Changes

We have a lot of changes coming up here in the Schulte household.  If you've followed my blog at all you know that change is very hard for me.  Its scary, daunting, and just plain not- fun.  Some people love change. They love the exhilaration and newness. Those same people love traveling to distant countries and jumping out of airplanes. But I am not that person. I like to stay in the land of comfortable and familiar with my feet safely planted on the ground.

In one week (hopefully), we are moving. We are moving to a place that makes me a little uncomfortable. Okay, it makes me really uncomfortable. In this town, we will definitely be the minority. The city is made up predominately of refugees--people who have fled their home countries because of war and violence and have found refuge here in the US. When you drive off the freeway into this small suburb, you are instantly met with hundreds of languages, colors, attire, and cultures. It is amazing and sad at the same time. Amazing because of the incredible opportunity this is for the Gospel to go forth to the nations. Essentially, the nations have come to us! Its sad because of the brokenness and separation it represents. These people are ripped away from everything they've ever known and held dear, only to be plopped here in the middle of Georgia and told "Find a job, make money, learn English. Good luck!" (This is a steep exaggeration, but I'm sure it feels similar to them).  My little family has felt God nudging us toward living here for about two years now. The time has finally come for us to step out on faith and obey. We are moving to an apartment complex that is 85% Refugees with no other agenda than to make friends, love our neighbors, and by God's grace make His name great. Seems simple enough, huh? Please pray for us as we embark on this journey.

Sweet friends who will now be neighbors!

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

Psalm 86:9

Our next big endeavor is Michael's new job. We are overjoyed that God has graciously given Michael the desire of his heart to be a sixth grade teacher. Not only that, but he will be teaching at his "dream school" which is a classical charter school in Atlanta. He believes whole-heartedly in the classical education model--of educating the whole person--head, heart, and hands and pruning students to  search for Truth even amidst the confusing and false doctrines of our modern culture. This is a desire we prayed specifically for (this exact school and everything) just last year, so we are beyond humbled to see how the Lord has provided. But with this new job comes many new changes. A new commute, new (very long) hours, lesson plans, learning classroom management, coaching basketball (yeah!), and just the newness of being a teacher for the very first time. I am so proud of my husband and I am confident that God will use him greatly in training up a new generation of warriors.

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 

Psalm 78:4

And finally, we're having a baby in September! This is not new news, of course. But as every week zooms by, I'm feeling the crunch. I am beyond excited and I long to hold our sweet baby boy in my arms, but with all these other changes on the horizon, I'm also feeling afraid. My sweet, adorable one year old is very demanding. The thought of having a new baby that needs to nurse every two hours on top of a demanding toddler, on top of a new apartment where a lot of people don't speak English, on top of a husband who is at work more than I'm used to...well there you have it. I'm afraid. But in these moments of doubt, worry and probably a few hormones thrown in the mix--I have to remember Jesus. I have to remember that when I think about all my future problems and worries, I usually forget to add my precious Jesus to the equation. He will never leave. He will never forsake. He will ask us to do hard things. And He will provide a way. All for His glory. His renown. His namesake. 

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. 

Isaiah 40:11

We are grateful for your prayers as we begin a new chapter! May His Name be made great!

July 15, 2012

This is a "throw-back" post to a blog I wrote a few days after Michael and I got engaged. Three years ago today I became the future Mrs. Schulte and I've never regretted saying YES!

An Evening to Remember
This past week has been overwhelmingly beautiful.  If words would suffice, I could surely write an entire novel.  For those of you who have not heard, my sweet Michael traveled 7,000 miles across the world to ask me to be his bride.  He braved 36 hours of travel, delayed flights, and lots of security checkpoints to finally get to me.  A small portrait of the way my Heavenly Prince pursues me.

Our week together was rich to say the very least! I absolutely loved having him here in my China home with my China family.  I have often dreamed of sitting in baby nurseries with him and watching him with the children who have stolen my heart.  I never knew if that dream would come true.  I think I spent the first three days of his trip in a state of constant teary-ness, overwhelmed by the faithfulness of my God.

On Sunday, we went for an afternoon picnic on river paddle boats.  It was a wonderful start to a wonderful evening.  Afterwards, he told me to dress up as much as I'd like because he had something planned for the evening.  He led me up to the rooftop, one of my favorite spots in the entire building.  It is on this rooftop where I have experienced some of my highest of highs and lowest of lows.  It is here that I have wrestled with the Lord morning after morning and found that He often speaks most clearly in painful circumstances. This rooftop is very special to me.  We turned the corner to find a beautiful scene displayed.  White table cloths, a beautiful bouquet of roses, and dozens of candles swaying in the wind.  Instrumental hymns of adoration and worship were playing gently in the background.  Tears spilled down my face as "Great is Thy Faithfulness" created the undertone for the evening. Truly, He is so faithful!

We sat at the table and he filled our glasses with sparkling cider.  Soon, my sweet friends Rebecca and Mariah appeared.  Rebecca was taking photos and Mariah was serving our homemade meal.  I was once again overcome with emotion to see what lengths these precious ones had gone to simply to serve me.  After a delicious meal of lasagna, bread, and salad, Michael asked me if I wanted to dance.  So there, on the rooftop of the Big Blue House, we put our ballroom dancing skills into action...and we danced.

Soon, Michael whispered in my ear that he had something else to show me.  We walked back around the corner to find two chairs with a small table in the middle.  The lighting was soft and a single white rose waited in my chair.  I sat down and Michael pulled a small bag from under the table.  In the bag was a letter that he read out loud.  Oh friends, Jesus Christ truly does write the sweeter song! His way truly is best! He is the author of romance and a love story scripted by Him can be nothing less than breathtaking.  Before I knew it, my Michael was down on one knee holding the most beautiful ring I've ever seen.  And there, on the rooftop of the Big Blue House, he asked me to be his bride.  And I've never been more overjoyed to let out a resounding y-e-s! 

Over the past three years, I have been pursued by a man who loves Jesus more than he will ever love me.  I have watched him give of himself over and over for the sake of those around him.  He has been cautious to guard my heart, prayerfully mulling over each and every word he speaks to me.  He begged Jesus to set the pace of our relationship from day one and has adhered to His gentle voice even when the world said to move faster.  He has treated me as a delicate flower worth protecting.  He has fought for me in prayer more times than I am even aware of.  He has sought counsel from older men in order to gain as much wisdom as possible.  He goal is to bring maximum glory to Jesus Christ, and it has been evident in each step of his pursuit of me.  

I know Jesus better because I have been pursed and loved by Michael.  I have been inspired to chase Jesus with more passion, more abandon, and more faith.  I have seen a small picture of my Heavenly Prince's love for me and how he fights ceaselessly for my heart.

Jesus has been so good to us.  To be here in this Big Blue House that has forever stolen my heart, with my precious kiddos and my sweet China family...I could not imagine a better way to enter into this next season of life.  Jesus Christ is the dream giver and the dream fulfiller.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Psalm 103:1

The Hat

When I say that John Hudson loves his hat, it really is an understatement.  I'm pretty sure he has worn it in some form or fashion every day since mid-May. We wear it in our pajamas, we wear it naked, and we wear it fully clothed.  We wear it in the morning, during meal times, out to play, and until bed time.  We wear it at home, around the neighborhood, in the grocery store, and at church.  We play cooking in it, we watch fireworks in it, we pick Daddy up at the airport in it, and we read the Bible in it. We wear it at the pool, we wear it with our sunglasses, we wear it on long car trips. 

All I can say is its the best $7 I've ever spent.  And I'm so glad he has a hat to love. :)

Cooking

Watching Fireworks

He loves big rocks almost as much as his hat!

Picking up Daddy at the airport

Photo bombing Mommy's weekly pregnancy picture

Reading the Bible

Riding in the car

Cooking again

Showing off his hat to strangers at the pool

Hats are so fun :)

Beach Beauty

We've spent the last week at our beloved St. Simons Island.  It has been a wonderful time of rest, relaxation, and refreshment.  We are so very thankful for the time.  We came down last Saturday and left John Hudson with my parents while we came over to the beach for two nights!  It was my first nights away from him.  He passed with flying colors.  According to my parents, he waved goodbye to us and then never really stopped smiling. Michael and I were so grateful to get to celebrate our second anniversary and "baby moon" on the island alone, but we sure were glad when our little boy was back in our arms!

Our daily routine at the beach looked something like this:
8am- Wake up
8-10 am- Nurse JH, eat breakfast, play inside
11ish am- Beach!
1:30pm- Get clean, eat lunch
2pm- John Hudson naps
3pm- Coffee Time, reading on the porch, adult nap time, catch up on emails, etc
4pm- JH wakes up, maybe take a short stroll around the block
6pm- Dinner at home
7pm- Bike ride, trip to the playground, or wagon ride
8:30pm- Bed time for everyone under 2
9pm- Watch something edifying
11pm- Bedtime for all!

It was pretty perfect if you ask me.  And John  Hudson fell into this little routine very quickly.  I had been a little concerned with how well he would sleep away from home, but after all the activity he was practically begging for bed!

Now for some photos :)  It is such a blessing to have my Dad aka Resident Photographer around during these special times.  He did a great job capturing the moments...and John Hudson's sweet personality!

We're a little obsessed with our new hat :)

Gotta start the frisbee training early!

Mommy and Daniel enjoyed the beach!

A little yoga on the beach...

Priceless

This boy prefers BIG toys

John Hudson's daily transportation to the beach

The whole family

The sea is His, for he made it, and His hands formed the dry land.  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 

Psalm 95:5-6

A Day in the Life of a Semi-Newbie Essential Oiler

I've been using essential oils for seven months.  To say we love them is an understatement.  I'll admit, it did take me a couple months to become confident in using them daily, but now that I do, I can't imagine going back.  A good friend if mine will be traveling internationally this summer and recently asked me which oils she should bring along. As I compiled her list, I wondered how I ever traveled on airplanes, crowded buses, and sleeper trains without my oils! Haha!

I know a lot of people who have told me they are interested in using oils, but simply have no idea where to begin.  I hear ya.  It can be overwhelming! So, I decided to do a post where I just go through my day and write down the oils that I used. Feel free to email me with any questions or ideas!

 Trying to get out the door by 8am with a little one is no easy task.  Many mornings, I use this dry shampoo spray recipe to make my hair look like its been washed :)  Adding a few drops of joy to my mixture makes it smell refreshing and well, happy!

My lavender & coconut oil mixture is essential.  Its super easy to make (just whip some coconut oil and add lavender) and very versatile.  I use this as moisturizer on my legs and feet after showering. *Tip* I've found that if you rub the coconut oil on while your legs are still a little wet, it doesn't feel as greasy.  We also use this for John Hudson's diaper rash and bedtime moisturizer.

This lovely picture represents me putting purification on my zits. I just put a drop on my finger and apply it directly to any zits or blemishes. After a day, I usually notice a big difference.  Purification is also a must-have in our cloth diaper pail--just put a few drops on a cotton ball and throw it in.  Also used daily on a cotton ball in Michael's tennis shoes. Oh, and in our homemade, baby-friendly bug spray.

We've been using this allergy trio daily here lately.  I mixed peppermint, lavender, and lemon with grapeseed oil in a roller bottle.  We roll it on our temples, sinuses, and behind ears. Michael especially struggles with seasonal allergies and has gotten a lot of relief using this trio.

I love my panaway. I have always struggled with shoulder and neck pain and being pregnant only makes it worse.  I dilute panaway with grapeseed oil in my roller bottle and just roll it directly on my neck and shoulders when I'm in pain.  Although it doesn't always take the pain away completely (depending on how severe it is), it always takes the edge off.

I love adding a drop of lime, lemon and my recent favorite, orange oil to my water.  It gives it just enough flavor to keep me sipping all day.  Just be sure to use a glass container when using oils in your water!

Doesn't it feel so wonderful to finally crawl into bed after a long day? It feels even better when your sheets smell refreshing and calming.  I love spraying my sheets with lavender each night.  I just fill this 2 oz spray bottle with water, add a few drops of lavender (I think I started with 10 drops and then increased until I was satisfied with the smell) and a dash of witch hazel (to disperse the oils).  This also makes a great gift!

SLEEPY CREAM! If I never used my oils for anything else, THIS STUFF would make having them worth it!  We use this cream on John Hudson's feet every single night.  In fact, its the sleepy cream that got us hooked on essential oils in the first place.  I can tell a huge difference in his sleep patterns.  Its also been a huge help to my mom, grandmother, and other friends with young children. We love sleepy cream!

So, there you have it.  Of course, there are many other ways I use my oils--sore throats, coughs, sun screen, sticky-stuff remover, etc.  But this is just a typical day.  The other cool part is that most of the oils I use on a daily basis are included in the premium starter kit! Its a great deal. 

Stay tuned for the next oily post: What oils are in my diaper bag? 

 

Spring Sprinkles

Spring has officially sprung.  Actually, we're moving into summertime temperatures here if you ask me.  But for a few glorious weeks, we were able to have our porch door open all day.  John Hudson thought it was wonderful being able to come and go from the porch whenever he pleased.  And our power bill was half of what it usually is!  

I absolutely love spring. I love the brisk mornings, the signs of new life in the flowers and trees, the chirping birds, and the smell of wild honeysuckles.  You really can't beat the majesty of spring and all that it brings.  Such refreshment and awe. 

I wanted to record a quick story about sprinkles. I love sprinkles.  We had sprinkle-filled cake at our wedding and were showered with sprinkles upon leaving.  I like to put sprinkles on my icecream at every occasion. I just think they are so delightful.  They don't really add anything to the taste, but they just make you happy, ya know? All those little colored sticks of joy!  I like sprinkles metaphorically, too.  Meaning, the little things in life that just make you happy.  The little smiles, hugs, winks, and for-no-reason gifts.  I pray that my life will be characterized by sprinkles.  There is always something I can do for someone that can make their day a little happier than it was before.

A few weeks ago, God showered us with sprinkles at the hands of our loving neighbors.  For weeks, I had been telling Michael that I wanted to buy some flowers for our porch.  We budgeted how much we could afford to spend and I was all set.  Except that work, a funeral, a wedding, and various other tasks kept preventing me from going to the plant store.  I did find a hanging basket at Aldi for pretty cheap, but I desired some real, plant-in-flower-pot kind of flowers.  And time was ticking away!  Every time I looked out on our porch, I was reminded of the flowers I was not enjoying.

Then one Sunday afternoon, literally within 30 minutes of me saying yet again how I'd like some flowers, the doorbell rang.  It was our sweet neighbors...holding an entire flat of marigolds.  My mouth fell open. "We brought you some flowers!" They exclaimed.  But? What? Huh? How did you know?  They didn't know. But they said that every time they walked by our apartment, that empty flower pot was staring at them, haha! Oh, what sweet and thoughtful friends!

Thank you, sweet Lord for the gift of flowers, friends, and sprinkles.  This was just a small reminder that YOU love us, YOU care for us, and YOU hear even the tiniest desires of our hearts. 

How can we be a blessing to someone else today?

"Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."  Luke 12:27

A Tribute to my Mom (from 2011)

In honor of Mother's Day, I decided to repost this tribute I wrote back in 2011 when I was in China.  I still feel the exact same way about this amazing woman and even more so now that I'm also a Mama.

 

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. 

Proverbs 31: 30-31

My Mama.  Oh. how I wish words could express  the depths of love and adoration I have for this woman I call Mama. She is a true gem--a pearl of great value. One in a million. A lily among thorns.  And I thank my King every single day for blessing me with this precious gift.  You see, she's not just my Mama.  She's my best friend.  This relationship is a gift that many mothers and daughters long for..  I am so thankful.

Memories from my childhood are infiltrated with sweet thoughts of this precious woman.  She used to sit on the front porch of my playhouse for hours while I played inside.  She was the official "babysitter" for all my "children".  I played by myself pretty well, but I just liked knowing she was there.  Her presence brought comfort.  So hour by hour she would sit. 

I remember snuggling up in my bed after a long day and she would read stories to Luke and me before bedtime.  We would close our eyes and just listen.  I'm sure she still had tons of household chores to do after we went to bed, but I never remember bedtime being rushed.  It was always a sacred time of "I love yous" and snuggles.  (Truth be told, I still like her to tuck me in when I'm home...folks, I'm almost 21 years old! That can be our little secret!).

I remember my Mama being the "Class Mom" in my elementary school classes.  She would show up every Wednesday afternoon to volunteer.  She would usually sit in a corner and cut out things or staple papers, and I loved every second of just knowing she was nearby.

One time, in particular, I remember I desperately wanted to stay up and watch a meteor shower.  (I probably didn't even know what a meteor shower was at that point!) But it sounded cool.  It was a really really cold night, and after a few hours of begging, she gave in.  We got our sleeping bags and headed out to the driveway.  It snuggled up and waited...and waited...and waited.  Never saw that meteor shower, but I still remember that night.  I'm sure the last thing Mom really wanted to do was sit out in the bitter cold to watch the stars...but she did it anyways!

I love my Mama for all these memories.  I am thankful for every sacrifice she made and every tear she has  shed on behalf of her children.  But most of all, I am thankful that my Mama showed me Him.  You know, I really have no idea if I would know Him like I do now if it weren't for my sweet Mama.  Her prayers, her example, her words, her songs, her sweet spirit, her hospitality, her joy, her kindness...she has been HIM to me.  She raised me to KNOW Him and to love Him...and now she has loved me enough to let me FOLLOW Him.  Even if that means that I have to go very very very far away.  Thank you, Mama, for loving Him enough...and for loving me enough...to let me follow Him.  Your support and blessing mean the world to me.  

My Mama always says, "Remember, you have a Mama who prays for you every single day."  Oh, the power of a praying Mama!

Happy Mother's Day to the best Mama in the whole wide world. 

I love you mostest

Our Birthday Boy

This post is only about two months overdue, but never too late.  Ladies and gentlemen, we have a big one-year-old at our house!  He's as active as ever, cruising around wherever he pleases, and loves to hold kitchen spatulas and big sticks.

John Hudson's first birthday was a joy! We celebrated with all of our family at Michael's parents' house.  JH loved being the center of attention and he loved his cake.  Love is not a strong enough word for how he felt about his cake, actually.  I used this recipe minus the berry filling.  We sweetened with maple syrup and ta-da! Grain free, sugar free birthday cake fit for a king.  I was a little worried about the cake having 6 eggs since John Hudson had an allergic reaction to eggs before, but he did great.

We were shocked at the amount of cake he consumed.  This was after eating a full meal at dinner, too!

John Hudson started walking at almost 13 months.  Now that he's almost 14 months, he's getting around very easily.  He loves his newfound freedom, especially in huge crowds.  I'm thinking a leash might be a good investment (just kidding, not really...).  He also loves pretending to talk on cell phones! It is adorable.  Grammie got him his own "cell phone" for his birthday and its been a huge hit.  He jabbers and carries on as if someone is really on the line. 

Did I mention that John Hudson loves kitchen spatulas and big sticks?  Oh, and rocks. A gravel driveway is his paradise.  Our kitchen spatulas and wooden spoons are strewn all over the house.  One morning, he held onto a wooden spoon all morning, took it on our morning walk, slept for 2 hours in his crib and ate lunch all without letting go.  Pretty impressive.  He would do the same with huge sticks if I would let him have them in the house! Sweet little boy.

God is still teaching us a lot about disciplining John Hudson.  Some days are so delightful and some days are just so difficult.  He is testing us at every corner to see if we mean what we say.  We pray that God will continue to give us perseverance and wisdom as we train him up.  We are so very thankful for the godly families God has placed in our lives that can help us navigate this journey.  Proverbs 23:13-14 is pretty clear:  Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

John Hudson is becoming more of a picky eater, unfortunately.  He'll eat anything if its covered with sweet potatoes or butternut squash.  Or bananas.  We do let him enjoy these favorites weekly, but we're also trying to widen his palate.  For breakfast, JH usually has a banana and a piece of apple gate nitrate free breakfast sausage.  We are hoping to try eggs again soon (but I'm chicken!...no pun intended). Mid-morning he usually drinks a smoothie containing 1/2 banana, a few pieces of frozen fruit, our beloved raw milk kefir, and tons of coconut oil.  For lunch, JH loves avacado, nitrate free sandwich meat, cheese, or leftovers from the night before.  Dinner is usually just whatever we're having minus grains, beans, and sugar.  It's so great being able to feed him whatever we're having, but whether he'll actually eat it is another story.  But, we're discovering that he will eat when he gets hungry enough.  So if he refuses to eat at dinner, he must sit "quietly" while Michael and I eat.  If he seems hungry at bed time then he is offered the same food as dinner.  Sometimes he will eat, sometimes he will not.  But we want to encourage an attitude of joy and thankfulness at meal times, whether he loves the food or not.  

Our current schedule changes pretty much weekly because John Hudson and I are still going to Mommy and Me between 3-5 days a week.  The school year will be ending soon and I'm hoping to get on more of a routine.  But a "typical" day runs like this:

7-7:30- Wake up and nurse
            Eat Breakfast
8:15- Leave for M&M
10:30- Drink Smoothie from sippy cup
12:45- Arrive home, eat lunch if not already sleeping
12:45-2:45- Much needed nap
3-      Eat lunch if didn't before
3-5:45- Play, play, play! Sometimes eat a small snack
5:45- Daddy comes home; eat dinner
6:30-7:30- Playtime with Daddy, evening walk
7-7:30- Bath time
8- Read, sing, pray, nurse, night night! 

As you can see, on Mommy & Me days JH only takes one nap.  I'm not sure if this will stay the same when we're home all day or if he'll fall back into the two nap-a-day routine.  Either way is fine with me as long as he's rested!

You can also see that we're only nursing at morning and night now.  Its very bittersweet for me to be weaning, but I'm also thankful that it has been pretty easy to do, so far.  He never asks to nurse during the day anymore.  Our morning nursing sessions are very sweet because normally I'm already up and have coffee and I can read my Bible and meditate while he nurses and dozes (sometimes for 30 minutes if we have time!).  I hope to have this sweet time for a few more months.  

What a wonderful year it has been! We pray for many, many more years with our sweet boy.  He has taught us more already than we'll ever be able to teach him. Thank you, Lord, for this precious blessing!