Dear Family and Friends,
I am in
a rare moment when Daniel and I have switch roles and I get to be in the office
writing you and he is spending a hour with the wee little lassies….it’s still
quiet…good sign! Sometimes I wonder how
Daniel can get anything done with the wonderful fall view that is right outside
his office window! Wisconsin truly captures
my story book idea of what fall should look like. I am beginning to sound more and more like my
mother, “Look at the beautiful trees, girls!
Look at all the colors! Didn’t
God do a great job when he designed fall?”
They give me the same vacant look that I know I gave my Mom. Oh well…the trees are still beautiful!
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| The Fish Boil went well as you can see |
“Erin,
how are you doing these days?” This is
the question I get several times each week from friends or family on the phone,
in person or through email. I really
feel cared for and appreciate the acknowledgement that I am in a challenging season
of life. I am happy to inform you that
right now, this moment I am feeling more like myself and that is such a good
thing. What has changed to make me feel
this way? Nothing really – Claire is
still up a few times at night and I still can’t even think of fitting into my
normal clothes, but God has blessed me with the ability to see through the haze
of sleeplessness and the constant role of on-demand mommy and truly enjoy the
little people I am surrounded with all day.
For me, that is a big blessing and answer to prayer. Please don’t get the wrong idea here. I LOVE my family and I am blessed to be able
to stay home with them. I wouldn’t want
it any other way, but sometimes too much of a good thing can be tiring! J So, to answer your
question – yes, I have had a great couple days and I might hit the wall again
tomorrow, but I am grateful for the feeling of reprieve this week has been to
me – thank you, Lord!
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| Daniel meeting with a parishoner |
October
is a big month for our little church. We
started off the month last week with a Fish Boil (something I have never heard
of till moving here – I love WI!). As
you have read in Daniel’s write-up we hosted around 40 to 50 people from our
neighborhood at our Fish Boil! We set up
our back yard with tables and fun fall center pieces (ok, I did the
centerpieces…I was super proud of myself…is that ok to say? J). I was a little nervous that we wouldn’t be
able to pull it off in time or that I would have a complete emotional break-down
due to constant exhaustion, but with the aid of sweet friends who helped from
doing the Fish Boil itself, cleaning my bathrooms and lending chairs and tables
it went smoothly. I know I have said
this in almost all my blogs, but there is nothing like seeing your husband
doing what God has made him to do! It’s
not that Daniel is personable and charming (which I think he is), but his love
for God’s people and for the lost is so apparent! Sometimes I think God blesses us with “smoothness”
in our endeavors not for Daniel, but for me….so I don’t kill him!!!
With that being said, it just further proof
to my unbelief that He is in this – that He wants us here! I sigh with contentment…thank you, Lord! Then, as of last Thursday I have started leading
my very first Bible Study. This is
something I never saw myself doing…ever!
I am not a nature leader. I don’t
crave the spotlight like that. I prefer
the behind the scene role, but God like he does with us, yanked me out of my
comfort zone yet again. Now it helps
that we are doing a book study that I love and hold dear to my heart, Emotional
Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero.
I was in this study about a year ago.
It was lead by a dear friend from CO and under her leadership I grew and
learned so much. Since then I have loved
promoting it…I just didn’t think I would be leading it myself! We had six women attend last week (including
myself) and it went well! There are
several women who are not only older than me, but have many more years of
wisdom built up. I was intimidated at
first, but our discussion time turned into yet another learning experience for
me. Who said the leader doesn’t learn anything
herself! Please pray for our study time
each week as we dive into the importance of our emotional health and how it
relates to our walk with the Lord.
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| The Girls Walking to School with Will |
My
girls…all four of them are doing great!
I think for the next ten years I will continue to be in shock that I
have four kids….four girls none the less!
So much fun around here, my friends!
The two older girls continue to love school. They walk the four blocks there and back each
day with their friend Will. It took me
quite some time and MANY conversations about safety to be “ok” with this. I still struggle as I watch them walk off
each morning and pray, but it’s important to them to do it. I wouldn’t let them go at all if it weren’t
for Will. He is such a sweet kid! I have prayed for years that my girls would
make a friend connection with a boy their age. I never had that as a kid and
always wondered with it would have been like to grow up with a boy who was a
friend. Will lives down the street and
he and his older sister are just what we prayed for. Ellie was in her first swim meet here last
week. She did a great job and even got a
medal! Morgan had her 6th birthday
in September and continues to bug Daddy to get her ears pierced…Daddy isn’t
budging! Caroline does so many funny
little things that I could write ten pages worth, but I will just share the
most recent funny thing she does. Every
time I change Claire’s diaper and it’s messy she groans, puts a hand to her
forehead and shakes her head! It is
just constant entertainment around here!
Claire is changing and growing so fast!
She is super cubby now – I love it and smiles and coos all the
time! I just want to squeeze her!
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| Claire super happy |
Well,
this concludes my blog! I will continue to thank you each time for
your love and support and more importantly your prayers. I feel the effects of them daily. We miss you all so much! May the Lord bless and keep each one of you
close to Him!
Love,
Erin
Erin
