Days 12-14 of 30 Days of me

So I am slacking quite a bit here on this 30 day challenge, I know! But I am keeping you all updated as much as I can. I work a lot as most of you know and when I get home I just don't have the motivation to put my thoughts down, I rarely update my facebook status anymore either... Sorry about that, but here they are...

Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

If memory serves me correctly, it was my friend Tiffany N. that told me about blogger. She was making one and was asking me for suggestions for names for her blog. At the time I was breaking away from Myspace and wanted a place to put my thoughts for those who didn't have Myspace and to help make the break. So I thought - why not? I will try it too. I didn't use it very often for a while and since leaving Myspace I have moved all my older blogs from there to here and categorized them all. Now I am trying to keep up with this as much as possible.





Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

There isn't anyone that I can think of who has recently hurt me, however, if there were a blog would not be the place I would air that business... It would be a personal message from me to them. However, there are people who have said hurtful things... probably not realizing it even, but as most of you have read that is in a blog - me sharing my thoughts on people speaking before they think.


Day 14- A picture of you and your family

See the blog before this one and you will find a lot of pictures of me and my nephews but here are a few pictures of me and my family from my sister's wedding.

 The only one missing from this picture is my little kitty, but she can't play in the snow!

 Me and my sister at her wedding back in October 2009

 Amanda (my sister), my dad and me at Amanda's wedding

 My Grandma (dads mom), Amanda and me

 Me, Amanda and Jodie (my cousin)

 My beatutiful mother and sister and myself

My Grandma and Grandpa Roediger (my mom's parents)

I love my family!

I love you...

Have you ever thought about the weight those three words have? The impact they have on someone? Remember when you were in a new relationship and you would wonder "when will he say those three words?" Or maybe you thought "When will I say those three words" Or maybe you remember dreaming of the day you would "fall in love". Its a blissful feeling. We hear it a lot, in passing as our days get busy its a hurried "I love you" as we run out the door. But when you really sit and think about it, love... God says Love is the greatest of all. So it must be something powerful, is it powerful enough to save a life? When someone is at such a low point in their life that they are contimplating suicide, they often say "nobody loves me." What if you told them "God loves you and I LOVE YOU?" Would it be enough? When two people are getting ready to split they often say "I will always love you but I am not IN LOVE with you" Does that even make sense? Is it strong enough to renew a relationship? When was the last time you told your spouse "I love you" in a meaninful way? When was the last time you hugged your children and told them "I love you." Those probably come easily to you, right? But when was the last time you told your grandparents "I love you"? When was the last time you told your parents "I love you"? Maybe you say it at the end of each phone call, or every so many phone calls. When was the last time you told you siblings "I love you"?


Well for me, I just told my husband on the way home from dinner "I love you". I try to tell my grandparents and mom "I love you" when I end each conversation but sometimes it goes unsaid. My sister hears it less often than my mom does and that makes me sad. Why are we in such a hurry that we don't say it more often?


But for my brother it had been probably 5 years. I can't believe that much time has passed! I remember the last time my brother and I told each other "I love you". We had gotten into an arguement, a huge one and I was moving out of my dad's house (I was living there alone until my brother, his girlfriend and 3 kids moved in) but I had had enough. I was fighting with his girlfriend and that made me fight with my brother. I packed up all my stuff and I was moving. It was November 2005. I had my car packed to the max and I was grabbing the last few items out of the house and he came up to me and wrapped his arms around my neck and said "I'm sorry things turned out like this. I am going to miss you and I want you to know that I love you." This was an emotional moment for the both of us and I said "I'm sorry too and I will always love you."
My brother and I were always close growing up, we told each other everything. But all of that love seemed to instantly go away less than a year later. Another baby was born, a baby that didn't belong to my brother and his girlfriend's violent behavior got worse. Many things had led up to this point, but all it took was one phone call from my brother to me in a panic about the threats that were being made to his young son. I told him "You better do something about it!" A week later my sister picked up two out of four of the children and they told graphic stories of "what mommy did". All it took was that and one phone call and one day later and I had 4 babies on my doorstep. That next year my husband was deployed to Korea and I became a "single mother of 4" overnight. Two weeks later the baby who wasn't my brothers child was taken to a foster home and I had the oldest 3 for an entire year. The year before we moved to Italy. That year was filled with pure hatred from my brother, anger, and him blaming me for what had happened. After a few weeks of unkind words from him and threats from his girlfriend we stopped talking to each other. Now here we are, so ironically, almost exactley 5 years later from the last time we said "I love you." I don't know what it was, but I felt like I needed to reach out....


I took a shot in the dark and said what has been on my heart for 5 years....




The only way I knew how to get a hold of him and I sent him a message....




 and I told him "I love you and I will always love you!"




and he reached back....




and said "I love you too"....

In between homes

Well, its been forever since I posted so I figured, why not?

I guess you could say right now we are homeless, lol. We left Italy June 5th and headed for Michigan. We have been having fun visiting my family and hanging out with friends. Its nice to not have to worry about the everyday requirements of life when Sergio is working.

We went on a vacation to Florida, first we went to Ft Lauderdale, where we met some awesome people that turned into great friends! I truely believe that God brings about circumstances into your life to meet certain people or for certain things to occur and its not until later that you see the whole picture and realize just what the purpose was. So then we went on our cruise to Grand Bahama Island and went snorkling - wow, what a beautiful world down there! If you have never done something like that - do it!! Then we spent the rest of the day at the Lucaya resort which has its own beach front, and wow, I could have stayed a whole week there right on the beach!! After our cruise we drove to Orlando where we met back up with our friends and spent another 2 nights just having fun!

We are just now getting to the end of our time in Michigan and will be heading to Texas. I am so excited about Texas too because the good friend that we met in Florida lives only 1 and half hours from where we will be!! AND the amazing retired Air Force couple I met in Italy lives just 4 and a half hours from us and we are already planning a visit with them. They are a younger version of my grandparents and I love them dearly! So we have a lot in store for us in Texas. I am really looking forward to finding a house and get settled in.

I loved the time we had in Italy and am very blessed to have had the opportunity that most people dream about their whole life. I can honestly say we came away from there with no regrets and got to explore everywhere we wanted to see (in Europe anyway). But I am also glad to be back in the United States with all of the conviences it has to offer!

I have a little bit of other news too but right now its too soon to make public knowledge! (and no I am not pregnant...yet).

This Holiday Season

Saturday, November 08, 2008

This holiday season.

Category: Life

This holiday season is going to be just as nice as last I am sure! Last Thanksgiving my grandparents were here and it was really nice to be with family. This Thanksgiving my mom and sister will be here and its going to be great to get to show them around.

What we have planned for them:
They arrive on November 18th around 2pm our time.

That week after they get over the initial jetlag we will show them around the area - the base - the natural springs - Lake Barcis and Piancavallo and maybe some of the local castles.

November 24th-26th we are headed to Garmisch Germany! Where we will be staying at Eidlewiess Lodge and Resort. While there we will shop the Christmas markets and drive the hour to Munich to show them around that beautiful town! We will also stop at the Christmas market there!!

Then Thanksgiving time!! Tiffany - I think our plans have changed, Sergio heard some new news. So I don't know if we will just hang out here or what yet. Either way it will work out alright. That night we will get to put up our tree and all our Christmas deco!! Can't wait. I love the Christmas season.

We will also have a little Christmas here with my mom and sister and just give them what we bought - nothing big just a few things we picked up here and there. My moms gift I have had for so long, I just decided Christmas was a good time for it!

We also are going to put a trip to Venice in there somewhere, since that is an easy trip.
Another place they would like to visit is Verona, that one is pretty easy too so we will do that as well.

As for Christmas we decided that we are not buying gifts for each other, we are going to save the money from doing Christmas and our Anniversary and instead try to go to Paris for New Years and call that Christmas and our Anniversary.... Sounds good to me!!

Coming to visit!!!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Coming to visit!!!

My sister and mom are coming to visit. Their flighs have been booked! I am so excited. They have been wanting to come since we got here and now are able to!! My mom has never really gotten to travel and the closest she has gotten to a real vacation since she was a child was weekend getaways. I can't wait to show them around Italy and we are even going to try to go to Germany while they are here and definatley going to take them to Rome, which we still haven't been to.

Sergio got an email about a cruise to Egypt that he wants to take them to, which sounds amazing! But its like 800 euro a person so that is out of the question.

Hopefully we can do a trip to Eidleweiss while they are here, its in Germany.

They are leaving Detroit November 17th, getting here early on November 18th and will be here until December 8th. We are finally going to be able to do some travelling over here. Its not very often in your life you can say that you can tour Europe so we are taking full advantage of it while here.

So although we really miss everyone back in the states, time here is going fast and we want to take advantage of it, since as my husband says "The states aren't going anywhere". If any of you would like to come and visit you are more than welcome, you have a rare opportunity to say that you went to Italy and didn't have to pay to stay at a hotel - stay with us! Just the cost of a flight which right now is pretty reasonable! If you are in the military or a military dependant even cheaper flying on the AMC flight which flies from Baltimore straight onto our flightline here!! Come and visit us for only $40 round trip!! That isn't a typo, Forty!! Straight in, flight stops in Germany but comes right here, they won't let you on if they can't get you all the way here in the same day!

New Year brings new joy

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

New Year brings new joy
Current mood: blessed

This year is going to be one of the best I think so far. But to get to this new year we have to start back a few months....

My grandparents were here and for a while now I have known that I needed to actually join the great church that I had been attending for a while. So what better time then when my grandparents are here? So after the service, during invitation time, I walked forward and told the Pastor that I wanted to join the church. He was so happy. I know he had been wondering for a while when I finally would. The congregation accepted me with a hearty Amen and my grandpa closed the service with prayer. I know he had a hard time as he was so filled with emotion. My grandparents have been able to witness a lot of spiritual growth in me recently. I grew up in church and went regularly but then hit my rebellious teenage years and it took me a while to get back. A time in my life I am not proud of but I guess it brought me to where I am today in life.

So I have been attending this church regularly and participating in a lot of church functions. Its a really small church but they have a lot of fun together and they are just awesome people!
We had been trying for a while now to get pregnant and each month I was disappointed when "aunt scarlet" would come to visit. I finally decided that this was something I had to turn over to God. He is the one who gives life after all. So, realizing that it wasn't my timing but His. I finally told Him, that I would accept whatever it was he had in store for my life but if my fate was that I wasn't ever going to be a mother I needed His help to accept that because there was no way I could accept that on my own. So everynight I prayed that God would give me the desire of my heart - to be a mother - and the desire of my grandparents hearts - to one day hold my baby. Two months later.... we get a positive on the pregnancy test! God is wonderful and faith is the most important thing anyone can have. When you put ALL your trust in Him, He really comes through and works miracles in your life. I honestly thought that I would never be able to have children, it was just a strong feeling I had.

So, Sergio decided he was ready to move forward too. He got saved in July, lead by the Pastor at his home and now was ready to take the next step and get baptised. One Sunday night he went forward and Pastor presented him to the church for baptism and another hearty Amen. So the very next week we were all set for the baptism service. About 15 mins to the end of the service and a very cold Nita walked in - she walked the almost 3 miles to church. She sat down and got warm by the fire and at the close of the service she too went forward for baptism. It was such a beautiful night and December 30th, on my 2nd year anniversary my husband and friend both got baptised.

So 2008 brings two new believeing members to our church and a new baby.
Thank God for His many blessings in my life!!

When you put God first everything else will fall in line in your life. That is a guarentee!! Try it and you will be suprised and what will happen.

Thankful

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thankful

Well today is Thanksgiving and so I thought I would write in a blog some of the things that I am thankful for in my life. I am sure I won't be able to list them all because God has given me so much to be thankful to Him for, but I will try to list the top things.

I am thankful for my salvation first and foremost. I am thankful that God placed me in a loving Christian family, despite my father. My mother is an angel and did a wonderful job raising her children alone and teaching them right from wrong, even if we do mess up from time to time.
Which is why I am thankful for God's forgiveness. Without that, where would I be? So many times I have fallen off the path but God is so forgiving He just picks me back up off my feet and still loves me just the same. I know I can turn to Him and everything will be alright.

I am thankful for my faith. God says if we have only the faith of a mustard seed (very small) than we have the strength to move a mountain. I am glad that I know God and know He is real, He proves it to me every single day of my life by answering prayers.

I am thankful for my husband, hes a great, sweet, loving guy who always supports my ideas and decisions. I am so glad that we found each other and hopefully one day we will be able to add to our little family.

I am thankful for my family as I mentioned above, each and everyone of them have a special place in my heart even if we aren't on speaking terms right now.

I am thankful for my good friends, you guys bring a smile to my face and have a way with words that make me feel better when I am going through a tough time and don't know what to do. You have been there for me through all the hard times. There are some of you who have been with me through harder times than others, you know who you are. I am so thankful for you guys. We have known each other a long time and have hurt each other many times but always seem to get through it with a stronger friendship.

I am thankful for life. How many of you wake up each day glad that you have another day to live? I thank God everynight for giving me another day. I know that when I die I will go to a better place but hey, I am human and I am not in a hurry to get there. I have things I would like to accomplish here on earth first.

I am even thankful for God putting us here in Italy, we are where God wants us. At first I was kind of bitter about the idea of moving so far from all of you, but I have met so many wonderful people here in Italy and the experience is amazing. The sights are wonderful, I walk through castles and it takes me back to what it was like in their day and this country is just so old that it blows my mind, but yet so beautiful. Some of you have no idea how much beauty there is in other parts of the world, I am so thankful to have this oppourtunity to explore other parts of God's beautiful land.

I am thankful for the church I have found here. Its a good fundamental church that isn't willing to change to make people "feel good" like other churches do these days.
The list goes on but I will stop here, these are the important things in my life.

Updates on my little guys...random thoughts...

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Update on my little guys... random thoughts...
Current mood: tired

So I just wanted to update everyone on how the boys have been doing.
Joshua - Loves school! He can count to 100 on his own... How many 4 year olds do you know can do that? He knows his entire ABCs, he is recognizing small words and is now learning the sounds that each letter in the alphabet makes and how to associate it to words! Seems they learn a lot more in Kindergarten these days than when I went. He also writes his name pretty well. He can use the keyboard for the computer to type his name in too! He is hardly playing video games anymore and not that he can't he just doesn't want to! He's found other things to do, like he LOVES to read books. Hes so smart sometimes I can't stand it, he will have full conversations with you like a little adult and asks some pretty amazing questions. AND if its past his bedtime he will let you know and tell you that he needs to be in bed or he won't wake up in time for school! Finally some stability in his life and he loves it, shows how much kids really need it!
Seth - Is potty trained!! No thanks to his parents... they didn't even work on him. He goes everytime and only has accidents at night... hes still young though, just turned 3! So at night and at naptime he wears pull-ups and underwear during the day. Seth can count to almost 20 on his own, he will chant along the ABCs with Josh but misses a few, hes still learning. He is in pre-school were they are teaching him his alphabet. He's doing very well. He is also practicing his name! Hes our little sassy one and likes to always ask Why and What if, which is good, it stimulates the brain but he thinks hes being funny and hes really being sassy. We are working on that. Hes also our little Cookie Monster he has the ME problem (Me want, Me thirsty, Me hungry) He's working on it though and doing pretty good, he corrects himself on his own now most of the time. He will be starting speech therapy soon I hope, it will be really good for him.
Caiden - He's mostly a happy little guy, except when you stop him from doing whatever hes doing. He throws a complete and all out fit! Reminds me too much of his stupid mom. Just goes to show how much babies pick up on at such a young age. He throws himself on the floor and stiffens up his entire body and arches his back, screaming and crying. Then he will either hit or yell and shake his fist (How else would a 23 month old learn this if not by seeing it by his stupid parents?) When he is done, its completley over like turning on and off a switch. On a lighter note, he LOVES to paint, color, draw, anything to make a mess or get a little creative, which is good. He likes to play with action figures and make them fight each other (acting out what hes seen with his parents again). But hes expressing his anger so we don't pay any attention when he does that. Hes definatley got some built up anxiety and anger. He tries to sing along the ABCs with the others and counts to 3. He is always copying what his brothers say, learning a lot. He loves school too, always happy while there and lights up when we walk through the door.
Random thoughts...

So I was mapping out all my daily things like taking the kids to school, going to school myself and physical therapy, thinking that MAYBE I could get a part time job and make some money once my doctor allows me to go back to working. I found I only have 26.5 "free hours" each WEEK. Time that I could give to a job and its like 3 hours one day and 4.5 the next and very sparatic like that. Seasonal help might work for that, but then the thing is when Sergio comes home in November I don't want to have to work and take away from my time with him, hes only going to be here for three weeks and then trying to get Thanksgiving to go to his parents, they would prolly fire me before they even hired me! So, I haven't figured out what I want to do with that yet, prolly wait until after he has to go back to Korea which I DON'T want him to :( .
Well I will leave it at that for now... comment if you want!

A much needed update

Monday, August 28, 2006

A much needed update
Current mood: stressed

Well, its been a while since I wrote a blog, so the time has come. Whats new with me? A lot is new. I have temporary protective custody of my brothers three boys, there are four but the 5 1/2 month old most likely has a different father so he was placed in foster care. The boys Joshua Jr, Seth and Caiden are 4 1/2, 3 and 1 1/2. Protective custody means that CPS removed the children from the home because it was found to be unsafe and abuse/neglect. Can you believe the state gives kids back to people like that?? The parents have to go through 8 weeks of parenting classes and 8 weeks of anger management. They have to submit to random drug and alcohol screens at their own expense. They have to get and maintain a job for a minimun of three months, turn in all pay stubs. They have to provide a safe home for the children to return to, get it inspected and turn in all utility bills. Once every 7 days the children have to visit with thier parents. The first few visits were rough, they are getting better. I guess I wouldn't mind going either if I was being bribed with toys though. Joshua the 4 year old is already a con-artist and a very convincing liar. Thanks to his parents. Seth is afraid of people touching him anywhere on his neck, he thinks you are trying to choke him since that is what his mother used to do. Grab him by the neck lift him off the ground and yell in his face, gritting her teeth saying how she was going to kill him. Nice mother huh? Caiden was completley shut off from the world, created his own world and stayed to himself. He has opened up so much, talks all the time, says sentences even. Plays with other kids and has a good time. It will be a shame for the kids to be returned to that mess after all we have done to try to show them there is a different way of life! Their parents are drug users, marijuana mostly but I think their mother is on worse. Its really sad for those of you who know the whole situation or have been around my stupid brother and this girl hes with. After all this he STILL wants to be with her. Knowing that she threatened to kill his son, knowing that she cheated on him and not only cheated but got knocked up too! Knowing that his third son might not be his as well. Its rough. The kids are now in daycare going on their second week and they LOVE IT!! Its so good for them. They go four days a week for 8 hours each day. Josh and Seth are in a preschool program until Josh starts K-5 on Sept. 5th. He is very excited he is going to a big school (that is what he always tells me). The interaction that they get with other kids and the stucture of it all is great. It also gives me a much needed break too! I started school on Aug. 21 and go four days a week, then I have to go to physical therapy for my knee three days a week, and manage to get the kids back up to Port Huron once a week to visit with those stupid people. My brother doesn't even talk to me anymore, says he hates me and was trying to cause some serious problems a little while ago. I don't really care though. Its about the kids not him, so if somehow I have rescued the kids from that or they grow up knowing there IS a different way of life then it will all be worth it. They didn't ask to come into this world and they didn't have a choice. My brother chose to stay the kids didn't have one, so I gave them one. If my brother wants to hate me for what he did, then so be it. He's angry because I have them well if I would have told CPS I wouldn't take them they would all be split up between foster homes. I couldn't let that happen and the kids are so happy and healthy now. They don't even miss their parents! Thats gotta say something right? But I guess if I was left to myself or being abused I wouldn't miss that or them either. On a lighter note.... My wonderful husband comes home November 19 to December 14 and I can't wait!! We are going to drive to North Carolina to visit his family for Thanksgiving and then come back to Michigan. I won't get to see him for Christmas, our Anniversary or New Years now, but I get him sooner! So I guess it trades off. Hopefully I will be able to go back to Korea with him for a few weeks and spend that time with him, but I don't know. It isn't cheap to fly to Korea!
Well that is about it for now. Talk to you all soon!

A new little life

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

A new little life

Well, my brother had another little boy on February 28th, 2006. I have only seen a picture but from that he is adorable. I wish my brother would learn about birth control, 4 boys is way too many kids for him to handle. I love them all to death but neither one of them deserve those precious kids. It breaks my heart that I know they won't be able to have all the things in life growing up that we were able to have and experience. Growing up with a psychotic mother who doesn't take care of them properly and doesn't treat them all fairly ~ breaks my heart. I wish I could just take them all and raise them myself.

I never question God, but I often wonder why He would let someone like her have so many beautiful children she doesn't deserve. Then there are people out there who truly deserve children who can't have any at all. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't trade any of them for anything in this world. I just wish they had a different mother.
Well, thats all for now from me. Oh yeah by the way the new baby's name is Leeland... I don't like it personally so he's little Lee to me.

Updates on the boys

Ok, so once again its been a long time since I have wrote an update. I wonder how many posts I have started off like this? Hmmm... anyway, that doesn't matter, what does is this...

I will start with my nephews. Some of you know the whole story and some of you don't. If you want the whole story email me or message me on facebook and we will get together one day and talk about it. Anyway, it is not looking good for their parents at all! They are back in jail and have been for a few weeks and will be for at least 2 months. Which means in the meantime they aren't showing up for visits and they aren't participating in their programs... which they didn't do much of when they weren't in jail either. So, it looks like July holds a lot of hope for the kids.

I truely believe that God's timing is perfect! When I had these kids in 2006 and they went home in 2007 it totally broke our hearts. Its never good to question God but we thought "Why God? Why did you take them out of that terrible situation only to put them back again?" Well, I know why He took them out in the first place. That year SAVED Caiden's life! I think back to the angry little boy who couldn't talk and the only emotion he knew was anger and then I think back to the day he went back and he was a happy, loved boy full of potential and I see him today and he is still the same sweet, loving kid he was the day he left us.

Now, here we are in the same situation again with these kids. My mom has Joshua, the oldest and my sister has Seth and Caiden the next two. The foster mom who had Leland last time has him again with his sister Jordan. This time I know it has to be for good. I prayed every night "Lord, I love these kids so much and the only hope for them is to get out of that situation. It breaks my heart to think of the life they will lead if they continue on this way. I know you love them more than I do and, Lord, I know you will protect them as you have promised." I think to that verse Matthew 18:16 "But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." The oldest one, Joshua got saved when we had him the first time. He used to always ask me questions and all the time in the car we would be driving around and I would say "Josh, who made the sky?" He said "God did" "Well then, who made the birds?" he answered again "God did" and we would go on and on and finally I would say "Well how could He do all that?" He would say "Because Aunt Rachel, He is God". It used to make me smile and I was so proud of him. So one day he was really asking me about getting to heaven and so I asked him "do you want to talk to grandpa about it?" Knowing my grandpa would have just the right words to help him understand. And he said "yeah!" So we walked upstairs and I told my grandpa he wanted to talk to him about getting saved and my grandma and I stood in the kitchen, listening, and crying as grandpa put it in the simplest terms and him and Joshua prayed. He came running out of that room with a huge smile on his face and said "Aunt Rachel, I asked Jesus to save me!" I hugged him and told him how proud of him I was and that I was his age when I got saved too. He was due to have a visit with his parents the next day and he told me "I am going to tell my mommy and daddy at the visit" I said "Good for you." He said "but mommy doesn't believe in God" I said "thats ok, you can tell her anyway, but don't get upset if she tries to tell you God isn't real" he said "I will call her a LIAR! God is real!!" I thought of that verse, But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. God protects His little ones.

Pictures of Tyler.

I just wanted to share some pictures of Tyler that were taken when I went back to the states to visit him!

Above: Love this one.

Above: But this is my favorite! I blew it up to 8 by 10 and put it in Sepia color.

He looks so good in yellow!

Love his baby hands. I also blew this up and put it in sepia.

Love his little feet too, Blew this one up in Sepia as well.



Holding baby Tyler! I love him so much!

Above: This one Amanda sent recently, look at those chubby cheeks!!

I really miss him so much!!

Tyler Joseph came into the world screaming!

Well most of you know by now that Amanda had to have an emergency c-section. The protein in her urine was over 12,000 and normal level is 300 or less. If you don't know the seriousness of that, it can cause the liver and kidneys to shut down. She had preeclampsia. Tyler was born April 7th at 3:46pm and weighing 3.3lbs and 15.5inches long. They told Amanda to be prepared, it would be quiet when they took him out - it wasn't. She said he screamed more than once! That was great news - meaning that the steriods they were giving to develop his lungs were working! He then got Jaundice but that has cleared up. He is not on the oxygen mask anymore but on regular oxygen where the little tubes go in your nostrils. He also is eating more now too! He will beef up in no time.

Looks like he is getting a tan! haha. He did that on his own.

Look how little his hand is.

I haven't met him yet but I am already total in love with him and can't wait to hold him!!

December 31st, 2008

I was doing my daily devotional today that I haven't been very good at reading daily. In fact this is the first time I have even opened it and it happens to be the last day of the year. HA. Well its in a book called Springs in the Valley which was written over 50 years ago! The copy I have was copywritten in 1939 and was given as a gift (handwritten in the front) December 5th, 1950!! The author is Chas E Cowman who was a missionary. Anyway, on to the devotional which those of you here in Italy will be able to picture the short story very well!

December 31st

"For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Hebrews 13:14.

A great world conqueror was leading his victorious army back to Italy - and home. Onward they marched over rivers and plains, and through wooded forests until they reached the foothills of the towering Alps. Here the thinning ranks of the worn and tired soldiers began to falter as they trudged on over the rocky defiles of the mighty mountain passes. As they climbed higher and still higher, the blinding snow and stoms well nigh discouraged the stoutest hearts. Stopping on an eminence where he could overlook all his men and be heard by them, and pointing upward across the mighty barrier, the great general shouted, "Men, beyond those Alps lies Italy!"
Italy! Waving fields, beautiful orchards, sparkling fountains! Mother and fathers, wives and children, sweethhearts! Home! Ah, Sweet home!

Fainting hearts revived. Tired muscles found new strength. Onward and upward that brave army pressed against every obstacle and won! They reached home.

Another scene. All over the world are members of Prince Emmanuel's (Jesus) army. Many have won decisive battles with the enemy, great victories over sin. They have struggled along life's rugged highway, and many have become worn and weary in the conflict. Long have they marched, homeward bound. But now they have reached great mountains of difficulties, strifes, wars, threatened dissolution of all social and moral standards - the might Alps on the stream of time. To this vast army their Captain shouts, "Christian soldiers, beyond these mountains of difficulty lies Home!"

Heaven! Waving fields of living green, kingly forests with never-fading foliage, sparkling fountains! The tree of life, and the rive of life! Long-lost friends, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, children, loved ones! Thank God, we are nearing our heavenly home!

"I've been to the rim of the world, and beyond, But I'm headin' home tonight" - E.W. Patten.

This really spoke to me today as Sunday night my grandfather on my dad's side passed away. Its good to know that he is finally Home! He was saved and so I know that he is in a better place. He finally made it over those difficult mountains and made it to Heaven. We all are dying daily. Statistics show that the ratio for death is 1:1, we all will die someday. For my grandpa it was pretty unexpected, I mean this wasn't his first heart attack, we didn't really know it was his last either. We didn't get a warning that it was coming it just came. Nobody dies without God's "ok" so I have comfort in knowing that he is no longer in pain. I am glad that I can know for sure that I will one day see the baby I lost. I am sure that right now my grandpa is holding that baby. He wasn't able to stay here on earth to hold Amanda's baby like he wanted to, but he left and is now able to hold mine. One day I know I will see him again along with my great grandparents, uncles and aunts who have all gone before and it will be a great reunion!