[NOTE: Back in January, 2009, some of you know that I was struggling to keep hold of my strong faith in God when we found out our developing baby had no heartbeat...This is something I felt led to share then, and I felt the Holy Spirit wanting me to share it again...For whomever may need the encouragement, Psalm 91 is one of my favorite Psalms, stating (I'm paraphrasing...) that we do not need to fear the terror that comes in the night or the arrow that flies by day because the Lord our God is with us...]

This song has blessed me a lot in recent weeks with our loss of baby Mati. I hope that it can also comfort you, dear friend, as you remember that God is holding all your tears...

"And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm"

~Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

[On another note, this song also helped me continue to praise God after Les' mother passed away on June 11, 2009 after battling with lymphoma, a type of cancer, for less than a year...It's been a difficult season for us, but we keep holding tight to our faith in God...]

It's funny how sometimes you get so busy and caught up in life that you feel overwhelmed and then suddenly God brings a situation to light that requires your focused attention. I guess that's been me lately. I often have self-esteem issues, so I had this great idea that if I earned my Bachelor's Degree (in Elementary/Special Education), I would "be someone"...and always be able to homeschool on top of it, kind of like an added benefit. Well, that might all sound well and good...And I truthfully have gotten a 4.0 each semester at my online college (which, by the way, is great but very writing-intensive!)...

However, I am at a season where I keep feeling God call me back away from my own scholastic pursuits...My husband needs me, my children need me. And with the recent hospitalization of my mother, and my sister-in-law's recovery from surgery to remove cancer, my extended family needs me too.

Some people might think that I'm so far ahead I might as well just finish...But with classroom observations and student teaching looming ahead, I can't justify fitting it into an already crammed chock-full schedule of family events and activities --- most of which I am missing anyway because of homework. I don't know...I guess the focus of the world is to conform and in some circles that means continuing education. But to be pleasing to God, I need to do what HE has called me to do, and be what HE has called me to be, despite what anyone else thinks. And yes, I would even include my family in that...If I felt the Lord calling me to a specific purpose, I would follow Him no matter what anyone thought.

And so right now I feel strongly that the Lord is calling me to shed some of my hectic schedule - with the most important time-consumer, my own schooling, being first and foremost on that list. My children are growing so fast, and I will lose this day, this week and month and year, to be with them and influence them for the better if I keep filling my plate with unrealistic goals and ideas that could be put off to another time and season. Some day the empty nest will come, and I can pursue other things for myself at that time, Lord willing. And if He has a better purpose and plan for me other than what I've devised, I know He will graciously reveal it.

Meanwhile, I think I am going to heed His call, take that needed break and focus on making my home a haven of rest and peace for my family. Life is too short, and I think that is why we sometimes cram our schedules to the breaking point. But we really can live a much more fulfilling life in purposeful simplicity, following God's lead and call to focus on the things that He deems more important. And right now, the things that are most important to me after my relationship with Him are my husband, children and extended family. The rest can wait...

Sara is in her fourth year of cheerleading. Sara gets a lot of physical education in through practice and games, and she's made the competition squad again too, so that means her cheerleading year is extended beyond football season through March.

Here are just a few pictures from her first game...

We were really blessed to be able to purchase a museum membership at the North Museum in Lancaster, PA this year. Although due to family incidents we have not attended as much as we would have liked to, we still have had a lot of fun exploring when we get a chance. Above, here is Emma, pouring over some x-rays. What a neat exhibit!

In the picture below, you will find Will putting together some puzzles which stick on the wall with velcro. He really enjoyed it!