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9月14日 Art and GymnasticsI started my new job as a preschool music teacher with Miss Margarets Music Together in the Poconos. I had 5 four-year-olds tonight and a seven-year-old (Hannah) helper! It was a little chaotic this first week, hopefully next week things will be a little more predictable.
While Hannah and I taught music, Emily had her first gymnastics class. She was so excited for this! She had been asking for a long time when we would do gymnastics again (we had done it at the YMCA back in Corning but then couldn't afford it anymore). The wonderful thing about my teaching is that my girls can take any class they want for free!
Hannah then went to her two hour art class. I'm so happy for her to have this opportunity. She loves to draw! They did chalk perspective drawings tonight. Hannah will also do gymnastics on another night. Getting to bed a little later than we are used to...but hopefully just one kid-busy night a week will be fine!
           9月3日 BugollagustHannah wrote in school today that she hopes to become a bugollagust. You know, a scientist that studies bugs. Love it. 9月1日 Emily's first day of preschoolToday was much less eventful! Last Spring when Steve and I had Bible study at church in the afternoons, Emily would go into the preschool class there. She has the same teacher this year so she was already familiar with her and the surroundings. Today I dropped her off and she was very excited! After I gave her a hug and walked away, I heard her sweet little voice calling from the room, "Bye, Mom!!" This was also much easier on my emotions than last year (her first time at preschool). No tears this time. I'm going back in a half hour to get her. Next year with full day Kindergarten...that will be a different story. But I think after a day or so of putting both my kids on the bus for the whole day...I'll be ok!!!
      4j8月31日 Hannah's first day of 3rd gradeIt's Hannah's first day of school! We had orientation a week and a half ago and they said info packets would be sent out a few days after that. We received nothing and I was getting nervous that maybe she slipped through the cracks somehow. I left emails and phone messages but no one got back to me until after we left for school this morning. We went to the office and found out that they had her listed as "unenrolled." Hmmmm....apparently when she was registered for the new school last year when we moved, they failed to register her for this new school year. I don't know how that happened but now she has a class and I briefly met her new teacher this AM who seems very nice.
She was a little nervous but I'm sure she'll do great today. This is a huge, growing school district with many families where the kids attend school here while the parents work in NYC. There are 850 students in Hannah's new school - all 3rd and 4th graders! Wow. The classes seem like a managable size and the school itself is beautiful. I'll be updating in the future!
Emily begins her preschool tomorrow and I will post pictures of her then!
   
8月25日 Updates, Surgery, and SchoolBack when we lived in NY my doctor told me a hysterectomy was probably on the horizon for me. Apparently I have very weak tissue and things didn't go back where they were supposed to after the birth of my babies. Here in PA my new doctor recommended sooner rather than later so we scheduled the surgery for after conference this summer. I thought it would be similar to having the babies - feel tired for a day or so but would be back on my feet the same day and just take it easy for a week or so.
The surgery took longer than expected because I bled a lot more than expected. I was out cold for all of this but the doctor later told me that everywhere they touched began to bleed and the pumps couldn't keep up. When I woke up a vauguely remember hearing the docs talking about me being a "very hard stick." And sure enough when I woke up I had an extra IV than I had when I sent to sleep and a few more prick marks in my arms!
Becuase of the bleeding I needed some really tight packing which was so uncomfortable. My legs were so sore from the position I was in during surgery and the combination of my inner thighs hurting and packing being uncomfortable no matter what position I was in made the next 24 hours terrible for me. The word agony came to mind several times and the worst part was there was just nothing that could be done. Even being in labor was easier because it was only a few hours long! They insisted the packing had to stay in for 24 hours. Around hour 16 or so when I didn't think I could take it anymore THEN they said we should try to get off the pain meds and try to get out of bed! What?!?!? That's when I think my nurses became very mean. Steve said they were nice...but I don't remember it that way at all!! In addition to the pain I was feeling extremely dizzy and sleepy when I sat up. Just keeping my eyes open and my head upright was hard work. I'm guessing that was from the blood loss. As I was sitting (very uncomfortably) in a chair for the first time a pastor from our church came to pray with me. It was so good to see her and it touched me that she would drive so far to come see me (45 min.)...but really I was no condition to talk or be cordial. So glad Steve was there.
FINALLY 5:00 PM came where they took out my tubes and packing and I had some relief. The dizziness and nauseous didn't go away and the pain meds kept the aching to a minmum, but at least I could move around a little and find somewhat comfortable positions. I was able to go to the bathroom and would have and hour or so of feeling good after naps. I was sleeping a lot.
The next morning we were preparing to leave but the Dr. said that the extreme dizzyness and weakness was indeed from the blood loss and we could opt to stay another day and get some blood transfused. I was so glad we did. We had to get moved to another hospital and get settled in again. They had to do another IV and draw more blood and by this time I had like 4 huge bruises all over my arms. At this point they had tried for the new IV about 3 or 4 times and I was so tired of getting stuck and hurting so much I had a mild breakdown! By the time they actually got the blood flowing I could tell the difference and was feeling stronger. I got 2 units of blood and was glad I did.
The next morning I was feeling better. I took a shower, we packed, and left the hospital. But on the way out I started feeling dizzy and nauseous again. It was all I could do to make it home and keep it together. The moment I got inside the house I went to the bed and crashed for 3 hours. Then I was up for one hour, slept for 2 more, then went to bed for the night shortly after that. It has seemed like a roller coaster of taking two steps forward and one backwarsd. Overall I'm definately doing much better, but after about an hour or so on my feet I feel like I need to crash again.
There have been many people telling us they have been praying for us. Thank you so much. This was a much harder experience than I had anticipated. I don't know what I would have done without Steve or without my parents having the girls. It was good to not to have to worry about them. Thanks for all who helped and who prayed. We appreciate it so much!
I also appreciate our family's good health. We are blessed. I can't imagine having to deal with stuff like that on an ongoing basis. We are blessed with good health ourselves and for our kids. Ispent a lot of time thanking God for that.
I miss the girls but still don't feel like I have the strength to be a mom full time yet. They will come home tomorrow. And now we turn to getting ready for school to start! I can't believe it! I'm getting ready to send off my first born to 3rd grade in a huge 800 student intermediate elementary school and my little one will go to preschool two mornings a week. I am so glad she is not starting kindergarten yet and that is one emotional bullet we can dodge this year! The kids have their first day of school dresses, backpacks, and supplies and are so excited. I have to admit I love the new back to school stuff too - it was always so exciting to get new folders, pencils, and backpacks. I'm happy for them and ready to settle into a new routine.
Thanks again for the prayer and friendships. Hope you are all enjoying the rest of the summer!
8月19日 End of summer...We survived!
Seven weeks of leading children's ministries and making videos and keeping track of almost 70 staff kids...and now Pinebrook's responsibilities with programming is over. For the rest of the summer the staff is still here serving the groups that have come to rent the facilities. It has been stressful but over all successful - we have talked about ideas for next year and we are looking to improve things so hopefully next summer won't be so stressful!
Tomorrow I go to the hospital for a hysterectomy. The girls are staying with Grammy and Grandpap and Steve will be with me for 2 nights in the hospital. Any prayers would be appreciated. I'm a little nervous, but it is a pretty routine thing, I guess.
We are doing well here. Last weekend I got to sing with the worship team at church for the first time. We look forward to being more involved this fall when our schedule is a little more free. I'll be teaching music at a local perforing arts studio 2 nights a week. Hannah will be starting 3rd grade August 31st and Emily will be going to preschool 2 days a week. We are all very excited about the new backpacks and first day of school dresses!!
Thanks for hanging in with us through this crazy summer! 7月26日 Week 5Here we are beginning week 5 of 7. This week Steve and I are the worship leaders for the whole week. We found out that some of the summer staff sing or play instruments and now we have a worship team! Yay! The theme song I wrote sounds sooooooooooo much better with a band doing it...I was getting so sick of just piano! This week we lead worship at both the morning and evening services as well as lead children's ministries morning and evening. We both got new blackberry phones with our new 2 year plan and are experiencing having all our email, messages, and facebook right in the palm of our hands. Pretty cool. Steve just got a new laptop for work and is tickled to begin playing with his new toy. All this technology...we feel like we are finally catching up with the rest of the world! Hey - we both have new phone numbers so if you don't have them, please email us and let us know...we want to be able to keep in touch!!
  We were able to get away together as family yesterday for a road trip to the beach. It was wonderful to get away and be together. I love that the beach is only a couple of hours away! We've never had that anywhere we've lived.
Hannah wanted to listen to the Chipmunks Christmas cd at bedtime tonight so those high pitched sounds are wafting through the whole house. I can't even imagine Christmas right now. Wondering what Christmas will be like in our new house. I can't believe it's been 4 months since we left NY. I really miss Victory and our ministry we had there. It seems like an eternity ago...a different lifetime. Yes, things are definately different, but we go where God wants us to go. We always have and always will. What He does with us is up to Him!
Next month I will be having a hysterectomy and would appreciate your prayers. I have some appointments coming up to make sure things are in order and some tests that being run so again, we would appreciate any prayers. On one hand the thought of a couple of days in a hospital being waited on hand and foot with no responsibilites sounds pretty nice...on the other hand it makes me sad to think that THIS time I'll be spending 2 days in a hospital and NOT bringing home a little bundle of joy to show for it. But that's ok, I have two of the best bundles of joy in their beds upstairs right now.
 7月6日 Fourth of July at PinebrookWell, it was actually on the fifth of July, but it was Pinebrook's big celebration night! We had our regular Sunday service outside followed by a concert by alternative Christian band, Reilly, and Gospel quartet/brass players, the King's Army. Then a really great fireworks display. People at our church said in years past that Pinebrook's fireworkds were better than the town's and after seeing them last night I have to agree. They were really unique, loud, and amazing! We were really impressed!
Steve's family is on vacation camping nearby this week so they came to the festivities last night. Steve and I led worship for the service and everything went really well! We are well into week 2 and things are smoothing out for us. Thanks for your prayers and let us know if you'd like to come visit sometime!
 Here are pics from the evening:
             Here is Hannah and Em rocking out to Reilly:
7月3日 One down, Six to go!Yes! We have survived the first full week of camp! We have lots of notes of things to change for next week, but I can see things smoothing out and getting easier. The parents and kids all seemed to enjoy the curriculum and the boss man liked the presentation I put together for our final chapel service with the parents. Steve had to stay up all night last night but put together a great video of the week that was shown this morning. Then we all came home, took naps and went out to dinner (no dinning hall!!). It was refreshing to spend time together that was actually relaxing!
Tomorrow we are back at it preparing for next week. This weekend there is a big retreat group here and Sunday the new group comes for week 2. Sunday night we are having our service outside with 2 musical guest concerts and fireworks. Should be a really fun evening. I can just see our girls now running all around catching fireflies while Steve and I lead worship...looking forward to it!
We appreciate your prayers for us, our family, the entire staff and ministry of Pinebrook. Spiritual warfare is definately real and we will fight against any of satan's attempts to thwart ministry this summer. Sometimes the fight makes us weary and times get tough so we appreciate all the prayers we can get. Thank you so much!!! 6月29日 INSANITYWhelp...the last few days have been crazy. The last week and a half has been insane. Today was the first full day of Conference and we are already wishing summer was over. Not that we didn't enjoy it or love the buzz around here or love the guests on the grounds, but Steve and I have so much on our plates it's suffocating.
Getting prepared for this week has not been easy. I volunteered to write the children's curriculum and head up the program. Since I was new here I assumed others would fill me in on the way things worked and that other details would be handled. Not so much. Every question I had about some detail recieved the answer, "I don't know" and it became my job. I thought I'd have a committee of teachers who all helped plan things. Not so much. I thought we had an AV guy on staff who would take care of all things technical. Not so much. I thought the pastor would plan and execute worship services. Not so much. I thought visiting pastors and worship leaders and missionaries would let Pinebrook know ahead of time what songs they'd be singing or what they needed for presentations ahead of time. Not so much. In a nutshell, I expected people in general to plan ahead and think through details and be on top of things...NOT. SO. MUCH.
Even after I spent hours planning the opening service there were last minute glitches that created a chaotic service. We have been scrambling through every meeting we had today struggling with computers, projectors, and sound systems. Steve has been the go-to tech guy and has been pulled in so many different directions. He hasn't slept more than 3 hours the last two nights and we are still behind on stuff. It's been very discouraging and completely draining.
People keep telling us that the first week is always like this. That everyone expects to work kinks out the first week. What is wrong with working kinks out THE WEEK BEFORE THE FIRST WEEK? I'm used to the mentality that the people who come to the first service (or the first week of camp) don't deserve a dress rehearsal. It's hard to not get frustrated at the lack of communication and organization that we've found here. I was challenged in a message to not gripe or complain about anything but find thankfulness in every situation.
I am thankful that we have a job. I am thankful that I get paid additionally for my time (wow, is my pay check going to be HUGE this week!!!!). I am thankful that so many families are here learning about and worshipping God. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to teach the children this week. I'm thankful for the outdoor pool and plenty of kids for the girls to play with at any given moment of the day. I'm thankful, I'm thankful, I'm thankful.
And so tired.
6月15日 So much for updating more often...Well, so much for keeping updated! Not too much exciting has been happening - just the daily business and busyness!
This week the girls are at Grammy and Grandpap's house to celebrate being all done with school! It's not all vacation and fun and games for Steve or me as we are really busy this week gearing up for summer! Steve is preparing for his summer staff to come next weekend and there's much for him to do. I start my rehearsals as music director for the local community theater production of "High School Musical 2" this week. In addition I will be music director for a children's production of "The Jungle Book" and will be teaching some kids' music classes at 2 local performing arts studios. These opportunities will be giving me a chance to use my gifts and do what I enjoy and make a little money as well!
Here at Pinebrook I will be leading the children's worship twice a day and I just wrote the summer's theme song! I'm so excited about it! We may have the opportunity to record it at our church and maybe our worship team will be interested in doing it.
Last weekend was Colonial Days back home in Painted Post. Hannah was invited to ride in a car in the parade as she is still the current Sweetheart Miss Finger Lakes so the girls and I made the trip and visited some friends along the way. Here are the pictures of Hannah at the parade!
Also this past weekend the group that was here for three days was the Saint family reunion. The head of the family is the son of Steve Saint, the martyr that the movie "The End of the Spear" was about. Wow, that really cool to have them here and hear him speak.
It's seems crazy that June is half over already. Time flies at this time of the year, that's for sure. We have a possible buyer for our house! We are thrilled and just praying for all the details to fall into place. Please pray with us as we want to see the house go to someone who really loves it and this family does!! If all goes well we could be settling all of this in August sometime. Please keep praying!!
Thanks for keeping up with us and reading here. We are glad for all of our family and friends! 4月28日 10th anniversary tripWe're back from our long weekend away to Atlantic City and New York City! We went to NYC on our anniversary in hopes of catching a last minute deal on a broadway show. We seriously didn't have much money for this vacation so we were just HOPING it would work out but didn't have our hearts set on it. When we got to the TKTS booth we found out that none of the shows we really wanted to see were discounted. We went to the Mama Mia box office only to find tickets that we couldn't afford. We tried Mary Poppins too. Then we decided to TRY Phantom of the Opera although if Mama Mia and Mary Poppins were too much there was probably no hope of seeing Phantom (which would be our first choice anyway!!). They had some singles available that they were willing to discount to us if we were willing to not sit together...OH YEAH!!!! I sat 11th row center...it was an amazing performance. Wow...it still feels like a dream!
I've never been to Broadway, let alone seen a show there. I've also never seen Phantom live. That day was like 3 dreams come true at once...plus the whole being married for 10 years celebration...it was a very good day!
We also slept in, walked on the beach, walked the boardwalk at Alantic City, and did some exploring up the Jersey coast and found a great public beach only 2 hours from house that we can visit anytime this summer! I can't wait for that.
4月22日 10 years ago...I was getting ready for my wedding 10 years ago this week! Such a milestone in one's life. One of the happiest days of my life. I was happy with myself...I was attractive, young, and thin. I was loved and happy. I was so excited to start my own life...have my own apartment...have a husband to come home to every day. Steve and I spent a lot of our courtship long distance and I couldn't imagine how great it would be to live in the same house permanently!
In some ways those days feel like another lifetime, in other ways they seem like yesterday. I still love living with Steve. I love our family. I love our ministry. I love worshipping with him. I love being held by him. The last 10 years were not perfect. But the worst times of all drew us even closer together. THAT'S what marriage is all about.
Since we've moved to Pinebrook I've had more time to myself. I've also had more time with the girls. That time has been both sweet and insane! I'm EXTREMELY ready for a break from the kids and even though Steve gets to come home for lunch and has a 30 sec. commute...I'm ready to spend more time with him. My parents are staying with the girls and we are getting out of town for a few days. (THANK YOU, MOM & DAD!!!) I am sooooo ready for this. I need this. I crave this. I love getting away with Steve and just enjoying the time we are together. We like being together and there is just not enough time or energy to do it as much as we'd like during the hectic times of life.
Someone told me that getting away like this is so important - it will help ensure we will celebrate again 10 years from now. So we are grateful to be investing in our love, our commitment, and our family (so I can continue to care for my kids without losing it!) by taking a break from life to just be together.
Like it was 10 years ago! 4月16日 Accomplished!We recovered from last week's sickness and this weekend's busyness. Since we had off Monday this week has flown by. I'm just about done with the major projects that I needed to accomplish this week and still have played with the kids, done fun projects, took a nap one day, and kept up with the housecleaning and laundry! I'm really loving staying home right now! It is such a blessing after teaching lessons and working part time to make ends meet. I always had somewhere I needed to go. Now I have NO WHERE I need to go. I know this won't last forever, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts!
Well, we still have a garage full of stuff to put away and unpack, but I'm waiting for it to warm up and a day when Steve can help me lug containers up to the attic. Since it's in the garage I'm ok with the fact that it is still sitting there! It makes it easy to ignore it! As soon I finish up the housework this afternoon and Hannah comes home from school we are all looking forward to girls' night since Steve has to work late. Hannah got the American Girl movie, Kit Kittridge for Easter but we waited to watch it until we finished the books - tonight is the night! After Steve leaves again for work after dinner we are doing baths, jammies, and then settling in the living room for movie night. Can't wait!
It feels good to feel accomplished...and not stressed. I've exercized every day this week so far, cooked meals for my family, kept up with laundry and vacuuming, and gotten enough sleep. Amazing. Still getting used to it. Isn't it a crime to be this relaxed and enjoying life? 4月12日 Easter SundayYesterday our church had a huge egg hunt for all the neighborhood kids. They had like 7,000 eggs!! The girls loved it. Hannah found 2 prize eggs (WELL...thanks to her cheating Daddy who stood over one and called her over to it) which she graciously shared with her sister! It is a big event for the church every year and it was a BIG hit!! Then last night, as I already wrote, Emily asked Jesus into her heart. We are so proud of her.
We helped in the dinning hall this morning as they had a large group here at Pinebrook. Steve led the service for the staff here this morning and gave his first "sermon" and even played the guitar for the first time in public for worship! I am so proud of him. He's doing great. Already I see where he is getting to use his talents more and able to do more of what excites him here at Pinebrook. It makes me happy to see him thriving. Steve put Em on the spot and asked her if she wanted to share with the group about her good news and to my surprise she did! She wasn't shy about it at all - I was SO SO proud of her too!
After the Pinebrook service we ran to our church for service too. It was a beautiful service - once again I was saddened at not being a part of it. I just don't know what God has in store for my ministry. I see Steve falling into his niche, but I haven't found mine yet. Church ministry excites me and I feel like I was being raised up for that...but this church doesn't seem to need us. They aren't looking for staff (as far as I know), they have a great established worship team, plenty of piano players, worship leaders, and a good choir director already. God just hasn't revealed what He has planned for me yet. In the meantime I'm not bored!! I still have my hands full at home with the kids and keeping up with this house! We still have lots of stuff in the garage waiting to be organized and unpacked and the never ending housecleaning, laundry, and errands are keeping me busy!
We came back to the dinning hall to help with lunch after church and the cook was so sweet to bring Emily a piece of cake with a candle in it for her spiritual "birthday!" She was beaming!!
After we got home from the BUSY morning we had our own family Easter egg hunt and gifts. Then Mommy crashed on the couch while the rest of the family watched a movie! What a lovely family day celebrating Easter...and I think I'm going to go crash again! Night!! 4月11日 Easter BlessingTonight at bedtime I decided we should read the Easter story from Emily's preschool Bible. It talked about Jesus taking the punishment for our sins and then it asked if we wanted to thank Jesus for taking our sins away and ask him into our hearts. Emily said yes she did!
We had talked to her about salvation before and I've told her it's a decision she needs to make if she wants to live with Jesus forever and ever. Tonight she said she was ready to ask Jesus to be part of her life and she wants to go to heaven. I explained as best I could for a 4 year old what "Jesus in your heart" and "going to heaven" means. The important thing is that she knows she is glad Jesus took her punishment, God is good and worthy of praise, and our whole family will be together someday in heaven.
She prayed and asked Jesus to come into her heart...then the usual thank you for food today, thank you for everyone in the world, thank you for letting us see kittens today (Pinebrook camp cat) etc...After she said Amen she remembered she wanted to say thank you for dying on the cross so then she said, "and I'm sorry I already said amen, but thank you for dying on the cross and for helping my sins away."
And she reminded me of how Hannah has a birthday party every year on her spiritual birthday...and can she have one too?
 4月10日 Emily's Explanation"When you grow up you get more helpful magic in your body so you can be more helpful...I just made up that!"
Emily Rau, age 4, when complimented on helping with the laundry like a big girl. 4月8日 Catch upWell, we went to Victory last Sunday. It was hard for me. I loved the service but it was hard knowing I wasn't a part of it anymore. I think it will be a LOOOONG time before I can attend any church service without crying.
While we were travelling this past weekend Hannah got sick. Really really sick. She hasn't been sick in (literally) years!! It sarted with a headache ("Mommy, my brain hurts...") then she threw up on the way home, then she had a terrible fever for 3 days and barely moved, and now she has horrible congestion in her chest and head. Emily got the fever for 2 days but is better now and I had/have a headache and sore throat. But I think we are all on the mend now!
I had my house all set up and unpacked and clean. Then we brought a second load from the old house that I need to organize and put away. ~SIGH~ This house will be mine eventually! Until then Igo back and forth between wanting to "git-r-done" and wanting to hide in my bed and ignore it! Since I feel a little better today I better get some things accomplished!
 We found out that we need to work at Pinebrook over this coming Easter weekend which is a little disappointing. We do want to be servants and help wherever needed - it just stinks that we won't be able to attend church together on Easter Sunday or Good Friday or travel when Hannah has so much time off of school. On the other hand, maybe the house can get some attention with us around all weekend! God knows what we need - and how we can best be used.
For those reading this who are supporting us, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Even though our house hasn't sold we are making all our payments and are praising God for providing for all of our needs through you. Thanks so much! You are thought of and appreciated every day!! 3月27日 Hannah's StoryHannah wrote this at school today:
"I once moved to Pensilvanya. It was a very nice place so we stayed there! I am still unpacking from that day! I love my new school and home!" |
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