Closed Door

This is the email I sent out today, on my birthday:

Hi All,

Last night Jonny got a phone call confirming that he did not get the job.  We are bummed, but know God has a plan.  We're just not sure what it is! 

A couple days ago a friend reminded us of something Pastor Rob always says:  God's past faithfulness demands our present trust.  Also that with a closed door, God could be saving us from something and for something else. 

A verse from someone else:  "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."
1 Peter 5:10

This morning another friend emailed this verse which was very encouraging: 
"You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are  pleasures forevermore." Ps 16:11

Thanks again for your prayers!  Much love,

Eli!

Here's a look at Eli:

That's my handsome boy!

Sweet big brother!

Ready to go!

And there he goes!!!

Zeke!

Zeke turned five months last Friday.  Ooopps, I'm a little behind in my blogging.  Plus our camera officially broke, so I had to borrow our neighbor's camera to get his five month shot.  

Anyway, he's wonderful.  Cute, chubby chipmunk cheeks. Smells heavenly.  Since all of this craziness has been going on in our life, Zeke has not been sleeping well.  AT. ALL!!  He came out of the womb a great sleeper, so now I'm a little frustrated having been spoiled with such a good sleeper from the get-go.  He's had a fever twice now- last month and then last weekend.  We had a little scare because he was wobbling a lot and his eyes were rolling back.  I had him in the Ergo, so I quickly (and frantically) got him out and brought him to Jonny.  He continued to act strange for a little bit, but after we changed his position he was better.  We think he was just extremely fatigued and his muscles couldn't handle him being upright.  His fever broke Sunday, but he's still pretty fussy.  He requires his Mama to hold him all the time.  Also, Zeke has been super stiff & ridged since about March.  I call him Mr. Stiff Legs.  My other babies were so bendy and easy to hold, but this little guy is so stiff!  Other than that he's a perfect normal little Oelkers boy.  (Except the crooked head thing, but that is getting better.  And FYI:  nobody is allowed to say his head is crooked except me and Jonny.  :)  )  Noah got him laughing harder than I've ever seen him laugh the other day.  It was super cute- wished our camera wasn't broken.  He's still loving to suck on his two, sometimes three, fingers.  Also instead of a pacifier, he likes to have a "chewy"- a rag to suck/chew on.  I'm sure that will look and smell icky once he starts eating real food!  Love, love, love this boy to pieces!  

But seriously Mr. Zekers!  Pa-leease sleep at night!  I'm already stressed... I need SLEEP!

PRAY!

Lots of unkown in our world lately!  I've alluded to some of our uncertainty but haven't had the time to elaborate.  Since mid April we've been prayfully considering a big change that would have us possibly moving up near Turner for a season of more ministry involvement.  I was especially wrestling through that one because of my love for our church, our friends, our neighbors and the community here being so great to raise children in.  This all came to a halt two weeks ago when Jonny found out that because of budget cuts, there is a great possibility that he will loose his job for next year.  There are so many details I could share about that day (God is SO GOOD!) but I don't have the time.  All that to say, Jonny is having his first interview today!  It's a two part interview.  We covet all the prayers we can get!  Here is the latest email update I sent out:

Hi Friends,
I didn't realize how many emails would follow that original email prayer request, so thank you for putting up with all my requests for prayer in our uncertain future.  :)  That said, Jonny has an interview at North Albany Middle School today at 2pm, and we would love to have it all covered in prayer.  Saturday we had a funny little coincidence.  After Eli's soccer game, Jonny went to shake hands with the other coach, and he recognized her from the North Albany Middle School web page.  She is one of the other science teachers!  Strange... 

This verse has been on Jonny's heart for months, before all of this uncertainty began:
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." -Ephesians 2:10
Its so comforting to know that the Lord has it all prepared and that we do not have to worry because it will all fall into His perfect plan. 
"A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."  -Proverbs 16:9

Thank you for your prayers!

Exhausted

So exhausted.  My mind, soul, emotions, body- all exhausted.  The last 33 days have been an interesting journey.  My mind has been in a hazy fog running and re-running scenarios.  I've been murmuring little prayers throughout my days.  Tears.  Zeke has not been sleeping well the last 16 days.  But God has sprinkled in some of His wonderful grace.  I could write a really long post, but I won't because like I said, I'm exhausted.  We've been living in the land of making big decisions.  Future unknown.  Then five days ago, the Lord threw an unexpected twist into the mix.  Now the future is even more unknown.  What's funny is that our future is really always unknown, but we (especially me!) like to plan and think we know what's coming.  How does that verse go? 
"A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."  -Proverbs 16:9

 I've been reading this scripture to the boys every morning (okay, most mornings).  It brings comfort to my soul:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.  

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;   

For You are with me;  

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  

You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.   

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me   

All the days of my life;  

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever."  ~Psalm 23

Siah!

Siah turned TWO yesterday!!  We loved on our precious little sweetness all day.  When I heard him start to wake up, Eli, Jonny and I went in to his room to sing Happy Birthday and bury him in balloons.  He was a little confused and wanted me to hold him, but after a bit he wanted back in his crib to play!  Siah had mickey mouse pancakes, gifts from brothers, played outside, had cake with friends at the park, and more cake with our neighbors after dinner!  It was a simple, but sweet celebration.  Here are some pictures of our precious boy:

Noah!

Here's a look at Noah:

Noah & Mommy's Ice Cream Date!

Snoozing next to a little brother.

Noah loves sensory activities!

Noah's favorite fort to build.