’s not keen about being the oldest child in second grade (by quite a bit), but at the end of the day, it’s about what will be best for Emma. God knows exactly where she is, and I’m 100% confident that He has a perfect plan for Emma. God operates on His own time table, and not the time table of Sarah! (Praise the Lord for that!) My friend, Jenna, from Wisconsin, called me randomly out of the blue on Sunday. And while I was crying about my struggles, she gently reminded me that God’s not surprised. And I know that, but as an educator and a parent, it’s hard not to feel like I’ve “failed” Emma in someway. Having your child struggle in school is hard on any parent, and having more than one child struggle in school just adds to the challenges. I don’t know why God orchestrated these events this way. I don’t know why some of our children really struggle in school. I don’t know why this is the path God has directed us to, but wow! I am so thankful that I can rest in the arms of my Heavenly Father Who holds tomorrow. God is still good. He is going to continue to be faithful. He loves our children more than we do…He is truly a good, good Father. 

Emma will be making this transition after we come back from Fall break, which is at the end of this week. Once we return back from this break, Emma will move to second grade. Thankfully, God has given Emma a friend in the second grade classroom. Emma has to hang out at soccer practice after school quite a bit, and there is a little girl that also has to hang around as her brother helps coach the team. It’s been nice that Emma has had a friend to play with while we wait for the boys. 

In closing, we, of course, value your prayers for our family. We are not expecting this to solve all of Emma’s educational struggles, but perhaps this will be a good solution for helping her build a foundation for years to come. We love all of our children dearly, and as parents sometimes we make decisions that are not our favorite, but for the best of our child/children. 

Day# Power- Thank you, Lord!

Resurrection Sunday is tomorrow, and I imagine that the majority of us are gearing up for a totally different type of celebration than in years past. However, that’s not what is really important. What IS important is that tomorrow is the day that we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! We have reason to rejoice that we serve a LIVING KING, which is a reason to celebrate every single day!

We still did not have power this morning when we woke up, and we were without power for most of the day. The power was restored about 5:00pm, and we are thankful for that. However, I am very, very thankful that we have a generator to power our house for days like the past two! Without the generator, it would have been a bit of a stressful day as turkeys and hams do not cook without heat! Our generator powers our whole house, so as long as I’m not running the dishwasher and the washing machine, we can usually get by. I cooked turkey, hams, made deviled eggs, fruit salad, two cakes, lemon bars, jello fluff, and rolls today! It was a full day of cooking and baking, but I think I have almost everything made that can be made ahead of time.

Yesterday the snow was exciting, and today it was not nearly as exciting for our children! They are ready for spring also! The sun was shining today, so we are thankful for that. We went for a walk, but the wind was rather chilly. I’m thankful for a warm jacket! Emma and Travis spent much of the day cleaning up the basement so that they could ride their bikes and scooters down there. It’s not ideal, but sometimes you have to decide if you really need to tell your child “no” or is it a preference? Sometimes, I have to ask myself that when my child is singing loudly or making a mess (in my eyes). I have to stop and ask “Is this something I need to speak out and correct, or is this something that I can let go?” As the days run into each other and staying at home is not as fun, I need to be careful with my answers and responses to things also. It’s not just the kids that are struggling-sometimes, it’s the mama!

We have nineteen meals to deliver for Easter Dinner tomorrow, and I am praising the Lord for that. Some are church folks, some are neighbors, some are friends or family. We will have about eight stops to make as some stops we are dropping off two meals at one spot. I am excited about the opportunity for our children to see perhaps a different type of Resurrection Sunday, but that it is still an opportunity to serve others. Please pray that we will be a special blessing as we drop off these meals. All of our kids lives, we’ve told them that it is so rude to knock on a door and run away...and what are we telling them this Easter?! “You can drop the meal off on the steps, ring the bell, and then walk away!” I’ve been explaining to them that we have to “social distance” ourselves from others, but that doesn’t mean we don’t serve others. I’m praying that tomorrow will be a memory for them as a year that God provided them a special opportunity. To God be the Glory!

                                                       Photo credit: Pinterest

Resurrection Sunday- what does it mean to you? A day to rest, a time to reflect, moments with family,  lots of food? What stirs in your mind at the words “Resurrection Sunday”? Even unchurched people would probably say that Easter has something to do with Jesus...but what? Why did a sinless man choose to die a horrific death on a cross 2000 years ago? I’ll tell you why. It was for your sin and mine. You can be as good as a person as you can be, have good moral character, love others, and still be lost and without Christ. The Bible tells us that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23 states that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Again in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We cannot be “Good enough” to get to Heaven. You can go to church, live a good life, do the rights things, and not be allowed to enter into Heaven. My friend, the ONLY way to Heaven is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You need to admit you are a sinner, believe that Christ died and rose again -for you, and confess your sin to Him. Do not pass through this life wondering if you are on your way to Heaven. Believe on Him today and rest assured that you can have a home in Heaven. Only one thing in life is certain and that is death. I am totally confident that if I died today, I would be instantly in Heaven. If you have any questions, I would love to talk to you.

Maine News: Oh, let’s see... 256 people have RECOVERED from the virus! That is up almost 30 people from yesterday, but the media wants you to be fearful, so they probably won’t say it like that. We are up to over 600 cases, (616 to be exact). We are at nineteen deaths from COVID-19. Good news seems to be lacking in our nation, but I would challenge to observe the news carefully. There are a lot of fake news stories circulating, and the facts are often difficult to separate from fiction. I am still praying and preparing for God to do a miracle, and I’d highly recommend that you pray the same way. He is able, oh, He is ABLE! Take heart, God is still on the throne. 

The New Year?!

                      

We've rushed full force into 2015, and I still find myself writing 2014 on almost everything! We've been talking and discussing the plans for our future, and we been telling the boys that we may have to move. They've had a variety of opinions on that subject varying from where they'd like to move to whether or not their friends can move with them. Currently they've decided that they would like to move back to Alaska or move to the beach in Florida! (Talk about opposites!) There was a time when I had a definite opinion about what I wanted, but as time as progressed I find myself open to a whole new world of ideas! :) 

The month of March will be here soon, so I figure I should share my goals, plans, and dreams for 2015! :) In case you're wondering, I did have this written once a few weeks ago, but it was accidently deleted. Oh well! 

I had a coffee date with a few close friends in January, and we all shared some of our goals and resolutions for the new year. My goal would be to accomplish everything on my list, so I'm writing them down for accountability and rememberence purposes. 

I divided my goals into several categories. I have spiritual, physical, educational and financial goals. I'm very much a list oriented person (just ask Roger), so dividing them down will hopefully give me a greater chance of accomplishing those goals. 

First of all, I have my spiritual goals. 

1) Read through the Old Testament. I followed our church's Bible reading schedule last year, and I read through the Bible in a year. However, I realize that I really need to take some additional time to study in the Old Testament. So, I'll be working through the Old Testament. This will hopefully allow me time to really focus on what I'm reading...a challenge in my house at times! 

2) I've also chosen four parenting books to read. A few are ones that I've read, but need to re-read and a few are new ones to me. Those titles include "Wild Things", "Fit to Burst", "Don't Make Me Count to Three", and "Desperate". 

3) I've also picked out two books on spiritual growth for me. Those include "Lies Women Believe" and "Her Name is Woman".

Secondly, I have some physical goals that I would like to see accomplished. 

1) I'd like to reach my goal weight by my birthday and maintain. (I have about eight pounds to go.) 

2) I'd like to run a half marathon again. I ran one on 2012, and it's on my list of goals again this year. Finding the time to squeeze in a run or two is a challenge for me. Roger is extremely supportive and helps me in any way he can, but he has a lot on his plate right now too! :) 

3) I'm working on cutting soda out of our house. I don't mind if we have it for a special treat for someone's birthday, but I don't want it to be regularly in our home this year. I've decided this not only for my health but for the health of my family.

Thirdly, I have an educational goal. Yeah, I only have one right now! :) 

1) I'd like to take a class on something. I don't even know for sure what I'd like to take it on. I'm very interested in nutrition, our bodies and how God designed us. But, I'm also open to taking a Bible class, a concealed gun carry class, or a class on technology. So, I have lots of possibilities I just need to find one...perferably cheap or free! :) 

Fourthly, I have a few financial goals. These are the ones that Roger and I have talked about in length...mostly because of where we are in life right now! :) Our options as far as what we can actually accomplish are a little limited right now, but the saying is "Fail to plan = plan to fail". So when Roger does get a job, we have a list of what we'd like to accomplish. 

1) Read a book on personal finance. This is one that I can start on now, and then implement the things that we read as we can. 

2) Pay off the credit card. It has been sort of a necessary thing to have one these past months, but we are working at becoming debt free again. 

3) Go back to using the envelope system. About two years after we were married, we read a book by Dave Ramsey on personal finance. We started implementing the envelope system in our budget. Basically, you divide up your budget and put cash in the envelopes for the month. When you're out of money in that envelope, you have to stop spending. It worked out well for us, and it was simple enought for us to use. Once Roger has a steady job again, our goal is to go back to using our envelopes. 

That is the gist of my goals for 2015. I know that some of you have much longer or much shorter lists, but this is where I plan to start. And since it's already almost March, I'll give you an update on how it's going. :) 

I've been working through the Old Testament. I'm starting the book of Leviticus. I'm almost done with my first parenting book, "Wild Things". This book was about raising boys, and it was very insightful for me! 

I haven't seen the scale budge much this month, but it hasn't gone up lately either. :) I've picked out a half marathon training guide, but I haven't actually started the training program...yet! I have cut down on our soda intake; and we did have some for Chandler's birthday, but it's been minimal for all of us. 

I haven't even looked into an educational class, mostly because I'm a little consumed with homeschooling right now! We are on day 126 of school, and the books are getting skinnier! Yay!!

And as far as personal financial goals, I haven't even started! So that's where I'm at...how are you doing on reaching your goals for 2015?