Nov. 29, 2009 - Happy First Birthday Caleb Michael.

In honor of Caleb's First Birthday, I am going to repost his his announcement. 

It is with Great Joy that we announce that Baby 7-Up has arrived.

Here I am on Thanksgiving at 40 weeks 6 days.  Which is bigger, my tummy or the turkey?



Here I am confined to the bed with continuous fetal monitoring and miserable.  About 5:30



Because I am a VBAC, I had to have continuous fetal monitoring and she had a hard time getting the heart tones in any other position but this one.  My only freedom was going potty, so I took my time in the potty.  Finally I simply could not take it anymore sitting in that bed.  My bottom hurt.  I was unable to change positions to deal with contractions so...

Here I am after I received my epidural.



That yellow button I could push to get extra medicine.  I pushed it about once every 15 minutes because I could. 

About 30 minutes before I delivered Baby 7-Up, the doctor decided this was going to be a big baby because although baby's head had descended substantially, the butt was still in the same position right by the diaphragm.  She called in a bunch of extra nurses to help with a probably shoulder distortia.  Baby 7-Up did not disappoint and it was a worrisome 51 seconds of him being stuck.  Me trying to push him out while I had literally 3 nurses pushing on various parts of my uterus and tummy and pubic bone.  (I am still sore)

I had asked for Sean to announce the gender because I thought that would be special and it was, once he was finally able to see it because of all the concerns. 

Here he is cutting the cord.  What is Baby 7-Up?  Here you can see.



Its a Boy

Because of the shoulder issue, he was wisked away to the warmer and I did not even get to see him.  There were four nurses crowded around him.  Finally he got a clean bill of health and there was talk about how big he was.  There were wagers made (not really) about his weight and they weighed him.


Yes, 10 pounds 1.7 ounces and 20 3/4 inches long.  He is all head with some shoulders and some arms, legs and body to finish him off.

We had no girls names picked out.  Good thing he was a boy.



After about 3 hours of enjoying our new son, eating lunch together and talking, we settled on



Caleb Michael
10 pounds 2 ounces
20.75 inches
9:51 a.m.
November 29, 2008

The kids seeing Caleb for the first time.


All seven children and Uncle Ted



Caleb Michael


Have a wonderful and blessed day.  I know we will.

Susan

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Nov. 27, 2009 - A cute video of Miriam

We went to our "new" North Carolina friend's home.  There were four families there and we had so much fun.  Mandy (another Mom) and I used recipes from our friend Tawna so we made a stick figure so she would be included.  And we also made a stick figure of our friend Michele (with one l) because she had car trouble and her family could not come.  Anyway, we started playing with them and Mandy caught this video of Miriam giving Tawna spelling lessons.  She is teaching Tawna how to spell her name.  She says "M.  I.  R.   I.  A.    M."  I ask, "What does that spell?"  She says,  "Me."  Too funny. 

Here it is. 

Spelling lessons with Miriam.

Its on YouTube.  Enjoy.

Susan

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Nov. 23, 2009 - T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G.

A challenge from a friend. 

Here is my T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G.

Truth found in the Word of God
Husband that loves and cares for me more than I will ever deserve.
Additional bathrooms.  Yes, again, may seem small, but we rarely have to wait now with 3 spots to "go". 
Neighbors that are kind and caring and welcomed us into the neighborhood. 
Kidlets running around and making noise.  What may be frustrating at times, brings great joy to their Mom.
Songs of praise to God that help to keep me focused on what is true and good and pure.
Giving sacrificially.  At times it can be hard, but it is true, it is better to give than to receive.
Internet.  I know highly spiritual.  It is wonderful to be able to stay connected to those we have left behind. 
Vision for our family to grow and walk with the Lord and to be the people that God wants us to be.
Interesting adventure that is moving to a new location.  All sorts of new things to explore, new people to meet and new things to learn. 
No cable.  While I miss some shows, I value the time we are spending together as a family so much more.  The tv reception is not very good, but I am still able to watch the news. 
Growing both physically and spiritually.  It is a joy to watch my children grow to be the people that God wants them to be. 

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Oct. 14, 2009 - 10.14 The Sign Went Up Today

Literally 10 minutes ago the For Sale sign went up in the yard.  So much left to do in our little world.  Pray for the right buyer to come quickly, please. 

Susan

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Oct. 10, 2009 - Saturday October 10

3 weeks from today, we'll be packing the moving truck.  Wanna come and help?  We'll provide the pizza and soda.  We hope to be very organized, but there are never any guarantees. 

Still busy packing.  I did not realize until last night that it was not four weeks, but three.  Our hope is to have the PODS filled with everything we can in two weeks.  I want to have the least amount of stuff to take care of during the last week here.  I want to do fun things the last week we are here.  Kids going to friends.  Going to the Science Center and Zoo.  Enjoying our last time of living in Iowa.

Please pray for us.  We still don't have a place to live.  Its hard to know where to live when I've never been to the city.  We may just end up going down there and finding something once we are there.  If that is the case, we'll get a po box.  Maybe we'll do that anyway.  

My heart is still grieving at leaving our friends here; friends who have become so very dear to us.    It really is a season of mourning our time here while looking forward to the direction God is taking us in. 

Last night I took the big girls to a play and out for dessert.  I will have to blog about it later.  Gotta get back to work now.  Bathroom and our room, here I come!

Susan

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Oct. 7, 2009 - 4 weeks to go before the big move

Four weeks from yesterday, we should be all packed up and on our way to North Carolina.  I can't believe we have only four weeks left here.  Honestly I can't think about it because it brings me to tears.  It is mourning the end of our time here while looking forward to our new adventure down south.

No, we still do not have a place to live.  We had a home lined up to rent for 6 months, but found out yesterday they don't rent 3 bedrooms to 9 people.  They have a 5 bedroom they will rent to us, for an arm and a leg.  Um yeah, we can't afford and arm and a leg. 

I need to reserve the moving truck.  Today.  I need to do that. 

We are slowly filling to PODS.  Sean is doing most of the manual work. 

I have gone through just about every piece of children's clothing we own.  We have donated and thrown away a lot of things.  I have packed up most of their other clothes minus 15 outfits each.  But in going through the clothes, we found more clothes that are sitting on top of Mt. Wash right now. By the end of the week, I am planning on getting the wash done and getting the rest of the clothes packed. 

I need to buy bubble wrap so I can wrap pictures and other valuables. 

Most of the books are packed.  Sean needs to work on his church office. 

Little by little it will get done. 

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Sep. 29, 2009 - Life is Always Full of New Adventures

Well, Caleb is now 10 months old, so it must be time for an announcement.  So I have a very special announcement to make.

 

 

Ready…

 

 

What do you think I am going to announce?

 

 

I bet it’s not what you think. 

 

 

We are moving to North Carolina at the beginning of November.

 

 

Not what you expected is it.  It is honestly something that I never thought I would even think about, much less say out loud.  It is one location that never even crossed my mind as a place I may live.  I hate basketball and auto racing.  I hear both are very popular in North Carolina. 

 

Now you know why I have not been blogging lately.  My heart and mind and hands have been busy preparing for this.

 

I can hear you asking already, why North Carolina?  Well, this adventure started in July when Sean came home from work and announced that his employer would be laying off ¼ of the production employees at the beginning of August.  Someone asked if they would be recalled and the corporate officer said, no and told the employees the plant would eventually be closing. (well, he did not use those exact words, but the writing is on the wall.)  The employees were told they would be able to apply to one of the four other job sites if they wanted to transfer. 

 

At first we were not open to a transfer.  Our family is settled here.  We love our church family.  We all have friends here.  We are close to our extended family (if you consider 6 hours close).  Sean is a bi-vocational pastor. 

 

Sean had been applying for jobs for the last 18 months and had not even gotten an interview.  Jobs can be found here, but they often do not pay enough to support a family.  Sean decided to apply for a transfer just to see what they would offer.  We began to pray for him to get a job locally as he continued to send out resumes and put in applications.  Nothing surfaced.

 

Soon before vacation, he was offered a transfer.  In September he went to North Carolina on a fact finding mission.  He toured the area, the plant, the local housing market and even a UNC campus. 

 

When he returned we went out for dessert and asked for my final input.  Then it was decision time for him.  Before he made the final decision he informed the other Pastor at our church.  After telling our church family, we are now announcing it to our friends and family. 

 

It has truly been one of the hardest decisions Sean has ever made in his entire life.  There are so many people to consider, our church family, our extended family, our children.  The decision caused Sean many sleepless nights and stomach-turning days.  He has felt the weight of the world on his shoulders for two months now.  It has caused him to turn to the Lord for direction in a way he has rarely had to do before.  His time with the Lord has been challenging and encouraging. 

 

Planning a move 1000 miles away is a strange thing.  We will move to a new home town with only Sean having seen the location.  We are in the process of grieving the end of our time here, yet excited about what God has in store for us in our new home.  We are grieving the leaving of our church family and our friends, but trying to be excited about the new people God has planned for our future.  We are grieving the end of ministry here to people we love and people who are so like minded to us.  We will miss them more than words can even say. 

 

I have a new appreciation of our military families who move every few years.  What a hard cycle.  Move to a new location.  Learn a new town.  Find a new church.  Make new friends.  Learn a new culture.  Then get orders to move again.  Praying for our military families is so important. 

 

Then my mind goes to families who go overseas as missionaries and the family they leave behind.  What a sacrifice for all involved there.  But missionaries often feel the sting of leaving when they come home for furlough; they are leaving their ministry they love to come home to the family they love.  Then when they go back to their ministry, they leave the family they love for the ministry they love.  Their hearts must break on both ends. 

 

Please be in prayer for us as we prepare to move.  We will be selling our home here and are not sure what we are going to do once we get there.  We will probably rent for awhile but finding a home for us may prove difficult.  But God knows.  We would really prefer to rent a home, but don’t want to sign a year lease. 

 

Pray for us to find a church family where we can serve faithfully.  Sean would love to be able to assist the Pastor and the church family in any way he can.

Pray for the children.  They don’t want to move (none of us do).  But sometimes God moves us to new places, and we don’t understand why, but we need to remain faithful.  Some may fight against bitterness of leaving their friends and activities, but we are continuing to encourage them to do what is right and be thankful we live in a time when they can still keep in contact with their friends here. 

 

We expect that you will all plan your vacations around us now.  We will be close to all sorts of wonderful historic things.  We will be close to the “mountains” and the ocean.  We are hoping to be able to buy a home that will have a guest area so you can stay with us. 

 

Thanks for praying for us.

Susan 

 

 

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Aug. 10, 2009 - Looking at Grandchildren

Grandchildren are the ultimate excuse for long-term book hoarding. If you want your grandchildren to have something better than Beverly Cleary to read, you will want to be saving books for them. Have you taken a look in the children's department at your public library or bookstore lately?

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May. 27, 2009 - What's a Pudgy Pie

I forgot that everyone did not grow up in my family and therefore grew up eating pudgy pies when they went camping.  So in my last blog when I wrote about pudgy pies, most people did not know what they are.  So, here is a photo demonstration of how to make pudgy pies.  The pictures are from our big Colorado trip in 2007.  They turned out a little dark.  You want a golden brown sandwich.  I don't mind my outer crust getting black.  I just that as the handle to the sandwich and just throw the black crust away. 

What you need.

Pudgy pie iron - This can be bought at Walmart or your local camping store.  It is usually close to the hot dog sticks.  They run between $10 and $15.  The best kind are the cast iron variety, but I have not seen those in years.  Now they are mostly made out of aluminum with a non-stick coating.  It should feel heavy in your hand.  Don't buy the ones that are too light.  Also, make sure you buy one that is smaller than a piece of bread so there will be a nice seal. 

Food

Bread - We us regular cheapo sandwich bread, either wheat or white.  Don't use the fancy stuff, this is not a fancy sandwich. 

Pizza fixings - We use sausage, pepperoni, pizza or spaghetti sauce, mozzerella cheese and anything else we want to stuff inside. 

Cheeseburger - Browned hamburger, cheddar or american cheese, ketchup.  We don't use onions or mustard, but you can add anything you like.  I don't like the ketchup cooked so I add it after its cooked. 

Chicken - Grilled/cooked chicken, cheese and anything else you want.  I like corn and olives in mine.  Starnge I know.  I also like it with steak sauce. 

Brat - My husband's favorite.  It has cooked brat, ketchup and onions and anything else that floats his boat at the time.

Dessert - Canned pie filling.

Be creative.  Whatever you like in a sandwhich or on a bun, will usually taste good in a pudgy pie.  Its fun to try new things. 

Let's get started.

So, the first thing you do is build a nice fire.  You need hot, but slow cooking coals to make the perfect pudgy pie.  A little secret my Dad taught me is to put charcoal at the bottom of the fire.  The coals will develop more quickly and they will cook more evenly. 

Next, butter the outside of the bread.  I prefer butter over margarine.  It tastes better and hey, I am from WI and only use the plastic stuff when forced to by lack of money.  Put one piece in the iron, butter side down, making sure the gently push the bread into the iron.


Now, the fun part, filling it.  Make it pudgy.  Fill it with lots of stuff.  I like to start by putting the cheese on the outside, just a nice, thin layer, then meat, then extras, then another layer of cheese.  I prefer the cheese on the outside because nothing else soaks into the bread and the flavors on the inside blend together. 



Then place the last piece of bread on top, butter side out.

We have arrived at the tricky part, puttin the second piece on.  It takes practice to do it well, but the pay off is a yummy and juicy sandwich.  When putting the second iron on, do it slowly and gently push the top piece of bread towards the top of the pie maker.  There should be crust hanging out.  You can either cut it off or leave it on.  I like to leave it on and then hold onto the nice crisp black edge while eating. 



OK, onto the part that requires patience - cooking it.  Remember,  you want a slow cook to make sure the inside is hot and the cheese gets all melty.  Depending on the heat of the coals, you want to let each side cook for 5 - 10 minutes.  Check for doneness before flipping it over. 



When you take the pudgy pie out, remember its going to be HOT, so make sure to set the iron on wood and not plastic.  Keep it out of the reach of children.  You also may want to let it cool partway before cooking another one.  We cut our sandwiches in half before serving.  For our little ones we let them cool for awhile. 

Enjoy.




Like I said, the one you see in the iron got too dark.  We threw it away (don't tell my Mom) and made another one.  Notice the piece of wood under the hot iron.  Works great.  I made them on top of the Bear Box we had at  Great Sand Dunes National Monument. 

Any comments, questions or concerns? 

A couple more things.  Don't worry about cleaning your pie iron.  Yes, make sure the food is off the inside, but expect it to get black and dirty.  When storing them, losely wrap it in paper towel and secure the towel with a rubber band or twist tie.  Use wooden utinsils to get the pudgy pie out if it sticks.  Metal will remove the non-stick coating.  Be creative and enjoy.

If you can think of any other combinations, please let me know.  We are always interested in trying new things.  One person has suggested marshmallow fluff, peanut butter and chocolate.  I just don't know.  And I was counting calories the last time we went camping, maybe next tiem. 

Susan

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May. 13, 2009 - Our First Camping Trip In the New Pop Up

We decided on Monday that we would go camping on Thursday.  We decided on Tuesday where we would go camping on Thursday. 

Caleb sleeping on our bed during his nap.  We brought a port a crib, but he did not like it.


The playground by our campsite.  The children would have spent the entire weekend there had we let them.

Miriam enjoying her freedom.



Olivia loving the swing.  She sat in that thing for at least an hour each time they went. 


Our campsite from the playground.



After we took a walk.  Camping is hard work - Olivia.



The inside of the camper in use.

From the door...


To the left, the dining area.  Nathan was doing his school work he had not finished before we left.  All the sleeping bags are up on the boy's bunk. 


Our bed with all our stuff. 


Once we get everything organized inside, I hope it won't be so messy while camping.

Our campsite from the camper.  I was assembly pudgy pies, Sean was cooking them. 


Bethany and Miriam washing their hands.  Notice the nice camping box Sean made for me.  I love it. 


It rained Friday night and on and off on Saturday.  We packed the kids into the van and tore down in the drizzles on Saturday.  It was fun none the less.


Needless to say, they were all tuckered out and Olivia was asleep before we left the campground.

We cannot wait to go again.  There is a campground about 20 minutes away that we can even go to during the week and Sean can still get up and go to work because its only about 15 minutes from where he works. 

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