Family Wellness Tips

COVID-19, pandemic, quarantine, “safer at home” orders, online learning . . . The list could go on and on. What in the world is going on? I am sure that there are many of us that are struggling with this, shall we say, interesting time in history. So how do we get through it? What are we supposed to do? There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but here are some suggestions to help you and your family move forward through the coming weeks.  

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Use this time to connect even more with your loving God!

In times like these, it becomes too easy to question God. We need to step back and realize that our God has taken care of our greatest need, the need for a Savior. Through Jesus’s perfect life and innocent death, we have heaven waiting for us. When we realize that, we can see that God is with us through this difficult time. Build personal time with God into your day. Read your Bible, have family devotions, and talk to your loving, all-knowing God. Pray! God is here with us. Don’t forget that FVL chapel will be live every day at 11:00. Watch it with your family on FVL’s YouTube Channel. Past chapels will be posted to view later. 

• Have a routine.  
  Build a routine that will help to keep you on track: eat, sleep, exercise, learn, work. This will also help with “decision fatigue.” It’s exhausting just thinking about all of the options that are in front of us. A routine helps us make those choices.  
   
• Take care of the body that God has given you.
  Eat healthy, find some way to exercise, and build it into your routine.
   
• Be connected.  
  Social distancing does not mean emotional distancing. Find a way to connect to people. Use your phone to keep in touch. Tools like Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, Google Duo/ Google Hangouts, Messenger, Snapchat, Instagram are all great options. Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while or someone you know is struggling. 
   
• Serve.  
  Find an opportunity to help those God has placed around you. Start at home with your family; how can you serve them? What about your neighbors? Can you help at church? Volunteer at a food pantry? Can you donate blood or plasma? The Red Cross is reporting a shortage of blood, and plasma centers need donors as well. To have true JOY, put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last.
   
• Get outside.  
  Get outside and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. Go for a walk or a bike ride. All the Wisconsin State parks have waived their fees, so visit them and go for a hike. Work on your garden or make sure you have the best-looking lawn in the neighborhood.
   
• Spend quality time with your family.
  I’ll bet you haven’t had this much time with your family in a while, if ever. Enjoy this time together. Play games, put together a puzzle, work on projects, cook dinners, or do family devotions. Use this time to grow closer.
   
• Have an attitude of gratitude.  
  Focus on the gifts that God has given you, not on what you may be missing right now. Make a list of three things each day that you are thankful for.  
   
• Get projects done around the house.  
  Being home, you finally have the time to get a few things done. Organize that closet that you have been avoiding forever. Rearrange your room—maybe even clean it!. Help Mom or Dad clean out the basement or the garage. 
   
• Feed your brain.
  Use this time to learn an instrument, start a new hobby, read a book, or listen to music.
   
• Relax.  
  Okay, I am no Aaron Rodgers, but it is true we all need to “R-E-L-A-X” a little. Don’t stress out if all of the plans you make aren’t going perfectly or if you don’t stick exactly to your schedule. Be patient with yourself. Limit your media intake. Pray!
   
• Reach out for help.  
  If all this seems to be too much, don’t keep it to yourself. You can reach out to your pastor or another trusted adult. All FVL students have access to Christian Family Solutions. If you think a Christian counselor would help you to deal with the stresses you feel at this time, I would love to help you find the help you need.  

It can’t be emphasized enough, our God is with us! Lean on him during this difficult time.  

Jeff Uhlenbrauck
FVL Dean of Student Life

 

Dear parents,
 
As you and family make adjustments to your life due to the Coronavirus outbreak, we understand there may be times of uncertainly that could cause your son or daughter anxiety. Fox Valley Lutheran continues to partner with Christian Family Solutions to provide access to Christian counseling services. Students can meet with a counselor through a secure video connection right from home.
 
Parents, if you feel it would be helpful for your son or daughter to speak with a counselor at this time, please contact Mr. Jeff Uhlenbrauck (juhenbrauck@fvlhs.org) for a referral and we will help you get connected. Thanks for donors to this ministry to our students, Christian Family Solutions is offering an initial set of five (5) counseling hours at no cost through the end of our school year. If additional counseling services are needed after the fifth session, there are several options available to pay for continued services.

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Here is some additional information about the counseling services available:

• Christian counseling services available by video
  All of the professional mental health counselors at Christian Family Solutions are certified and licensed in a wide variety of specialty areas. Services are provided to students via a secure video connection, right from a private area at home, using a computer, tablet, or other mobile device. Christian Family Solutions has been providing counseling services through video since 2008. They are uniquely skilled to help families using this secure method of connection.
   
• Available services
  Christian Family Solutions counselors can help students with a wide variety of issues, such as depression/anxiety, problems with alcohol/drugs, relationships, cutting/self-harm, body image issues, and stress management. Students interested in meeting with a counselor through Christian Family Solutions will need parental consent.
   
• Cost of services
  Christian Family Solutions is committed to supporting the students at our school. There is no cost for an initial set of five (5) counseling hours through the end of this school year. If additional counseling services are needed after the fifth session, there are several options available to pay for continued services.
   
• Requesting/receiving services
  Counseling services through Christian Family Solutions can be requested by contacting Jeff Uhlenbrauck at juhlenbrauck@fvlhs.org or 920-560-5127.
   
• Understand the possible emotional impact of the Coronavirus pandemic
  To help understand the emotional impact of the Coronavirus and ways you can remain healthy, please read the blog from Christian Family Solutions

 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Mr. Alan Nolte, Principal
Fox Valley Lutheran High School
Appleton, Wisconsin
Email: anolte@fvlhs.org
Office: 920-739-4441 x5108
Mobile: 920-427-9706

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Interested in helping support these counseling services for teens?
Christian Family Solutions provides short-term counseling services to students at any WELS high school or prep school. Generous donors provide the funding needed to bring access to Christian counseling services through the Teens 4 Teens endowment effort. If you would like to help bring these critical services to our school and others across the country, please call 888.685.9522, visit the Christian Family Solutions website, or watch this short video.