I got the job!

Yes! Thank you for all your prayers and references! I start tomorrow -- I'll keep you "posted!" ...get it? "posted" (lol)

Returning to the workforce

...so tomorrow I get to interview for a job. Wow, it has been such a long time! I've been working at home for so long -- will I remember how to talk to adults?!

Proehl's enjoy some snow!

full house

This is not a joke, I promise! The other day I was upstairs by the youth room at church. I was already talking to my friends Jill V. and Jen B. and Jill S., when my other friend named Jill B. walked up to join us. Just then someone walked by and said, "Look! It's three Jill's and two Jen's -- a full house!"

Don't make me get the claw!

So last week I had surgery, and Dave did a great job of taking care of me and the kids. Talk about super Dad! I'm thankful to report that I'm back at home and starting to look and feel a lot better. In fact,

recuperating from surgery has taken on a whole new twist since the Hurley's loaned me "the claw!" Now instead of staring and weeping at the phone or remote I just dropped on the floor I can simply grab it -- oh the power of being self-sufficient again! My favorite claw moment was when Dave was sitting by me, peacefully watching TV, when he was suddenly startled by THE CLAW! Dun dun dun!

cool church radio

Okay, so I know Dave doesn't have red hair! But other than that I can't get over the likeness of this picture and my handsome fella as he records radio with his buddies!

It's called Cool Church Radio -- it's on KPAM AM 860, 7am on Sundays. It's so...fun! Really! Dave makes me laugh anyway, but some of the things he says on this program! "Oh my!"

But seriously friends, in the same way you always come to me shaking your head as if to say, "Can't you control what Dave says?" I reply to you, same as always,

"Why do y'all keep giving him the mic?!?"

All Grace

With great fondness I remember the "always full" baby bottles that my little sisters and I played with, faithfully feeding those baby dolls. Do you remember those? They would appear to empty when you tilted them, then magically refill when you set them upright again. For a five-year old it was truly amazing!

In this great book I'm reading (Kitchen Table Counseling, by Muriel L. Cook & Shelly Cook Volkhardt)they use this type of "magic bottle" in a great illustration on grace.

...And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

After reading 2 Corinthians 9:8 the authors use a mental picture:

"Think of God's grace as if it were in a bottle. Every time something happens and you think I can't take this, I want you to take that bottle of God's grace and pour it out on that situation saying, 'I have enough grace for this.' But when you stand the bottle back up, picture it full. God has promised that His grace would be abundant, more than enough. It will take time to break the cycle of responding the way you have, but if you face it with the truth of the "All All" verse, you will put into practice a godly perspective on your circumstances."

For a forty-three year old it is truly amazing!

Beautiful Autumn Colors

So, for fun, let's list those things that turn red in the fall:

the apples...

the leaves...

my HAIR?!

(Yikes! I forgot that when you cover over blond highlights with brown color it turns and interesting shade of ... autumn red let's call it.)

What a Handsome Guy!

Here's my handsome fella at a wedding earlier this fall!

These Are Generous Times!

In the midst of this season of "Economic Hardship" that everyone talks about we got to witness a piece of refreshing news.

We went out to eat at Sayler's Old Country Kitchen (we finally got around to using the gift certificates that T.Michael won for us in the "Abundant Life Cruise In" last summer!) -- and we thought that was lucky enough. But then when we got to the restaurant, we noticed a news crew & asked what was going on.

It turns out that earlier that day a young waitress was serving a family that comes in fairly regularly (so they've gotten to know each other) and these generous people offered to pay her college tuition! Wow!

These are generous times!

And be thankful.

Have you ever noticed it's hard to be thankful when you're worried? Near impossible I'd say! Yet God's word says:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I think worry can be as contagious as a cold germ or a critical attitude -- it's so easy to catch it from others!

fire drills

I failed "Fire Drill" as an Educational Assistant today...the special person I was in charge of, um, wouldn't leave the building! Yikes! What a day!

Story by T.Michael

One day things atackt the world.

The things that "atackt" include:giant ant, man-eating crocodile, evil angel, man-eating ant-eater, & acid-poop producing baby! (Just when you thought it was safe!)

Airplane!

There's a big airplane bringin' home my man today! Dave returns from a conference in Atlanta and we are eager to see him!

family in ministry

When Dave became a Pastor, we became a family in ministry. And as Mom in this family, one of the most challenging goals I strive for is to make and keep our home a refuge. That means I'm careful how I talk about church, how I react to Dave's long hours (how else is he to work with the volunteers who come in after their own long day's work?), and how much expectation I put on these awesome children of mine.

Well last Thursday the kids really wowed me! It was one of those days when the "shoulds" dramatically outweighed the "want to's." In addition to the every-day life things we needed to do, Dave was working late at worship rehearsal, we had a friend to go see in the hospital, and then a missionary from Africa to visit who would only be available that very night to share...it was a lot to ask of little kids who had already done great at their own job (school).

So what "wowed" me? After we visited our friend in the hospital we ran into a family waiting for their Dad to get out of surgery. We all recognized each other as they used to attend our church. As we were leaving I offered to pray with them and I was so glad they accepted. As we circled around and held hands to pray, my children stepped up and joined hands with them also, and we all prayed together.

When we got into the van I thanked the kids for their patience, and for the care they showed the family we ran into in the waiting room. "No need to thank us Mom," McKenzie replied, "It's what we do!"

It's an honor to be a family in ministry.

Intercession

I feel most challenged when praying for my friends in India who are under such terrifying persecution -- beaten, families threatened, churches and houses burned down -- and other things we really can't imagine or relate to.

Certain things are obvious I could pray for, you might think. But it never seems enough, or complete...the closest I can get to feeling like I'm on the right track is when I read (and then pray on behalf of my friends) 2 Thes 2&3:

...May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

(Now this part I've changed a little to pray on their behalf)

Finally, brothers, I pray for you that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

And I pray that you may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one...

May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

I found a million dollars today!

...of course it was a religious tract, but still! There I was minding my own business, cooking dinner, when I reached for the salad spinner and what did I find inside? (Some real Mommy-treasures, let me tell ya!)

the million dollar bill already mentioned

piggy bank with a few coins in it

little black match box race car

pretend cap-gun

and a 1 inch, bank-robbin' Mr. Potato Head!

Wow! What a cool Mommy moment! I love having a 7 year old boy!

new job

Great news: After applying a few different places - I have a job! Yay! I'll be subbing for Educational Assistants in our school district. I got fingerprinted and everything. Whew!

It's interesting how things in life such as job-hunting can really tempt me to go through a sort of identity crisis -- causing me to ask questions like:
Who am I? What do I have to offer? Where do I belong? How will I fit in?

But then I was reminded how simple a life centered on Christ can be! If I keep my eyes on Him and what He wants from me...and for me. More of Him, less of me -- even (or should I say "especially") in the simple, every-day matters of life.

I need only be identified as His. How? Well, in John 13 Jesus says to His friends:

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Another summer gone, already?

A lot of times people will say something like, "I bet you're looking forward to school starting?!!" I know they are just making small talk, but I always answer the same: "Me? No, not yet!"

The author L.M. Montgomery sums it up best when her character Anne of Ingleside(Anne is all grown up and has her own fun kids)says:

"What a happy summer this has been," thought Anne...and then recalled with a little pang something she had heard Aunt Highland Kitty of the Upper Glen say once..."the same summer will never be coming twice."

Never quite the same. Another summer would come...but the children would be a little older and Rilla would be going to school..."and I'll have no baby left," thought Anne sadly.

Proehl Family Summer