Welcome to the Scharrer family's real life story! Most of our story is written for, and about, our four kids and the spice they add to our lives. It's our story of happiness, craziness, and sometimes ridiculousness. We've journaled through childbirth, the terrible two's, private school (and our public school experience), an autism diagnosis, medical school, residency, and long-term mission work in Africa.

Now we're following a new adventure, which involves a 45 foot motorcoach, homeschool, and as many ski slopes as we can go down in one year.

For posts from while we were living in Zimbabwe and updates about our future plans in Zimbabwe, please see our mission blog...

www.ourzimbabwejourney.blogspot.com.





02 September 2015

Moving Day

Moving day came quick.  Even though I had been packing and preparing things here and there for the move for weeks, I wasn't emotionally prepared to see our belongings leave a house I loved and move to an unfamiliar place.
 







The hospital put us up in a hotel for two nights while are things were being moved.  It was great to spend the day swimming in the hotel rather than packing and lifting, but there was some guilt, too.  I felt bad having someone else come and pack up, clean up, and move us, however, since Erik was out of town for the week, it was very nice not to have to do it alone.
 We woke up very early on the second day to meet the movers at the new house.  I had to be there to direct the boxes and furniture to the right rooms.  We woke before it was light and arrived at the new house in time for a quick breakfast in the new dining room!
 After the movers came and went, the real fun began!  Unpacking boxes is not my favorite thing to do.  I felt like we would never get things organized and put away.



 After the boys tried out the new jacuzzi tub, they were blowing bubbles in the tile entryway while I unpacked some more boxes.  From down the hallway, I heard a big smack and then a pause with a, "Klaasen, are you okay?"  And then a loud cry, followed with, "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM"
 I came running and found Klaasen on the floor, next to a huge pile of blood, and a tooth, root and all!  After picking Klaasen up and assessing the ingury and hearing the story of what happned, I thought Klaasen might have broke his jaw!  He slipped on some bubble solution that had spilled on the tile and smacked his head right on the floor.  He ripped out at least one tooth, but he was swelling quickly and still bleeding 10 minutes later.  He also couldn't close his jaw.  I called Erik, who was still out of town, and we decided that I should take him into the Emergency Department to have him checked out.


 Going to the Emergency Room with four kids is never a fun task.  Luckily, the other three were well behaved and Klaasen was super brave while they took some x-rays.  Everything checked out okay, but the doctor consulted with a pediatric dental surgeon who advised that we see him as soon as possible.

 So, we went and saw him the next day!  We decided to leave the tooth out that had fallen out and cast two other teeth that were super loose.  The casting went well!   Klaasen was super tough.


The next two weeks consisted of unpacking, unpacking, and unpacking.  Along with starting school!  It was an emotional move and one that I think we will question forever.  Was it the right choice?  Could we have made it work to live over an hour from Erik's work?  Will this be better for our family?  Is this God's plan for our family?  

01 September 2015

August in Pictures

Corn from our garden!
Cucumbers from our garden!
Skog's was afraid one night and when I went to check on him, he was sleeping in the closet with the light on!

While the big sisters played tennis, the littles played!

Skogen with a nice hit!

Good swing, Maida!

I looked out onto the court at one point and Hailey was doing a handstand!! Ha!

My sweet tennis players.


Mani/pedi's with our good friends Jessica and Grace!  Their family decided to move over the summer, too, so this was a goodbye.  Very bitter-sweet.


Pool time and lunch at the Country Club after mani/pedi's with Jessica, Grace, and baby brother Andrew

I am so thankful for this sweet, christian friend.  We had the privilege of being neighbors for two years of our four in Rochester.  I will treasure our times together.
Sweet baby Andrew




Daddy was gone for the army for some time in August, but I had a little snuggle buddy in bed, anyway

The boys were so proud of their creation when they bent the ironing board to make a car ramp.  Little did they know that they broke it!!  Goodbye ironing!


 Klaasen found this mustache and glasses.  I sent a picture of him to Erik and Erik sent me back a picture of his Army ID.  Hahahahaha!  See the resemblance?!!!

Trip to Park Rapids!  Tie dying with the family.

Boat day!

Barkley! enjoying Bumpa and Grandma's house.












Making homemade ice cream!

My mom and sister on the dock for morning coffee.

Trip to Itasca State Park!  Of course, we had to find Zimbabwe on the map!

Standing on the rocks where Erik proposed to me!!!



We write to taste life twice, once in the moment and in retrospection.”
~Anais Nin