the process

Interesting how life takes turns that are so unexpected.  I am generally a very healthy person, and have joked that I don't have time for sickness!  The Wednesday night I got sick, I had gone with Matt to help with some last minute preparations for our CEF booth at the Big E fair.
 

Well, to be honest, it was more like just spend time with Matt and watch while he did some last minute prep for that fair!  It was really just an excuse to spend time with him- one of my very favorite things to do :) Matt had put in more hours than I can count in preparation for this 17 day event, including 5 trainings, time collecting and reviewing child protection paperwork, arranging for tent and lighting, setting up the chapel with Mr.B, coordinating with the fair to get passes, meeting with over 50 volunteers and lining up those volunteers so that there would be 3 people per shift, with 2 shifts per day, for 17 days!  He also had shopping to do so that there were supplies to make the wordless book bracelets and there was coffee, creamer, cups, paper towels etc in the chapel for the workers.  On top of all that, people have still been contacting him about outreach events, missions conferences, and starting Good News Clubs!  So, perfect time for me to get sick, right??  Oh yeah....  and the first day of CC for Drewie and Leah was the day I had my surgery.

I was in so much pain when I went in for surgery and I had so many people praying for me, I wasn't even nervous.  (The only thing I was nervous about going into surgery was that the headache I had that was the result of foregoing my daily cup of coffee was still going to be there when I came out of surgery!  The OR nurse took care of that worry by putting caffeine in my IV.  No joke.  What can't they do these days?!)  I spent the night in the hospital and came home the next day.  At that point I was sore enough and tired enough to just sit on the couch and  be served.  A couple days later?  FRUSTRATING.  I wanted to be up and back to normal.  Badly.

Life continued.

Alissa made a tent for Leah and Micah

Leah kept creating- which is what she spends much of her time doing each day!

The boys kept playing football with Matt- and Caleb ended up with this little injury.  Conveniently for him it was his left hand- which made the writing aspect of school next to impossible for a couple of days!

Cameron pretty much stepped up and ran the house while Matt was gone- with Alissa on kitchen duty.

And Micah kept being Micah.

I have been struggling with the idea of resting while things "need" to get done.  I voiced that a little to my friend in a text and she sent this back:

That was so helpful to me as a reminder to keep my eyes on what is really important.  No use worrying about things that are not of eternal value while the things that are can still be accomplished!

I pulled out my copy of this book given to me by a friend in Missouri 6 years ago.  My heart was anything but quiet.  I read this: “God’s curriculum for all who sincerely want to know Him and do His will always includes lessons we wish we could skip.”  She goes on to give encouragement out of the Psalms and David’s response to difficult times- meditating on God’s Word and fully trusting Him.  I sure wish I could have skipped this lesson.  Well, maybe not.  Not if this lesson is for my good and has the potential to bring glory to the God I love so much.  I have so much to learn.

God has blessed me through His people in ways I can't even begin to show enough gratefulness for.  Matt has made sure everything is in order at home and instructed the kids to be taking care of me when he is not here.  Brianna did all she could from far away to see that needs here at home were met while Matt was with me at the hospital.  The kids at home have tended to me like I am about to break! Sweet Jessica arranged for me to have meals through people at church.  I have been incredibly helped through people bringing meals.  My CC class was weighing heavy on my heart as I take very seriously my responsibility to both kids and parents.  One mom, and dear friend, met needs that were so practical and helpful such as buying me elastic waist pants so I didn't have to be in my pjs all day, but at the same time wasn't hurting my incisions.  She also loaned me a stool to get up into my (very high off the ground) bed, loaned me books for Caleb's science project,brought me the papers that were handed out in the kids' classes they missed the Thursday I was sick, took care of Drew and Leah at CC the second week I missed, and coordinated with CC moms to bring me meals. Friends like that are very rare!  Another CC mom agreed to teach my class so I could have the day to stay home and rest.  That is no small task.  That she put so much effort into it and taught so thoroughly was so amazing to me!  It was especially humbling as this mom has five children, a husband who is deployed, lives over an hour from CC, and even made me a meal complete with homemade bread and the best ever oatmeal cookies! I have received so many cards and phone calls and people have been helpful in more ways that I can even say here.  It is amazing.  

Then, my mom came for a couple of days which helped me so much!  She didn't even have to ask what to do.  She just did it.  Since our hot water heater broke, she even washed dishes by hand!  She cared for the kids, ran errands, got library books, did all the laundry, hung a shower curtain, washed bedding, made breakfast, ordered pizza for lunch (made one Andrew the happiest boy ever!), packed lunches for Alissa and Cameron when they worked the fair, and tons of other things.  

One thing I have kept to since last May when I was convicted, is to keep Sunday as a day of rest to focus on God.  Specifically as Creator and Redeemer.  The Sunday before my surgery, in remembering that, I took a blanket and went outside and lied down on it.  This was my view:

I couldn't help but feel my body and my spirit just relax as I remembered that God was in charge.  If He could create such a beautiful day as I was enjoying, He could take care of the "little" things that were bothering me.  If He loved me enough to send Jesus, He loves me enough to see me through my days.  Little did I know what was coming.  I am grateful for the preparation I had! 

I still tire really easily.  I still have to sit much more than I am used to.  My doctor told me at least 5 times that I should have come in sooner.  He told me too that if I had waited just a few more hours, I would have been in the hospital for days.  He told me to be patient with my recovery and that it would take longer because of the amount of infection in my body.  Waiting has never been my strong suit.  

Grateful.  Learning.  Trusting.

All on a God who is trustworthy~

It's Brianna with an update on Mom...

First, I will start off by saying this is Brianna. Mom is currently on bed rest and I am here to tell you why.

Wednesday night I got a text from my mom asking me to pray for her because she felt extremely sick...which was odd because my mama doesn't complain. ever. 

I asked some questions of Cameron and figured out it was extreme nausea and she had thrown up.

We thought, originally, that it might be the stomach flu or something. 

However, come the next morning, no relief was in sight, her symptoms were worsening, she was having stomach pain and a fever (infection!).

If it was the flu, I thought that the symptoms would be getting better within 24 hours. 

Now, my mom is one who will try to not let anyone know how bad off she is because she doesn't want to cause unnecessary worry or stress--so she sent my dad off to a meeting saying she was okay.

When I texted her to see how she was doing, she couldn't talk to me on the phone because she was feeling so sick. This was a big red flag because if i call her...she answers. 

Good thing there are 7 other sources still living in my house!

I heard from Cameron, Alissa, and Caleb that she was groaning in pain and unable to do anything.

So I took matters into my own hands. I called Jessica and asked if she could take care of dinner and the siblings that were home because I figured mom would be going to the doctor soon. 

When my dad came home he pretty much took one look at her and said "get in the car, we're going to the ER." (He is probably better at assessing and handling situations than anyone I know.)

While I was in class a few hours later, I got word that it was appendicitis (good grief! haven't we been down this road a few times already?!) She was in for her appendectomy at 6 that evening, and a little after 7 she was awakened. I could not have felt any worse for my poor mother! But she went home the next afternoon and is recovering now.

I am usually the one to help out my mom when emergency situations come up so it has been unbelievably difficult to be so far away from my family in this time. I know my daddy has things under complete control, though, and his attitude and encouragement have been a tremendous source of peace and strength for our whole family.  

Also, I know I can speak on behalf of our whole family when I say that our church family at Bethlehem Baptist has been very helpful with meals and prayers. Although this has been and will continue to be a difficult time for our family, we know God will take care of us and we are blessed that He chooses to do it through the people who are reaching out to our family during this time. 

an easier hike

....for me.  It was easier than last time because Matt carried Micah!  It was a beautiful Saturday morning and I asked Matt if he wanted to hike up to the Vista.  He said sure- and off we went!

hike

Andrew doesn't officially start school until next week.  We have already started implementing our schedule though, so I have time on there scheduled to help him with his school work. He was a little restless this morning, so during my time with him I decided we'd go on a hike.  In my mind, it was a quick little hike up to the Vista, but in reality.......  MUCH harder than I thought it would be!  I took Micah with me so the ones at home doing school wouldn't have to be responsible for him- that didn't help the trek!  

This part on the way down was pretty tricky.  The bottom section of these rocks was wet and covered in moss!  I ended up taking Micah off my back, sitting down, putting him on my lap, and sliding all the way down.  It worked!  Good thing I wasn't wearing my favorite jeans :)

I really enjoyed the one on one time with Andrew and he was such a help in getting back down.  He found me a walking stick and then let me put my hand on his shoulder as we slowly made our way down.  It was a beautiful day, too.  Lots to be thankful for!

random

In no particular order, and completely random- some of what's been going on around here!

Derek and Sara and their kids (our youth pastor from Virginia and his family) stopped in on their way to Maine to see us!  We really enjoyed the time of fellowship with this couple who are about to step out in faith and plant a church in Colorado.

Cameron has his permit and has been doing quite a bit of driving!

We got enough grapes from our grape vines to make a whole batch of grape jelly.  It is SO good!

(don't worry that it's not really "canned".  It won't last long enough to go bad :)

It's that time of year again.  You know, the time when my family begs me on Sunday afternoons to bake an apple pie?

Andrew had some money (he's been losing quite a lot of teeth!) and bought some BBs for the gun.  He has been target shooting.

Cameron is calibrating his thermometer for his first chemistry experiment.

 Leah and Alissa were apple picking from our tree when I saw a little commotion.  Apparently there were a ton of huge earthworms on the ground!

Bread.... I'm lucky if two loaves last us one meal!

Applesauce from the apples on our tree.  A little tart...I will need to add a sweetener!

 CC started for Caleb and Alissa.  I am Caleb's tutor and have 13 kids in my class!

And of course, my regular method of communicating with my firstborn :)

I have much to be thankful for!

fear

Current Events has been one aspect of Alissa's schooling this year.  Yesterday she found an article that was one of the most troubling reports Matt and I have ever heard.  Some sins that our society approves of (and laws that protect those sins) apart from the Bible almost seem harmless- maybe even gray areas to those who don't know God's standard of holiness.  What we read about yesterday was evidence of complete depravity and do I dare say hopelessness?  Sin that seems like a lack of brain, common sense, logic, humanity....  It's hard for me to understand that any adult would pass a law like the one we read about.  I could maybe understand a young child who has no knowledge of science or one who lacks judgement completely....  What is happening?  What is going on in our world???  My immediate reaction was not good.  I wanted to quit.  I felt like our ministry to the kids in the city was completely hopeless.  No good can come out of this country, no one will ever change, the power of the Gospel is not enough for these sinful and wicked people.

I am always encouraging my girls to look ahead to their future as wives and mothers.  I tell them what a blessing it is to be a mom and have lots of kids.  I had actually decided on a Christmas present for Leah- a kit that had all the materials for her and I to make dolls that represented a family.  It had enough in it to make a mom, a dad, 5 children, and a baby.  I changed my mind.  My fear was controlling me.  I am afraid for my own children- how could I want them to have their own?  Do we have a chance in this world that I believe God has given over to the lusts of its heart? (Romans 1:21-32) Are we, as God's children, going to be allowed to live freely for Him, stand up for truth, read our Bibles, go to church?  Fear had a tight grip on me.

This morning I read parts of John 14-17.

14:1 Let not your heart be troubled

14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be trouble, nor let it be fearful.

15:4 Abide in Me...

15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

16:33  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

17:15, 17 (Jesus is praying) I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one....Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

We are in the middle of a battle.  A spiritual battle that is getting more intense as the end is getting closer. Now is not the time for me to quit.  On Sunday our family watched (for the millionth time!) the Louie Giglio video Indescribable. I love the perspective of the size and control of God.  What's going on in our world is not a surprise to Him or out of His sovereign control.  My favorite part of the video (one of my favorite parts) was this picture taken by the Hubble telescope.  It shows a structure in the Core of the Whirlpool Galaxy.

Whatever this "X structure" is, as it is called by scientists, it is a reminder to me that Jesus is called "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world".  Nothing is unknown to Him or out of His power. He chose to have me and my family born into this world at this time and in this place (Acts 17:26). He ahs given me and my family a job to do.

I won't quit.

I will trust Him.

micah sings

One of these days I will have (or make) time to blog about what's been going on.  Life keeps going and God is working so much in our hearts and in our lives in ways we had only dreamed about.

Regardless of the opportunities God brings our way to minister to others, our kids remain our first ministry priority!  Matt sings to Micah every night before bed and Micah is learning the songs.  Here he is singing Holy, Holy, Holy.