Furlough, Friends and Birthdays

I am sure many of you were wondering if I was ever going to post again!  It has been a long time.  Even though furlough has been busy (we've been from MD to GA and are now visiting churches in the beautiful state of ME) and I have also been trying to finish school (and prepare for the upcoming school year), the main reason I have not posted is because I...ummm, well, I lost my password book.  I don't know why I didn't just update everything sooner - it only took me a few minutes.  Oh, well.  

It has been a difficult furlough.  All I have wanted is to be home...in Ukraine.  But it always is refreshing to meet up with our supporting churches.  We have the best!  It is overwhelming how generous they have been to us, how much they pray for us and really keep up with us.

We have enjoyed making new friends and meeting up with dear, old friends.

  

Sammy turned 4...

I went "over-the-hill" and turned 31 (how did that happen?!)

And baby Abigail *sniff* is now 1 year old!!!

This past year has sure been exciting!  But with this guy around, how couldn't it be? ;)

Wars Within and Without

It has been so long that I hardly know how to even get started blogging again!  This past year has contained so much that would to fill many blog posts, yet the ability to write seems to have completely left me.  So many blessings and so many struggles!  In our entire time here, I cannot remember a time when we have seen God work so much in the lives of the people here but I also cannot remember a time when we have been under such attack.  One of those blessings of course was our dear, baby girl ~Abigail Grace.  It truly was God's grace in giving her to us for she can bring a smile to your face no matter what you are going through.  We have had answers to prayers like co-workers and those who we've been praying for get saved.  Through all of this, there have also been struggles.  I was brought to my knees...to my face many times this past year.

It felt as if we were attacked on all sides.  On the physical side, my baby boy was brought to the emergency room before his second birthday twice.  The first time was not even 24 hours after Abigail was born.  Daniel grabbed a can out of the trash and cut his finger.  Eric brought him in and he had to have stitches.  That's no big deal - except I knew where he had brought him.  I had seen how rough the nurses were with Anna when she broke her collar bone and this time it was a different doctor who would not allow Eric to go in with him.  It made my heart faint!  To know my baby was in there with a bunch of strangers who were most likely not being very kind to him.  Eric paid them extra for the cosmetic stitches and for anesthetics.  The bandages accidentally came off one time and we noticed that they had not used cosmetic stitches but instead the cheaper stitches.  I felt sick.  Not so much at that thought, but at the possibility that they had just pocketed the couple dollars instead of giving him anesthetics to help with the pain...figuring he would cry anyways.  How I wished that Eric would have at least stayed to make sure they administered that!  I vowed NEVER to allow them to do anything else to my babies without me or Eric being there with them.  The second time was New Year's Day.  New Year's Eve Daniel had a big bruised looking bump on his leg and a high fever.  We were nervous about bringing him in especially since all of the doctor's we would trust were on holiday break, but we felt like it was serious.  When Eric got there they told him it was an infection and he needed to be brought in and have it opened and drained right away...but Eric could not go with him.  Eric said he would just fly him out to America or somewhere else then.  They said he had that right, but they did not think there was time for that.  He could tell they were getting irritated with him for not just doing what they said right away.  What a hard decision!  Just remembering makes me want to cry all over again!  After consulting with a few other people both Stateside and here in Ukraine, we agreed to do it.  How hard it is just to hand your baby over to someone else when they could not even assure you that you would ever see him again!  Originally they told Eric he could stay the night at the hospital, just not with Daniel; but when Daniel came out of surgery, they told him he had to leave.  They told him Daniel was being moved into the intensive care unit and to come in the morning with all of the other parents to find out how he was doing, they did not even take his phone number...again warning him that there was still a possibility he could die and it could be 3 days before we could see him.  I don't know if I've ever cried so hard.  All I wanted was to hold my baby - yet he was SO far from me and I did not know if I'd ever get to hold him again.  Laying there curled up, rocking - not knowing if I was going to wake up and find out my son did not make it through the night- I was brought to my breaking point.  Eric sensed it too and knew there was a good possibility that we may be heading back to the States.  It was more than a strong consideration for me, what exactly my thought process was I cannot remember.  I do know that the Lord is gracious and merciful to my frailties.  I surrendered myself and my son again to Him.  How grateful I am that God did not chose to take my baby!  And that He did not make me wait 3 days to see him!  When Eric talked to the doctor the next day they said Daniel was awake and screaming.  They were going to move him to a regular room and Eric could stay with him!  (Probably because Daniel was too much work to try to hold down in bed.  I guess he was kicking and screaming quite a bit, probably from all of the strangers and being in a strange place hooked up to IVs.)  To be honest, it is only by the mercy and grace of God that I am still here.  I am humbled that He would continue to use such a weak vessel as I.

Besides our physical trials, there have been the spiritual battles within the church.  One of the biggest of those was with Slavic and Olea, who have since left the church.

Then there are the wars without, which I am sure all of you know about.  At the moment, we have perfect peace about staying here and we are seeing God confirm that decision by blessing and answering some prayers that are closest and dearest to our hearts.  I will share those blessings and answered prayers in my next post (hopefully very soon), since this post has ended up being much longer that I intended...and MUCH more open and candid than I planned.  I think that is the biggest reason I have avoided blogging - I was afraid of sharing too much of my heart.  It's a little scary to do that, but I pray that God will use it.  I look forward to sharing with you next time how little all of this is in comparison to God's blessings.  Pray for Ukraine.  Pray for their salvation, and pray for us.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;"

II Corinthians 4:8

Daniel is 1!

January 10th, 2012

One whole year, my sweet Daniel!  It hardly seems possible, and yet it seems like you have always been a part of our lives.  I love your cute, scrunchy nose smiles, the masculine way you crawl...though you don't do that much anymore, you're growing up so quickly!  I even love your messes.  Everyone blames you for everything - even when the tree fell with no one in the room, it was Daniel's fault.  You kinda did that to yourself, though, because most of the time it was you. ;)

You were thrilled when I came in to get you singing, "Happy Birthday".  The kids were excited too - until they came out and saw that the floor was not covered in balloons, nor was there even a banner.  Anna matter-a-factly told me, it couldn't be your birthday because of those important missing items.  I am sorry, poor Daniel.  I just could not locate them.  You did not notice though, you were too thrilled about the apple oatmeal muffins waiting for you.  Oh!  How excited you were!  I wish I had recorded it!

Following breakfast, we all got dressed and headed to the mall.  The kids had plans on what we should do, but Eric and I did not decide until we got there.  The mall has a big play center on the third floor.  We started by taking a little train ride.  You are so quiet in public that I am not sure what you thought.  I know what you thought of the play place - you insisted on being held, especially after I went down the slide with you, as you seriously watched all of the noisy boys running around.

Then we did it, we broke the diet and went to McDonalds.  You had your first chicken nuggets and fries.  That, I think, made your day.

We walked around for a little while, you sleeping comfortably amongst a soft bed of coats in the back of the cart, looking for a baby gate (nice birthday present, huh. hehe).  But, there was known to be found.  Everyone just looked at us like we were crazy.  Then, we bought cake AND ice cream - much to the delight of your brother and sisters- and headed home.  When we got home, I started looking for candles and found you a balloon!  How much fun you had!  While you were playing with it, I lit the candle and we all started singing.  You were like, "Oh.  That's nice."

"Now where's my balloon?"

Until Papa blew it out and you discovered...

IT SPARKS BACK UP!!! (Surprise for Mama too.)  How intently you stared, waiting for it to spark back up!

How poorly mama captured it, but your reaction was too priceless not to share.

Time to cut you your first piece.  Mama sat waiting and ready for you to dig in so she could get some cute, messy pictures.

We all waited...

and waited...

and waited...

but there was no way you were going to dig into that!  Papa decided to take matters into his own hands as all your siblings, were by now, dying to get a piece.  The spoon didn't even get fully into your mouth before you decided, it was not for you.

Sorry, buddy (Sammy's nickname for him).  We tried.  Guess we should have stuck with the Apple Oatmeal Muffins.  We decided to go ahead and give you your present so you had something to do while we enjoyed your birthday cake and ice cream (which you didn't like either).

Lydia moved her arm up, so your face is blocked, but I LOVE the open mouth.

Happy Birthday, my baby boy!  My daily prayer is that someday I'll be rejoicing over your second birth.

Furlough Ministries

Furlough truly is a ministry.  As we travel to different churches we have noticed the great need for laborers even here in the states!  Recently when we were in Maryland, we were able to help with their VBS.  It was a privilege to be able to help.

While we were there, we got to visit with the Shulls.  Our kids had a blast together while Carole and I talked as fast as we could to get everything in.  It was like visiting with an old friend. 

As you can see, my kids enjoyed their first VBS too. :)

Amidst all of the excitement of VBS, Daniel came down with a fever of 103.9 under the arms.  We finally brought him in the 3rd day and were told that was more like 105!  They weren't sure exactly what he had, some type of infection, but they gave him antibiotics.  He is doing much better now and we appreciate everyone who prayed and helped with the cost.  Besides that, it was a great week!

Furlough ~Family~

Ask any missionary what the best part of furlough is (along with Pizza Hut, etc.) and they will probably say, spending time with family.

 {Daniel with great-grammy Grover.  Daniel was born in her basement-apartment.}

Since we went to Ukraine in 2007, this is the first time that the grandparents have really gotten to spend time with the kids.

 The kids are loving it too.  I am so glad that they will be able to have some memories with their grandparents and great grandparents.

 {Sammy with my Mimi.}

They get to have fun with the 3 older ones, then when they are tired, cuddle baby Daniel.

We cherish every moment we had with the grandparents in Maine and cherishing every moment with our sweet growing {fastly} baby boy.

 {From Great-grammy Grover's kitchen window.  Maine}

We have left the beautiful state of Maine and have started traveling {with 4 -4-under!!}.  Can't wait to see my family in June!

Baby Feet

Don't you just love them?  I can't help but kiss them every time I see them.  Sammy loves them too, but he doesn't kiss them...he says "tickle, tickle, tickle."  I love my boys and I LOVE knowing that Sammy loves his little brother.  In this picture Sammy wanted to hold the baby.  When Daniel started crying, Sammy said "Baby cry"  (sounds more like baby eye).  The kids are so in love that the girls are already praying "God, please give mommy another baby in her tummy today." Guess they don't feel like taking turns holding him and want a baby for each of them. ;)

As you've probably guessed by my lack of posting, I've been keeping pretty busy these days.  When I'm not cuddling Daniel (which is most of the time), I'm helping my husband prepare for furlough.  I kept putting off working on the presentation saying "After the baby comes I'll have plenty of time since I'll mostly be resting with the baby."  Hmmm...well, now I'm wishing I hadn't put it off.  I haven't had as much free time as I thought I would have.  Finally, the presentation is finished.  Now to start packing.  I have no clue how we're going to squeeze everything into the van.  We have already had 2 meetings and have 2 more here in Maine before we head down to VA.  I would LOVE any tips you have on traveling with kids.  Any suggestions on meals on the road?  I'm not too excited about the kids having chicken nugget happy meals all of the time.

One of my top goals before we return to our home in Ukraine was to get some books.  Since we've been home I've been the winner of two blog book giveaways!  This book I recently won and it sounds excellent and just what I need; and this book, which my husband stole before I got a chance to finish it.  And for Christmas, my husband bought me a book I've been wanting called Training Your Children to Turn Out Right by David Sorenson.  I've only read 2 chapters, but it is EXCELLENT so far.  Here are a few quotes from the book...

"God's goal for our children is not just for them to stay out of trouble.  Rather, the emphasis throughout the Word of God is to train our children from their infancy to serve the Lord..."

"The one thing that will give them (our children, and us) clear victory is the Word of God."

"Psalm 119:11...'Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.' ...I believe that the thought is to so fill our minds with God's Word that it soaks down into our hearts and begins to affect every decision we make.  The result is that we will not sin against God."

I can't wait to read the rest!  It makes so much sense and already seems like one of the best child training books.  It's not a "list"of things you can do to help your children turn out right, but ONLY the Word of God.

I had so much more I wanted to share, but sleep is calling to me...hopefully it calls to Daniel as well. ;)

Daniel's Birth

Sitting on the recliner, my little boy in arms, I stared out the frost, lined window panes at the fresh snow glistening off of the bare trees.  I was imagining a perfect photo shoot with my new little guy huddled on the windowsill.  My mind started to wander (as seems to be quite common these days) to the events surrounding Daniel's birth.  I cannot think about that night without Psalm 100:1 coming to mind - Praise ye the Lord.  O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Looking back I realize even more just how good He was. 

Things didn't go according to my plans (when will I learn not to plan??).  To start with, of course you know, he didn't come on his due date and I had LOTS of hard prelabor.  Even though I know it wasn't realistic, because of all of the prelabor, my little dreamy mind kept picturing the baby just coming...no pain, just whoop, there's the baby.  (Hey, I've heard it happening before.)  It ended up being a very long, painful labor.  The midwife came that morning and decided to visit friends nearby until that evening...unless we called her sooner.  I had been having contractions since the day before, and even though they were still irregular, they were gradually increasing in length and strength.  I was frustrated and felt like we were getting nowhere.  Later that evening as she was on her way back over, my water broke.  About 5 minutes after she arrived, Daniel was born.  I remember feeling guilty that I was too exhausted to hold my baby.  Meanwhile, the midwife had noticed that Daniel's umbilical cord was already broken.  She, Eric and her daughter quickly worked to clamp his cord and also the one hanging from the placenta.  Her daughter put something awful tasting in my mouth while her mom worked to get Daniel, who was turning whiter by the minute, warm and breathing regularly.  Afterwards, while examining the placenta, they said that they were surprised by how short the cord was and that the placenta had torn just a little.  We are guessing that the cord broke during delivery.  We are praising the Lord that the midwife was there and that even amidst all of the "complications", God allowed everything to go so smoothly.  It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)

 It is taking me a little longer than usual to get back to normal, but both Daniel and I are doing well.  The Lord is good and His timing truly is perfect!

Our Miracle

Daniel Mark Curtis
Born: Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Time: 8:45 PM

Weight: 7 lbs 12 oz

Length: 21 inches

(Eric liked the color, so I thought I'd share both.)