BABY BLUES...updated

UPDATED: I scheduled this post... but all I had was the uploaded photo....

Can you believe that face... and eyes? What a sweet little nugget! So often people remark on what a cutie pie Levi is... and I love it because I can really take no credit for it:) This little guy was formed years ago... frozen for 5 years, thawed and transfered to my womb for a nice warm place to grow...

Can you believe that? What a miracle! What a precious and amazing creation from God!!

I have news that I am so excited to share... Last week I contacted our donor mom. We email every once in a while or message on facebook. I mentioned that I would be heading up north at the end of the month and that if she wanted to meet Levi face to face we could maybe arrange something.

I always want to be sensitive to her feelings, so I mentioned that if she is never ready to do that this side of Heaven, that we understand... no pressure on our end.

We have actually arranged for her to come to my parents... She doesn't live anywhere near them, but was going to be traveling just a couple of hours away so it will work out great!

I am so excited... She is bringing her twins along. I can't wait to thank her in person... but really feel that no matter what I say, it can't ever really be enough to express how extrememly grateful I am to her. How can I adequately articulate everything I feel deep inside of me?

The only bummer part is that Greg won't be up north yet. He is really disappointed that he will miss getting to see them.

I am just in awe of God's faithfulness through the extremely dark and difficult times. Then I am amazed at the beauty that He created in this sweet little boy... Such preciousness from such pain on both of our sides. God is so so good!

PRAYERS NEEDED

Today our friend from Seminary who is a pastor in Illinois is going through a superbeam stem cell transplant in Arkansas. He is at the Multiple Myloma Institute. He has been fighting this cancer for the last 2 years and is tired.

Right now he isn't eligible for the clinical trial they were waiting on because of an increase in lesions in his back from 4 to 39 since last Friday.

Please pray for a miracle healing... pray for God's will to be done... Pray for strength for Matt's body as this will wear him out... Pray for Janet his wife who is at home with the 2 kids in IL. Pray for Matt's mom who is with him in Arkansas. Pray for the Lord to give clear guidance and direction for them. Pray for their 2 girls, 12 and 9 who are worried about their daddy.

Please pray with us for this sweet family... let's be the body!
Thanks friends!

LAST OF VACATION...

Our kids and the Stockton crew.

Saying goodbye...

More goodbyes... Maybe someday these 2 won't have to say goodbye... we are working on arranging a marriage with these 2:) Kidding... but my they would be cute together... they are good little buddies...

I had blogged about going to our Texas church and knowing it would be like going home... Well, when we walked in the doors there was an older woman who was in our very first small group as a married couple... The words out of her mouth were, "Welcome Home!" She took a look at the kids and blessed them all... an my heart was bursting...

Man those people know how to love you and are not afraid to do it... It was so special!

The head pastor greeted us all, had to preach shortly, but took all the time in the world with us... such a great reminder for me... I am always in a rush on Sunday mornings... I NEVER want anyone to feel I don't have time for them...

The service was AMAZING!! The fellowship with old friends so sweet and it was just great to be there...

Then we spent the whole day with our precious friends the Stocktons. It was such a treat... visiting, swimming, the usual Dads against sons soccer game (I am still not sure who won:) and and as usual lots of laughing...

I just picked up Caleb from camp today... Our first experience with camp for any of our kids and he loved it! We are all planning on going back for family camp over Labor Day weekend:)

Greg is up in Joplin with some adults working till Saturday.

I am holding down the fort with the kids... Anna still isn't totally well and Levi had a thankfully, very short lived bout last night. I am still not sure if he caught something from Anna or if it was some formula he had while I was at Bible Study... but praise God I think they are all on the mend for the most part... We are getting there:)

DO YOU WANT TO BE INSPIRED??? CHALLENGED??? CHANGED???

I have to post!!! I am totally over the top amazed by this incredible family. I started following Linny's blog, A place called Simplicity, a few years ago, right before their home was lost in a fire.



Over the years I have been inspired, challenged and changed by this woman. They are on their way to adopting thier 11th child. I always laugh because they admit that most people their age are getting ready to just start with grandchildren... but not DW and Linny. They take the call in James seriously, to care for widows and orphans... more seriously than I think anyone I know.



Just last November on a trip home to Wisconsin, my sister's friend Abbi was over for lunch. She was mentioning how she really felt like God was calling her to do a short term mission trip to Africa... but she had no idea how to go about it... I laughed showed her Linny's blog and said maybe she could hook up with DW who was taking a crew to Uganda the beginnning of January. Could Abbi pull it off, get it all organized to go in just about a month?



She did and Abbi said that DW was the real deal. He restored her hope in todays pastors... He pastors a church in Colorado.



Please check out their most recent post and be prepared to be inspired, challenged and changed? Amazing the selfless heart of these servants.... ENJOY!!!

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/

More VACATION...

Hello Alamo!

The Riverwalk in San Antonio. It sure is charming. We skipped the boat rides at $8.50 a person. We figured we would get as many free boat rides as we would like from Grandpa Neumann when we head to Wisconsin later in the summer:)

We ate Mexican on the Riverwalk. The food was great... but holy cow... the birds are crazy. They didn't bother us while we ate, but the second we were done and got up, they were swarming... It was a little creepy!

Great Granny and Levi...

All of the cousins on the Hintz side of the family.

After we left Roman Nose, we had a 9 hour drive to San Antonio. We rarely stay at hotels because it seems like we are either camping or visiting family. But San Antonio was different. We decided to stay at a hotel right near the riverwalk. It was interesting to say the least to have all 8 of us stay in a hotel room.... 2 pack n plays, 2 queens and a pull out... It was cozy, but really everyone did great!

We were a short walk to the riverwalk... but it was HOT... HOT...HOT! We did our sight seeing and then headed back to the hotel to let the little ones nap and the big ones go swimming. I think the kids would stay in the hotel, just for the chance to swim. They love it!

We only stayed in San Antonio for 2 days and then headed to hot and humid Houston to see family. This was the most time we have gotten to spend with Greg's sister and family in a long time. That was so nice. Grandma took all the ladies out to lunch at our favorite tea room in the same town that Greg and I first lived in after we were married. They actually served Anna her coke in a teapot and cup... She was beaming.

I would have to say that the comic relief on the way home would be me TOTALLY embarrassing myself. When we were gassing up the van, I had to run in and use the bathroom. I couldn't wait any longer. Well when I walked out I walked straight for the big white van right in front of me... the only trouble is when I got there and greeted the man pumping the gas... it wasn't Greg... and when I looked over to where MY VAN was... There were Greg and the big kids all cracking up... Glad I could give them that sweet gift of humor:)

Enjoying Roman Nose...

AHHH.... THE FREEZING COLD WATER OF THE NATURAL SPRINGS....

"GET ME OUT OF HERE... IT IS TOO CHILLY!"

ANNA AND CALEB SPLASHING AROUND IN THE SPRINGS...

IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SETTING... JOJO WAS TAKING IN ALL THAT GOD'S CREATION HAD TO OFFER...

The first 3 days of our vacation were spent at a pastor's retreat at Roman Nose State park a few hours from us.

We were so fortunate to be able to spend this time with the Tiews family. It worked out perfectly. We stayed in a duplex type cabin side by side. We were able to go swimming in the park pool and natural springs ( the water was freezing, or as us northern girls like to call it... refreshing), attend the retreat sessions, and cook our meals together. The first day when we were all getting ready to go swimming the door between the 2 rooms was open... When I came out with my suit on... the kids said, "Boy that is weird, your suit looks just like Mrs. Tiews." Lo and behold we had the exact same swim suit bottoms, and really similar tops. We both ordered them off the overstock on the landsend website... BIZARRE! I think we are starting to think more and more alike on a lot of things:)

When we were first in a small group together 13 years ago in Texas with just one child each, who would have thought another 9 kids later we would end up serving different churches in the same city... That has been such a blessing.

Isn't that just like God to know exactly what you need ahead of time and to provide in ways you would never have imagined? I love that God gave us that special sweet gift for both of our first calls into ministry:)

I CAN'T RESIST....

I couldn't resist posting some of the many expressions of Levi over the past few weeks. Man, this sweet little guy just melts my heart, and keeps me constantly in awe of our Creator God.

He is such a good baby, really easy going for the most part. He traveled great in the car and pretty much is just happy to have someone paying attention to him. And trust me, he gets loads of attention. Just this morning before G and the the 2 older boys left for church at the crack of dawn, I knew Caleb would have to come in and sneak some sugies from Levi. He is heading to camp for 4 days after church. I think he may just miss Levi the most of all while he is away:)

I had to stay home from church today with the four littles. Anna threw up again last night. I am a bit baffled... we had pork ribs, although she had that 2 days ago and was fine... but the last time she was sick a couple of weeks ago, we had pulled pork that night. I don't know it may just come down to the fact that she still sucks her thumb and she is probably picking up germs... but thankfully no one else is showing any signs of feeling bad... time will tell...

Well, I just wanted to share some pictures of the littlest sweetie. I will try to post some pictures from our vacation soon. It was really nice to get away... much needed... but it was nice to get home too:) I can't tell you how much Greg and I love our own bed:)