Schrauben Family Singers

It’s again been a while since I posted, so I must update.  First of all, Phoebe is walking!!  Yea!  She’s 21 months old now, and has just really finally taken off in the last week -

Which we spent in Michigan.  Originally, Phil and Mary were going to go alone.  Yada yada, it worked out for all of us to, and we left Tuesday morning early for MI.  We spent a good week with family and friends, going to the lake, Ionia Free Fair (nation’s largest free fair), shopping, visiting, and even getting in on a family reunion on Phil’s grandfather Selden’s side.  We had a wonderful trip, but it’s so good to get home.

Another baby went to be with Jesus, at six weeks gestation (June 21st).  We have lost two babies in such a short time.  It can surely cause one to question what God has in mind!  But, through it all, we continue to place our trust in Him, including knowing He’s in control of our “family planning,” not us!  That is what brings peace and nothing else.  Personally, I am thankful to have finally reached a place of peace, concerning whether or not we’ll “have more babies.”  I truly am at a place of contentment with whatever He wants, whether or not we do indeed birth another child.  He knows my inmost desires, and He also knows what is best.  That’s what I want.

We will have this week at home to relax (ha) and prepare to leave again next Monday for MN.  We shall visit friends and family, but the BIG reason for the timing of this trip is the Family Bluegrass Festival at Lake Itasca (see Berge Family link).  It’s something we have wanted to do for a couple of years now (this is the third year!), and now it’s in the works.

Well, since it’s pretty much impossible to write a blog post without interruption and SOMEBODY needing me, I must write more later.  I think all five children have a pressing need right now (apparently).  Sigh.

We’ve got a terribly busy week this week.  So, I got a nasty cold or sinus issue of some sort, complete with sore throat.  Ugh.  The three oldest have VBS from 9-12, M-F.  I miss ‘em already.  Of course, there are baseball games.  And meetings.  And, this weekend is our local Spring Festival.  Phil and I are involved with a lot of singing, so I’m praying I’ll be better by then.  I’ve also got a cookie order and some baking to do for the festival.  Why must I feel so miserable!?

Last weekend my brother and his family from Nebraska were here.  It was fun for all the Klucases (which includes us Schraubens) to be together - last time was Christmas.  Phil participated in the Vennard golf tournament last weekend, too.

Our small group met for the first time yesterday.  We had some good fellowship, and after we tentatively set the dates to meet for the rest of the summer, Phil told me that EVERY Sunday for the rest of the summer is booked.  Every single one.  Wow.  Summer is supposed to be relaxing, isn’t it?

The children are continuing school during the summer, with occasional breaks - like this weeks VBS.  Isaac is now MY piano student.  And, Mary will be starting official “school”, too, very soon.  Mainly learning how to read.  So, I’ll have three students now.  Pretty amazing, for a non-teacher like me!

Through it all, God continues to be faithful.  He shows Himself to us in so many ways.  Physically, spiritually…  We look forward to what He has in store for our family and also for our church, as we are looking into relocating.  Something we can continue to pray about and for. 

It’s interesting how a person can keep so busy, and pretty soon it’s next month.  Or next year.  Or…  My “big” boys are both in baseball this year, and that has kept us pretty busy - five games this week, with a couple of overlaps.  ‘Guess that’s the price you pay for being involved in organized sports.  Actually, it’s pretty fun to watch them play, it’s just a lot of running around.

I’ve got cookies and cakes to bake and decorate, but, thankfully, I’m not overloaded.  It’s just enough to earn a few bucks here and there.

We celebrated 14 wonderful years of marriage yesterday!  I cannot imagine ever having lived without Phil, and yet it seems like just yesterday we were married!  I guess that’s the way it’s supposed to be.  I’m am so grateful for my husband and his leadership in our family, which stems from a deep and growing devotion to God.  Perhaps that’s why I love him more today - much more - than I did 14 years ago, when we were just “kids”! 

On an even more personal note, I am still waiting and wondering what God has in store for our family, particularly in the area of increase.  :)  I pray daily that His will be done, but I do so long for another baby to fill our arms again.  I have the hope that that will be within His will.

I had no idea that time has flown so quickly.  I was again reminded of why I’ve been “gone” for so long now, when I saw my most recent post.

Our baby went to be with Jesus,  probably shortly after my OB check-up.  I had such a good report then.  But, Thursday, April 3rd, I began lightly spotting.  Which turned into more spotting on Friday.  And, by Saturday, the 5th, I knew it was over.  I won’t go into the graphic details, but when I spoke to my doctor (before my trip to the ER, because of blood loss), he said my Hcg levels were already down to 4500.  At that stage of a pregnancy (11 weeks), the levels should have been around 200,000. 

God was with us through it all.  He is ever SO faithful.  He helped me to be able to “pass” everything in mostly the one day, with really not a whole lot of physical pain.  And, my Hcg levels returned to normal by two weeks later.   So, physically, my body worked as it should have.

Emotionally, I have certainly had my ups and downs.  Phil and I have both done our share of shedding tears.  Unexpected things will trigger my weeping, too.  But, God.  Yes, He has never left my side through it all.

We wanted this baby, just as much as we’ve wanted the others.  We looked forward to growing our family again.  We anticipated what God had planned for this child, and how much our lives would change and grow because of him/her.  We DIDN’T anticipate our child being taken home before we could meet him/her!  But, our children belong to Him.  They always have, from the get-go.  And, this baby was no different.  He chose to “keep” this one, rather than allowing us to become his or her earthly parents. 

So, we don’t ask, “Why?”  Because, we don’t need to.  We have complete faith and trust in the Lord, that He knows what He’s doing.  We trust that He’ll bring continued healing to us.  We know He’s taking good care of our baby - much better than we ever could’ve, and that we’re assured to meet Baby some day!

I really just can’t get over how God provides for us. Last week we were given a SLEW of boys clothing and shoes (including some greatly-desired Crocs!). I just assumed they’d maybe be too small for my oldest two, but hopefully fit Ezra. Lo and behold, there are so many summer shorts and shirts for the OLDEST boys, I’m just so excited. God is like that.
Then, yesterday, a fellow from church brought over some groceries - things that we had been needing or CRAVING (hamburger for BURGERS - we have plenty of ground venison, but it just doesn’t make a good BURGER), potatoes, even a ready-made frozen lasagna. Now, I’m a scratch cook - I LOVE making everything from scratch. But, that lasagna will be SO helpful on an evening when there’s just been a lot going on, and who has time to cook? Twizzlers, Diet Pepsi (Phil’s fave), etc. What a blessing! And, he did this just because he thought of us while at Fareway.
It’s interesting the ways that God does provide. He doesn’t always give the breadwinner a raise, and since our breadwinner is a pastor, he probably won’t ever make six figures (just a feeling I have). But, the Lord has ALWAYS provided for our needs and even some of our wants. I don’t know if I can begin to count the ways. We praise Him for His goodness.

We had a terrifically busy weekend.  Being just a couple of months pregnant, I’m still pretty tired, though I’ve been pretty good about going to bed at a decent hour.  I’ve got 25 dozen Easter cookies to do this week, plus this evening we celebrate my nephew’s 8th birthday.  And, Auntie Sheila’s doing the cake. :) 

Last evening we had a special guest with us - Dr. Efraim Goldstein, with Jews For Jesus.  He came to our home for supper and overnight.  What a treat!  Especially, the evening service we had, which celebrated the Passover Seder, with Dr. Goldstein explaining the significance behind the Passover meal and how it relates to Jesus, as our Passover Lamb.  God certainly had (and has) the perfect plan!

Oh, and yesterday morning, Phil had the privelege of sharing at a Lenten service for several ladies (40 ladies representing 16 different churches) in Oskaloosa.  The children and I came along, and I sang “Written In Red”. 

Tomorrow…we have our first prenatal doctor’s appointment!  I’ll update then!  I’m excited.

Wow, I finally sat down and decided to create our own blog.  You see, I really enjoy reading other people’s blogs (particularly if they have to do with Jesus, family, Biblical womanhood, or homeschooling).  The purpose of our blog, however, is to basically keep an ongoing journal about the daily happenings in the lives of the Schrauben family.

I am NOT a good journal-er.  I’m pretty much making myself do this, for the sake of posterity.  I got to thinking one day about how important it is to “REMEMBER” who God is and what He’s done in our lives, and, frankly, I don’t remember very well.   Thus, the writing.  I want to glorify the Lord in all that I say and do, and I pray that my life will reflect that.  It may be that no one will ever read this blog but me, and that’s okay.  I’m not very clever, and I’m not a gifted writer - at least not of things NON-fictional.  :)  But, I do know how to blabber and gab, so beware.