Haiti! Day #2

January 20, 2019 -Sunday
“This is the day that the LORD hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

I am so thankful that my sleeping bag, pillow and small blanket were tucked away in Garett's bag! I was so tired last night that I fell asleep even before the lights were turned off. The mission house runs its lights on a generator. Generallly the generator is turned off at night, but there were a few people that were here for the dedication that needed the electricity for health reasons. The mission house project has been completed (for the most part) and it is a testimony of God’s grace and provision. Lord willing, until the Lord returns, the mission house will continue to be a beacon on a hill that will house teams that have come to serve, provide a place to encourage the Haitians, and a place that will continue to shine as a light in a dark place. 

Praying for Garett today. I want his eyes to be opened and his heart stirred. Rejoicing in another day to serve Jesus! 

We had our first medical patient this morning. Hannah had just woken up when Kevin told her that a mom and baby were on the porch waiting for her. A mom had brought her baby to the mission house  
because the baby had something wrong with her mouth. It didn’t take long to determine that the problem was a terrible case of thrush! The mom had stopped nursing about a month ago as the baby had stopped sucking. Since that time the baby would eat small bites of food and drink a bit broth or gruel. Hannah gave the baby some Motrin and weighed the baby. Weighing the babies is not the same was what we would do in the U.S. Hannah created a scale using her creative brain side and her  sewing skills. She created a type of sling for infants and a baby jumparoo seat (one of those ones that  
hangs in a doorway) for the older kids. And by using a luggage scale, we can get a fairly accurate    
weight on the children. We discovered that the baby weighs about 12 pounds and is 10 months old. Kacie also looked the baby over and determined that thrush seems to be the main problem. Hannah had found a few containers of baby formula on sale in the states...and miraculously, the containers were not in the missing suitcase. (Of course, God was the One who worked out that detail!) God knew that this baby would need this formula. Hannah was able to get the baby to drink from a syringe, and that baby was hungry! She slurped down about six ounces via the syringe and conked out for a nap! Garett sat patiently by Hannahs side to help her refill the syringe. Garett does love babies! 

The group of people that had come from the states for the dedication were heading down the mountain today. They went back down the mountain with the driver that had driven us up last night. I don’t think the group flies out until tomorrow, but maybe someone will be able to inquire about our bags if we haven’t heard anything by then.  



Time for church...and what to wear!? I ended up wearing Hannah’s  dress that had been packed in her carryon, and Hannah borrowed clothes from Emelie. Maybe our suitcases will arrive today? 

The church house was full when we arrived at about 9:30 am. There doesn’t seem to be a particular time when church starts, just whenever the Pastor is ready to start and the people are there. I thought the church building looked full when we arrived, but the people just kept coming! We all crammed into the church building where the Haitians were already singing exhuberantly. Several other pastors were at the service today as the church in Seguin had been having a Pastor’s conference over the weekend. I always enjoy listening to the church people sing and it was lovely. We were at church    
around 9:30, and church wasn’t over until almost noon! We stood up for one brief 15 second period, 
and then everyone sat down. Imagine...lots of people sitting on hard wooden benches without a back     
on them for over two hours-and the Haitians hardly move! They sit still crammed together and seem     
 to be happy to be at church. When the offering was taken, the people seemed to give what little they    could with joy and cheer. I would estimate that between 85-90% of the people put something in the offering plate! Just imagine if that happened in the U.S.! Tara and I were talking about it later in the afternoon as we had both noticed how the church people gave. Granted their money isn’t worth a whole lot, but still they gave! In America we have people that complain if the church building is too hot or too cold, if the seat is too hard, or if someone sits in their pew! But here the people seem to want to soak in the hearing of Gods Word even if they are uncomfortable. We also had communion at church today. It was clear to see that there were more people than cups for communion. We needed up sharing communion cups and crumbling the cracker into bits so we could share. But God sees our hearts, and I do believe that He was honored and glorified in the service today. 



Everyone was very hungry after church, but it was still a bit of time before it was time to eat. Garett 
told me that the church service was a bit hard because he didn’t understand the language. He also told me that he was thankful that our church services back home aren’t quite so long without a break! Garett also observed the generosity of the peoples giving in the offering, and I was a bit impressed that he had made that observation.

 The church was having a church dinner today as they had so many guests. Some of the ladies in the church had stayed up most of the night making rice and beans for the church people. It also meant  that we had plenty of trash to pick up later in the afternoon! Lauren (a friend of the Faulde’s), Beca (the Faulde’s daughter) and Moriah (another daughter) and myself  certainly spent some timepicking up styrofoam plates from where they had just been dropped as the people finished the food. However,  we didn’t find one plate that had any food left on it. All the plates were spotlessly clean-no waste! 

After lunch we started working on pulling out all of the medical supplies. We have four  Haitian 
nurses and one Haitian doctor from Port-au-Prince that will be helping this week. Its neat to see   these Haitians that have a heart to serve their own country. It was quickly apparent that there were   plenty of people to help organize medical supplies, so Emelie and I started cleaning the kitchen. Its a     
 job that I don’t mind, but it’s a bit of a challenge without an abundance of water, dish soap, and  kitchen towels! We managed to get the stove on so that we could heat water. Moriah came up with a washcloth, and while it took a bit of work, the kitchen was eventually completely clean...at least for the moment! 

Pastor Kevin called to see if there was any word on our missing bags. The first person he talked to had no idea about anything. He called again and spoke to someone else and they are supposed to call him back in a bit. 


After Hannah was done with the medicine, she need to go check on the baby from this morning.  Emelie, myself, Hannah, and Beca hiked down to check on the baby. As we walked up to the house, the dad was reading to the family from the Bible. This family lives in a home that has no windows, straw sleeping mats, limited clothes and food, and yet the dad was spending time reading to his family from Gods Word. The baby was given more medicine and we will be following up with the baby tomorrow- before we head to Chota for a full day of clinic.  

Garett went with Pastor Kevin, Josh, Marcus and Josiah this afternoon to work on a roof. He was excited to ride on a motorcycle (no helmet of course). I’m sure he will come back very hungry as they left around 3pm, and as of now its 8;45 and they aren’t back yet. I’m praying that he will be a blessing this afternoon and that he enjoyed the work.  


Since Hannah and I are missing the majority of our clothes, we needed to come up with a plan. Several bags of clothes had been brought up to the mission house for the pastor to distribute to those in need. Well, the Lord knew that we would have a need. He provided a pair of pants for both of us  
  and a skirt that I can wear as well as some t shirts. Hannah was able to cut off the pants I found as 
 they were way too long! Now we wont need to do quite so much washing in the sink, and hoping the  clothes will dry! After we are done using the clothes this week, we can just leave them here for those in need. We have friends that would gladly share their clothes with us, but everyone has a limited  supply! I’m not going to be looking like a fashion statement this week, and I probably won’t match for most of the week, but my clothes will be fairly clean! I’m thankfuL!


It was a busy and full day with church services, cleaning, visting people, and preparing for tomorrow.  The plan is to start our hike to Chota around 7:00 am. Tomorrow. We have a large team of people going as we have the four Haitian nurses, one Haitian doctor, 2 physician assistants, one nurse, and about 10 other people that will be finding ways to be useful during the clinic. I’m praying that unity and harmony will be sweet and that God will give wisdom and direction.  

Its now 9:00 pm and the guys are not back yet from the roofing project. Kevin’s goal was to finish it  even if it meant finishing by moonlight. Good thing there is a full moon tonight! 

Tara and I switched rooms at the mission house today. We are now in the room with all the medical supplies, and its just the two of us. I certainly didn’t mind where we slept last night, but I’m happy to make this change...maybe I am getting old! Its nice to have a pit of peace and quite and to be able to shut the door on the noise. Of course closing the door doesn’t make all the noise go away, but it does cut it down to a dull roar.  

Prayer requests for today:
1) a good nights rest for all
2) Garett to get back safely
3) for the sick baby 
4) unity and harmony 

God is good!  

 

 

 

Haiti: Day #1 (Missing Bags!)

Garett and I arrived home from Haiti around 1:00 am on Sunday morning, January 27. We’ve spent a few days trying to re-coup and catch up on rest. Garett is catching up faster than I am...am I getting old?! I’m thankful for all that Roger and our friends as well as our church family did to assist and help our family while Garett and I were away. It was a great missions trip, and I have much to share. As I have done in the past, I journaled while in Haiti. I’m going to write the days events in one post at time. This was a different trip for me as Garett was able to come along with me. I did an interview with him that I will be sharing at some point in time as well. It’s good to come home tired and exhausted, and we’ve enjoyed reflecting on all that God did while we were in Haiti. We so appreciate all your love, prayers, and financial support for our family. To God be the glory!

 

 

DAY #1
Saturday, January 19, 2019

It was an early morning as our flight departed from Portland at 6:00 am. Since the weather forecast is predicting about 2 feet of snow starting on Saturday night, we decided to come down to Portland on Friday evening. The kids were excited about the opportunity to stay in a hotel, and it makes it way easier on Roger if we don’t have to wake everyone up at 2:00am in the morning to get to the airport! Garett is excited about going, but he isn’t a hugely expressive child! He did tell me that he is so  thankful that God provided the money that he needed to have in order to go to Haiti. I’m excited to see what God has in store for Garett’s young mind and heart this week. 

Garett and I were able to get on the free airport to the shuttle, so that worked out even better than expected. Josh and Hannah met us at the airport around 4:15am., and we proceeded to check five bags between us-none of which were free!(Its frustrating to me that we have to pay for even the first bag!) My bag weighed in at exactly 49lbs, but I’m pretty sure that my backpack and carryon are even heavier! Josh and Hannah’s bags were right at 50 lbs. each, so we definitely made the use of every single pound we could bring! 

Garett and I both have carry-ons that are full of food because food is heavier than clothes! Both of our carryons were snagged at the security checkpoint. The lady who checked over my bag made a huge mess and wiped down about every granola bar, fruit snack, and animal cracker I brought. It was  also a challenge to get it all back into the carryon! The security personnel that checked Garett’s carryon opened up the bag, looked at all the snacks, and said, “This looks like an important bag for you!”, and zipped it back up! Garett was happy to have his carryon of snacks back!

We were in the very, very back of the plane on the flight to JFK. We had just enough time to grab a snack and pick up something sustainable for lunch. We need to be ready to hit the ground running once we get to Port-au-Prince as we would like to make it all the way up the mountain to Seguin today. And unlike the U.S. there are no fast food stops along the way!

We are on the plane for our flight to Haiti. It’s about a four-hour flight. I’m excited to see what the week will bring and what God is going to do. 

Evening entry:
We hopped off the plane, filled out our customs forms, and paid our $10.00 per person to enter the country. It is a bit crazy to me every year that everyone has to pay $10.00 (U.S. money and cash) to enter the country. The vast majority of people coming into the country are bringing humanitarian aid, and the rest are probably visting family still in Haiti. But on we went to the baggage claim,  joining the long line of others headed that way. 

One bag, two bags, three bags...but not bags four and five! The attendant kept asking us if we were “finny” (finished) as he probably wanted to push the baggage cart and get a tip! Finally the baggage carousel stopped turning, and we knew that we had a problem-missing bags! Hannah was missing the bag that had a bunch of stuff for the clinics as well as her clothes. I was missing my suitcase full of  small gifts for the cooks, extra clothes for those in need, and my clothes! My stuff isn’t as important as Hannahs bag, but this is Haiti! We can’t stop at a Walmart or Target on the way to get what we need! And we both would kinda like clothes to wear this week! (A lot!) We managed to head to the service desk to fill out a missing bag report. The attendant said that possibly our bags would get to the airport tomorrow on a different Delta flight. Well that was better than the first report we had received as they had said our bags would come on Saturday-next Saturday! 

Well, that wasn’t how we had prepared or planned, but God choose to allow this to happen. A bad attitude and a grumpy heart won’t solve a cotton-picking thing! We left Port-au-Prince around 2:00pm with 8 Americans and 2 Haitians in a nine passenger van. In Port-au-Prince  we met up with four other Americans that had come from South Carolina. Josh’s sister, Kasey, and her husband, Marcus, as ell as Grandpa Faulde (Pastor Kevin’s  Dad), and Tara, also a family member in the Faulde family. Tara and Kasey are Physicians Assistants, and they will also be working in the medical clinics. Luggage  was loaded unto the roof, and some under the seats or on our laps. 20 minutes later we pulled up to the side of the road, and the driver says that these people here on the road need a ride up the mountain with us. “ These people” consisted of five more Haitians and all their luggage! It was a packed vehicle! I don’t know where the seat belt even would be in that van, and we were packed in like sardines. I was glad that Garett was able to sit next to the window (with me practically on his lap). He was soaking in all the sights and sounds and smells of this new experience. I’m so thankful that he will be able to have a part in this week. 

 Traffic seemed to be terrible this year as we tried to get out of the city. It took us almost four hours to get to Cay Jocmel, and we still needed to get up the mountain (in the dark) to Seguin. In Cay Jocmel, we switched vehicles as there was no way that van would make it on the roads to Seguin. Instead we loaded into a pick up type Land cruiser. By the time we left, we had 18 people on the small truck with all the luggage..and it was dark! The driver was a competent one, and we made good time. I mean, we still hung on for dear life on the back of the truck, but we all survived. It did sprinkle a bit, but it wasn’t a pouring rain. We were all thankful to arrive at the mission house! The mission house was so full of people! The dedication for the mission house had been earlier today, and there was a great turnout of people...albeit a bit overwhelming! Garett and I hung back a bit as we don’t really know most of these people. I see uncertainty and insecurity written on Garetts face, and oh, how I’m praying! I know he’s tired too! 

Hannah and I took inventory of what we have between us. I had put my sleeping bag into Garett’s bag, so that was a blessing! We both had pajamas in our carryons. I had a small ziplock baggie with extra socks and underwear. I also had put my running shoes in my carryon and I had a summer skort. Krissy (from North Dakota) had brought a small travel towel, so she gave that to me too. I see lots of washing out of our clothes in the next few days, but oh well! I’m praying that at least Hannahs bag will arrive at the airport tomorrow as we will need it for the clinics. But God already knows what He is going to do. Personally, while Hannah and I both like clean clothes and the others things that we packed, we can both laugh our way through this. We will rejoice in the memories we are creating, and praise God for what He’s going to do! 

Prayer Requests on day 1:
-Our bags
-Garett
-The medical clinics and the Gospel message that will be presented
-Unity and Harmony on our team 

Passports and Thoughts!

 

 

2019 is here, and we are quickly approaching the middle of the month! So how about your New Years resolutions?! Still remember what they are/were? I long, long ago gave up make New Years Resolutions, and instead have chosen to set goals for myself and family. Of course, we will fall short in some of our goals, but if you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time!

Roger and I sit down every year and have a long heart-to-heart talk about financial goals, spiritual goals, family goals, etc. I should mention that we sit down more often than once a year to have a heart to heart talk! One of my big goals for our family was to be able to find a time to be consistent together in God’s Word. I do my devotions in the morning, preferably before the kids get up! The kids have their own quiet times, but I wanted us to find a time to do it together consistently! I’ve had huge goals in the past, which I think deterred our progress, so I need to find something manageable for all of our family. We came up with reading ten verses a day right at the supper table. I know, to some of you, that doesn’t sound like very much at all. However, I believe that God will also bless His Word, and He wants us to get in it. I’m happy to write that for the past twelve days, we have read every night! It’s been working out so smoothly that I know the Devil is going to get in the way soon! The kids often read far more than ten verses, but it gives as an opportunity to read and talk together. I think kids make habits faster than we realize because they are now coming to the table with their Bibles in hand. I’m excited to see how much of the New Testament we can read together this year. I would also appreciate your prayers as we continue on with this.

We have other goals too, but I must write about other news too! Last Sunday, January 6, I was asked to play the piano at an area church. Its an opportunity I enjoy, but it makes the Sunday a bit different. Garett had been asked to present his missions trip needs to the church, and I was going to miss it. That was a bit hard for me, but he did it! He told me he was a little nervous, and I helped him write down some sentences. Roger said that Garett read the sentences, and it was short. If you know Garett, he doesn’t read witha lot of expression! But the church people were kind and gracious to him. I also had the opportunity to make a meal for a family in our church that recently had a baby. Although it was a full Sunday, I’m thankful for all the opportunities we had to serve Jesus.

It was a busy week as Roger, Garett and I headed to New Hampshire on Monday. Garett needs a passport for his upcoming missions trip, and we needed to apply in person. Roger did all the gathering of paperwork, making of copies,  reading information, and it was the fastest appointment I’ve been at in a long time! I’m thankful that Annah was willing to take Emma after her pre-school class, and then the other boys also. It was a fun day for Roger and I ...and our chaperone! We enjoyed lots of time together, and Roger and I also realized how thankful we are for headphones! We had Garett put on headphones, because the ears were growing in the cornfield, if you know what I mean! We allowed him to play on the kindle once he did his school work, and that provided Roge and I the opportunity for deeper conversations. Without the heady, you could practically hear Garett leaning forward in the back seat to listen! Oh, the joys of kids! I am happy to say that Garett’s passport came in the mail last Thursday, so that’s another thing done! Chandler was riding a bike in the dark at his friends house on Monday. He slipped on a patch of ice, and scraped up his face. He said he had a headache but no signs of a concussion. Oh well...life as a boy! He didn’t sleep well though as he was up a lot, so I let him stay home on Tuesday.

Last Tuesday was a very snowy day, and I was thankful that Roger was home to take the kids to school. I don’t mind driving in the snow, but driving the 15 passenger van is a bit intimidating to me. The kids came home from school, and eagerly went outside to work on their ice rink. They’ve been flooding part of the back yard as they are working on a homemade rink. Yes, it’s a big mess! But you know what? They enjoy working on it, it keeps them busy, and they’re outside- all good things!

Allison and I (and Emma) escaped for part of the day on Thursday. I needed a few things for our upcoming trip to Haiti, and we wanted to check on some after Christmas sales. It was such a fun...and fast day! We did find some things I wanted to bring to Haiti, as well as gifts for our teacher appreciation baskets. We do baskets during teacher appreciation week, and its always nice to find stuff on sale! Allison and I had some conversations that were light hearted and fun, as well as the deep conversations that make you think. Such as...do believers actually bear each other’s burdens? We know it’s told to us in the Bible to bear each other burdens, but it seems to me that often Christians don’t want to share their shortcomings with each other. So instead of effectively bearing each other burdens, and covering each other in prayers, instead we give these vague prayer requests that lead everyone to wonder what is the actual prayer request! My desire is to be real and open with my life and my prayer requests. Obviously we need discernment in our lives with whom to share struggles, but it seems to me that the body of believers should be on our first line of resources for help and encouragement and real prayer. Just my two cents!

On Sunday Garett and I were given the opportunity to sing special music at church. Garett has many struggles in the education and learning area, but he is willing to sing. I’m so thankful for that! He works hard at it, and he has a good voice. I know his voice is getting ready to change, but I’m praying that by heaving him sing now, he will be able to get through that awkward stage when his voice changes. Our church family has been extremely kind and generous to Garett about his upcoming trip. God provided above and beyond what Garett even needed for the trip, and its been so encouraging to see Garett faithfully pray and thank God for His provisions! We serve a big, amazing, awesome God! I’m thankful for all the details that have been worked out and that God will continue to do.

This week is full of meetings, lesson planing for music classes, preparation work, and all the otherevery day details of life. I’m thankful that God has grace for every moment! Aren’t you?

Ephesians 2:7 “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

HAITI!

 

HAITI!

Our  video from last year is in the following link:

https://youtu.be/l9qWTGJAj-Y

I had no plans of returning to Haiti in 2019, but God had other plans for me! By the time the school year began in September, God had provided all the funds I needed for the trip except for luggage fees
and personal expenses! I was completely astounded, and God never ceases to surprise me with His blessings!


Although I was/am very much looking forward to returning, it does leave a lot of responsibilities for Roger to manage. Not that he can’t do it, but it’s hard to be the bread winner, the chauffeur, the cook, the launderer, and so much more. We are so thankful for each person and family that has offered to help while I’ll be away.



Here’s the really, really big news....Garett is coming with me to Haiti! I had already purchased my plane ticket to Haiti, and we had no intention of allowing Garett to come along with me as he is only twelve. But God, again, had other plans for our family. Roger and I were asked if Garett would like to come along. He was given an invitation to come with me, and Roger and I started praying about it. We didn’t mention it to Garett, but instead decided to look into if it was even possible for Garett to get on the same flight to Haiti with me, I looked into the cost of the ticket as did my sister, Hannah. However, the cost of the ticket had doubled! There was no way that we would be able to get him on the same flights, and as a minor he obviously needed to travel with me. I was so disappointed that God had given Garett the invitation, but then not paved the way! Roger and I continued to pray about what God would have us to do, and we asked several other close friends and family to pray with us. We still didn’t mention it to Garett, but I did talk with his teacher about the possibility of him going to Haiti. As I thought she would be, she was thrilled that Garett might have the opportunity. She assured us that she would work with Garett in any schooling he might miss, but also that the mission field could teach him many lessons that he wouldn’t learn in the classroom. Again, we continued to pray. For four days we prayed, checked flight prices, and discussed what God would have us to do.

Four days later, I looked again at the flight that I was booked on for our Haiti trip. What?! The price was the same as when I had booked my flight! I immediately called Roger, and he suggested calling the airline. I was blessed to talk with someone who could help me get Garett booked on the exact flights that all the Maine people are booked on and for the same price! Isn’t God good? Now that is a God thing!

So now the ticket was booked, and we needed to tell Garett. I printed off his ticket and then Roger told him that he needed to get the papers out of the printer. Garett went upstairs to get the papers, and he glanced through them. He did a double take as he saw his name! “I’m going to Haiti?” He has been estatic ever since. He’s been working hard and saving all the extra money that he can. I helped him write a letter to give to family and friends about his upcoming trip. I’m am so excited that he has the opportunity to go, and I am praying fervently that God will work in his heart. He does need some financial support to finish up paying for his ticket, so if you feel led to give, he would appreciate that. This is a big experience for a twelve year old boy, but God’s hand has been in this every step of the way.

Now...getting a passport for a minor-that is no small feat! Because we are getting to be shorter on time than we would like, we are going to New Hampshire to apply in person. Roger and I both have to go, and of course, Garett. The list of paperwork and application is a bit daunting as we don’t want to mess this up, but we are going on Monday! We would appreciate your prayers for a very, very smooth experience!

We are so thankful for each of you that have helped our family, either financially, through prayer, through helping out Roger, or anything else! We are so thankful! We would appreciate your prayers as we move towards this trip again. I’m excited to see what God will do; I’m thankful that He provided the opportunity for me to go again; and I can’t wait to work in the medical clinics again! To God be the Glory!

Psalm 18:3a “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised...” 

OVER? ALREADY?!

 

Christmas break is flying by, and it is going way faster than I would like it to go! We wrapped up the last day of school for 2018 last Friday, and it’s been a whirlwind of activity ever since. Roger’s parents arrived on Saturday, and Rogers brother, Nate, was able to come up for part of the day too.

 

Sunday was the Christmas program at church, and the children did a great job. It is definitely not my nature to wait until the last minute, but everything came together amazingly well. The kids were glad that Grandpa and Grandma were able to be there. We did not have church services on Sunday night since we would be having a Christmas Eve service the next night. I have to admit I was quite thankful to go home, and work on some projects that I had neglected over the last week. My kids were glad that I made time to go to the grocery store! Roger took Wyatt Christmas shopping as Wyatt had picked my name in our family drawing of names. Wyatt has had my name for the past three years, and while he says having moms name is hard, he does enjoy the date with Roger. Roger’s dad went with them too, so they had a good afternoon together. It was a quick afternoon with grocery shopping, wrapping presents and time spent with grandparents.

Early Monday morning, I left to go to Portland to pick up my sister, Jen. Emma was up early, and she wanted to come along. We picked up Aunt Jen and headed home. Roger’s dad had gone with Roger to work on Monday, and the rest of the kids stayed home with Grandma.  I took the kids ice skating in the afternoon. Probably not an activity that I would have picked on my own, but I know how much the boys enjoy it, and Roger just hasn’t had very much extra time lately. They skated and played for over an hour, and everyone came home hungry! We had a quick snack before heading to the Christmas Eve service. This is always one of my favorite services of the year, and I love the soft lighting, singing of carols, and the Scripture readings. I was able to sing a duet with Garett for this
special service, and I’ll always treasure that memory. Garett has a good voice, and he was willing to
practice hard. I love the fact with he sang with such a willing heart. I’m praying that he will keep  that willingness to serve God with his voice even as Garett is approaching the time when his voice will change.

Christmas Day dawned upon us with excited kids and an early morning! Roger and I are early risers anyways, and we enjoyed a few moments with coffee, togetherness and devotions before our crazies woke up. It was such a fun day for our family. The kids received an abundance of gifts, so they will be writing thank you notes over the next few days. I was so blessed with the time with family, our
children’s delight, and just awe over the Christmas season. I always love the time with the presents wrapped under the tree the best. Once the presents are opened, I always feel a bit deflated. I guess I just really like the anticipation. Roger and I had all the kids pick names for someone else in our family, and then everyone had to pick out a gift and wrap it for that person. We’ve done our family presents that way for a few years now, and its always fun to see what a chid will pick out for someone  else. I will say that I help quite a bit with finding the present and the wrapping for the ones that Emma and Travis have drawn. We hope that you all enjoyed your Christmas celebrations, and that you took some time to reflect on the Savior of the World. Merry Christmas!

We had a great few days with Roger’s parents here. Roger’s Dad was able to go with Roger to work on one of the days, and Mom matched all my mismatched socks! Well, they weren’t all mine! But she found like fifty pairs of socks in the basket! We took a hike one day, played games, and ate...a lot! Time flew by!

 

The rest of the week was filled with family time, lots of food, skating for the boys, and fun. I will admit that the anticipation of Christmas break did not live up to reality! I envisioned quiet days at home, sweetly playing children, and long talks with Roger. I didn’t even really see much of Roger, I am a bit “peopled” out, and my children are acting like that are going through withdrawals...and they are, it’s called a “sugar withdrawal”. By Saturday morning, I was a bit of a grouch. And I knew it because my children start acting grouchy too! I took down the Christmas decorations, and sent the kids outside to burn the Christmas tree. That kept them occupied for a few minutes, and I was able to have a few moments of quiet. One of my advent devotionals, which Ill still be reading next month, was on singing. It really spoke to me as I love music, but I am very picky about music.   The opening paragraph of the devotional states the following: “What better reason to sing than this: the Savior is born to live, die and rise again to fix what sin had broken.” Take a moment to think about that! We sing phrases of songs, listen to songs, have songs as our phones ringtones, background music is in every store and restaurant, but what song is in my heart? There will never be a more important song to capture my heart than the song that Jesus fills my heart with rest and satisfaction and He reigns supreme! Psalm 95 is just one of many passages of Scripture that reference singing...what song is in your heart?

Roger’s parents left on Thursday evening, as they needed to get an early start on the road on Friday morning. Josh and Hannah came down on Friday afternoon for our family Christmas. Jen and I took the kids to Portland on Sunday for some fun with Aunt Jen and a hotel with a pool! How fun for the kids! I am thankful that Jen was able to come out for a few days to spend time with us. She’s  probably ready to head home for some peace and quiet! We had a little snow over Christmas break, but really not very much at all. The kids have been able to do more ice skating this year, but we are  missing the snow.

The week flew by, and it went too quickly in my opinion. I’m not ready to head back to teaching music classes, schedules and routines, and school life. I’d like a vacation...oh, wait, I’m the mom! Truly I am so blessed to be the mom to these five kids, and I do rejoice in that. God is faithful to give grace, patience, and all the other character traits that I need! Unfortunately, I often open my mouth before applying the character trait needed for the situation! I’m thankful for forgiveness.

B-R-E-A-K!

Hooray! It’s time for Christmas break! I’m not sure who is more excited about it, me or our kids! My kids are looking forward to a break from school, lots of outdoor play, less schedules, time with extended family, and of course, all the excitement of all those packages under the tree! Their mama is looking forward to time at home, less responsibilities, and extra time with family. I don’t know about you, but this time of year can get crazy in a hurry. Even when we try to guard against it, it still is a busy, bustling season. I’ve really, really been enjoying an advent book I’m reading by Paul Tripp. It’s been a fairly easy read, but he gives so much to ponder. I know that I’ll be reading the book into January just so that I can reflect on it a bit more. I’ve been very deliberate this season in carving  out time every morning (around 4:45am) to spend time in The Word. Sometimes my brain wanders (a lot) but it’s been a good discipline for me.

To give just a peek into our week, I’m covering a few highlights. I’m ignoring the lowlights this week! Last Thursday several students from the school as well as all of our tribe, participated in a Christmas service in a small old church building. It hasn’t been used for a church building for many years, but for the past several years, the community has hosted a Christmas service. It was a crisp winter evening, but the church building was warm and cozy. The students did a great job singing some carols and reciting Scripture from Luke 2. Garett was able to ring the old church bell, and he thought that was really neat.

  

Friday I was able to spent most of the day with my sister, Hannah! Finally! We’ve been trying to coordinate some time together, but it just hasn’t been working out. I had planned to take Emma out of school to come with me, but a friend offered Emma the opportunity to spend the day with her
daughter. Emma decided that shopping didn’t sound like as much fun as time with Lucy! I’m thankful
 for my friends, Claire and Annah, who were willing to help me have the opportunity to spend time
with Hannah. Hannah and I went to Portland as Hannah wanted to look into getting some things for Haiti. We made that our first stop. It’s this big place that sells all kinds of hospital stuff. A lot of it doesn’t measure up to U.S. standards, but it’s far better than what we currrently have in Haiti. It was a bit of a lengthy stop, so I was really grateful that Emma wasn’t with us. The day sped by in a crazy fashion. I didn’t really need any Christmas presents for anyone, and I spent most of  my money at  Sam’s Club on food...no surprise there! It was a great day! I’m so thankful for the opportunity to finally  spend time with Hannah!

Sunday morning found us working with the children from our Sunday school classes on the  Christmas program. Even though it’s very short notice as the program is in a week, I introduced them  to the bells. It’s neat to see how much the students from the school can help with children that aren’t as familiar with the bells. Emma has a bell too, and she actually did fairly well as the song is color  coded. Although working with children is exhausting, serving in children’s ministries truly is one  of    
  my favorite places to serve. I’m excited about wrapping up one more program on Sunday! We also had company for lunch on Sunday. We’ve been wanting to have this couple over for a meal, but with Rogers schedule, it’s been a challenge. I was happy that they were free to come for lunch on short notice. I was even happier that oven had turned on to cook the lasagna! It was a good afternoon of fellowship.

This week started off with a snow day on Monday! Roger had the day off so that was nice for the kids. They really spent most of the day outside, and they enjoyed their day. I wasn’t as excited as I want to be done with school in the summer, but it did provide extra opportunities to get things done around our house. We made cookies. We made LOTS of cookies! I am so thankful that the snow day happened on a day that Dad was home from work. Dad is just way more fun than mom, or at least that’s what Travis tells me!

Tuesday was a day that I have been looking forward to for a while! Allison and I had planned this day  weeks ago, and although we were both asked to do other things that day, I’m glad we made time for a day together. Emma came along on this trip to Augusta with us, and she did very well all day. Neither
Allison or I had hardly anything on our lists, but we really just wanted an excuse to spend time together. We laughed and shared burdens the whole time. We managed to get back in time to pick up kids from school to, so it was a successful day! It was a bright spot in this week for sure! If we hadn’t planned for this day weeks ago, we would’ve never been able to squeeze it in.

On Wednesday, I had music classes and parties! I told Roger that I think it’s easier to plan a lesson than a party! Finding games to play for multiple grade levels, snacks for the kids, and fun activities   was a bit on the crazy side. However, I’m going to get smarter this year! I saved all my games and activities in a file, and I’m sure that I can reuse some of them another time. It was a fun time, but a bit tiring. After music classes, Emma and I went home to make a meal for a family in our church that recently had a new baby. Since I was already making the meal, I figured I might as well make one big massive mess. So I did! I made seven enchilada casseroles. I made one for my family, or course, and then one for each of the boys teachers. I figured if my week was a bit crazy and I’m not the teacher, they would probably appreciate a meal! Emma and I managed to get all of that done, get the meal packed, and make a visit to an older lady before picking up the boys. The boys were so excited to  give their meals to their teachers. It really warms my heart to see how much they love their teachers. Chandler asked me if the teachers don’t get to eat  much at home.   I was wondering what he was thinking! I told him that I’m sure they have food at home, but they are probably tired after school  sometimes. He replied, “Oh, well, they all just seemed so excited about food!”  It was a new recipe  that I tried, so I was a bit nervous about all those pans I had made. However, it was a huge hit at our house. The whole pan was gone, and it was a super easy recipe, so I’m happy to add that to our meal plan! After picking up the boys, we dropped off the meal to the family with the new little one.  Wow! You forget how tiny newborn babies are at first! It was a quick stop, but I’m happy to have the opportunity to serve this family with a meal.

Thursday we went on a walk after school with some friends. Claire, and her two kids and myself and our tribe went off on an adventure! We went on this trail and saw these really cool ice formations. And yes, I think it’s formed by steam from the nearby sewage treatment plant, but it was so Fun!  We enjoyed scrambling, slipping and sliding all over the formation. It was a bit spot in a really busy week, and it was good to get in some down time.

And now it’s  Friday again. Today was filled with chapel, the Christmas shop for the students (where the students get to shop for others), class parties, hot lunch, and a work party for Roger in the evening! It was a very full day. I also had lunch with Teri, Roger’s boss’s wife,  and my friend. We’ve been trying to get together for a while now, and Emma enjoyed having lunch with us too.  The boys were very excited  about the day, and I’m enjoyed seeing them at school a lot today. I’m also thankful that it’s  Christmas break!

Roger’s parents are coming on Saturday, and my sister is coming on Monday. It’s going to be a full house, but I’m looking forward to all the memories we will make together.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” 

Depression, Joy, Anger, Peace, All the Emotions!

 Depression, joy, peace, disappointment, relief....all emotions that flowed out over the past week! A sigh of relief, a shout of joy, and a grateful and thankful heart are all at the top of my mind today! Last week felt like “survival of the fittest” and I didn’t feel like I was surviving very well! However, God showed Himself strong and mighty, and we praise Him. The students did an amazing job at the program on Friday, and I am still smiling about it!

  

 

 

Everything was not all roses last week, and to be completely honest, I struggled with depression. Yeah, that’s a real thing! I’ve known for a while now that the tendency towards depression runs in me, but it definitely hits me when I least expect it. I’m sure much of the feeling stemmed from being overwhelmed and overly stimulated last week, but by Thursday morning, I was struggling to get out of bed, find a cup of coffee, and spend time in God’s Word. Even after that I still felt down and out-of-sorts. I know that the kids were picking up on my feelings because their actions were speaking loudly in a manner that I did not approve of! I became angry and said some hurtful things. My children became defensive, and we were all a bit hurt and angry. I actually crawled back into bed, pulled up the covers and wanted to stay there...all before 7:00am.! But motherhood and life were screaming my name! Chandler is the most like me, and it seems like he has inherited my not-so-lovely traits.  By the time we left for school, Chandler was angry at everyone, and I certainly did not feel like helping him sort it out! But God reminded me of several verses on the very quiet ride to school. “Be ye angry, and sin not.” “A fool utterth all his mind.” “Think on things that are true.” “ Let your speech be always with grace” I knew I needed to apologize to my son, and I needed to help him sort through some things. As the other boys hopped out at school, I asked chandler to wait for a minute. I asked him if he would want to go have coffee with me. He was surprised and asked, “Right now? What about school?”  I told him that education is very important, but there are things in life that  are even more important than that like a right relationship with Jesus and others. I told him to wait in
 the vehicle while I went to talk to his teacher and explain that he would be late. Chandler also has a great teacher, and she immediately responded to take as much time as we needed. She gave me some good advice, a hug and a prayer. Although Emma had to come along on our date, it was a much needed time together. Chandler and I were able to clear the air, discuss some of his concerns and    feelings, and ask God to help us both. He explained that he was disappointed that he was the only one of two kids in his class to not make honor roll last quarter. While I told him that I could understand  his disappointment, the truth of the matter is that I don’t care too much about honor roll. What I do care about is...where you honest? Were you kind? Did you honor Christ with your words and your actions? Yes, honor roll would be nice, but that’s not the thing that matters in eternity! He made honor roll in all his subjects, except one, so therefore, no honor roll certificate. I explained to him that Roger and I expect him to do his best. And while we would enjoy seeing him get that temporal satisfaction in a job well done through a certificate, as his parents we are far more concerned with preparing him to build and improve upon the character traits that Christ desires us to have in our
lives! I apologized for getting angry, and Chandler apologized for not listening. The day started off as a terrible mess, but God has a way of making things new.


Later on Thursday afternoon, Emma was able to spend some time at a friends house, and I was able to finish up some last minute details for the program. Allison and I were actually able to squeeze in a quick lunch together before wrapping up some last minute prep details for Friday. I’m not sure I was much of a blessing to Allison, but she certainly was to me. I needed someone to listen to me, pray for me, and encourage me. I’m thankful for that opportunity.

Friday was upon us before we could even blink...were we ready?! Ready or not, today was THE day! The day that has been long anticipated, since before even the school year began. I was up early because well, I couldn’t sleep, and secondly, I wanted to make sure to get in God’s Word! We were at
school well before school started and that included a stop a Walmart to pick up something I needed  for the day! Breakfast was biscuits at McDonald’s, which aren’t the most nutritious choice, but everyone was fed. The students all looked so nice dressed up in their chapel attire, and they seemed excited and calm at the same time. The morning program went relatively smoothly, and the students remembered what to do for the most part. One young boy accidentally threw his handbell during their handbell song, but he picked it up and kept going! I was very proud watching all their hard work come to fruition! The seven boys in Garett’s class sang a song together during the program. While it might not be completely in unison, it was beautiful. They sang “Happy Birthday, Jesus” and they have come such a long way from the first time we practiced it. I know that God can do great things through the lives of these young men if they will be sold out to Jesus.

After the program, I helped prepare for hot lunch, and then Emma was able to spend the afternoon with Lucy! She certainly enjoys it, and I was able to go home. I got in a run, prepared a dessert for
after the Christmas program, and spent some time settling my mind. I felt like such a burden was lifted after the morning program, and I was excited to see the students perform that night.

Friday night, December 7, this was the night that we have worked towards the past twelve weeks. The auditorium started filling up well before six pm. Grandparents, parents, family and friends filled up most of the room. My kids all mentioned that they wished that Nana and Papa could’ve been there, but they were happy to see Mr. Kevin and Mrs. Teri there to watch their program. My sister and her husband came as well. Emma did a good job reciting Luke 2 with the preschool class, and then the students did their program. I had a hard time not crying as the program came to a close. These students had done what I had asked, and while they might not have always wanted to do what I asked, they did it. I am blessed to work alongside these students and staff. The staff poured their love on me through cards, flowers, and even a certificate for a massage. I am so blessed! Garett’s class gave me flowers, a card, chocolates and a coffee mug. Chandler’s teacher gave me a bouquet of roses, and
Wyatt and Travis class wrote out the sweetest card for me. I enjoyed reading through their notes to  me. Even the Kindergarten and First Grade wrote me a card! My friend, Claire blessed me with a  beautiful planter of flowers. It was truly a wonderful close to a very special event! I don’t know what the future holds, but I certainly treasure the memories that I’ve created while teaching music classes.

As with all big events, it’s not just the set up and event, but also the clean up! Who likes that part?! We tried to get a lot of it done before we went home on Friday evening, but we were all really tired. Roger had already worked the past three days and he was working on Saturday. I knew that the kids and I would have to come back to church on Saturday to pick up everything, but for now, we just headed home. We celebrated with a supper of cereal, reading through the cards, and getting a good nights sleep! What a blessing!

On Saturday Roger had to work, so the kids and I went to the church to put the sanctuary back together for worship services the next day. Definitely not something that any of us were excited about doing, but hey, that’s life! We actually accomplished the job fairly quickly, and it was nice to have the boys along to help. We spent the rest of the day in low and slow mode at home, which was great for all of us.

This week found me at the nursing home twice with our school students. I’m sure some of them were a bit intimidated to go to the nursing home, but they did a great job! Both days were on the chillier side, but it was invigorating to walk with our students to the nursing home. On Thursday morning, we had a student who arrived at the nursing home and promptly threw up! Poor child! I’m thankful for the staff that can help with that because I’m a mess when it comes to certain smells! All in all, the students did a great job.

I have one more event tonight, and then it’s a smooth sail into Christmas...if such a thing exists! Our kids and a few from the school will be participating in a Christmas service in a small old church building. The building is a historic one and it is used every Christmas for a special service. This year our kids will be a part of the quoting of Luke 2 and singing a few songs. I’m excited for this opportunity for our children and it’s another way for them to serve others.

Our family was also blessed this week through the generosity of one of our dear church members and friend . This lady has blessed our children by interacting in their lives. She also has blessed them with Christmas presents that are wrapped and under our tree! Our children are so excited!

I am spending some of the day with my sister tomorrow and I am very excited about that. It’s been a while since we’ve spent time together, and I’m looking forward to lunch and visiting. Emma will be coming with us, and she is very excited to go Christmas shopping. Emma picked Garett’s name in our family name drawing, and she has been dreaming of buying him a present.

We love you all!