Gone Fishing

Just as The Dudugjians were leaving, we had more guests arrive!  In fact they overlapped for about 12 hours (every single bed and sleeping area full!).

This summer, there are three college students from Western Kentucky University in Fargo to help John and Jeremy with all things church planting.  We have the privilege of hosting one of those three students in our home until August.  Saturday evening the students, as well as Jeremy and Pam Robinson (and Pam’s mom) got into town.  The college students for the summer, Pam and Jeremy to stay!  Hooray!

It has been a busy, but so wonderful weekend as we have gotten everyone unpacked and settled in.  We are so excited about how God might use these students to help grow our church.  We are also thrilled to have Pam and Jeremy here to be partners in church planting.  Starting a church is not an easy task (as if some thought it was), so we are excited to not only have partners but good friends here to help.  We are looking forward to a great summer!

Here’s a glimpse of their arrival:

Pammie's first time to see Julia in person!

Randall (college student), Steve, Daniel, Jeremy, John

'Auntie Pam' getting to love on Julia with Katie (college student) looking on. Pretty sure Miss Julia will be spoiled by these ladies this summer!

The weary travellers. 18 hours, 1200 miles and all they got to eat was Subway? There's Jen way in the back...she's our college student of choice! She's made herself Julia's sister for the summer!

And just a cute one of Julia. She was trying out the chair in Jen's room to make sure it was comfy enough..she's so thoughtful! (btw..no she does not sit up on her own quite yet and is actually in the process of slowly falling over as this picture is being taken!)

“everywhere you look (everywhere)…there’s a heart (there’s a heart)..a hand to hold on to…”  Sorry I couldn’t help myself!

We have made much use out of all of the rooms in our new home this past week.  The Dudugjians came to town to visit their amazing son and daughter-in-law  granddaughter/niece.  While, let’s be honest, Julia was the main reason for the visit, they spoiled John and me rotten with Ruthie’s (and Steve’s) gourmet cooking!  Yummy!  I think I only cooked one time last week…which was a first cooking for Chef Ruthie (a little bit intimidating but she liked it! Hooray!)  

We loved having John’s family in town!  John loved being able to show Daniel and Steve around the towns we have grown to love as our own.  And of course it is just great to be around family – something we do not take for granted anymore.  It’s always special for me to be around John’s family.  What a huge blessing to be treated as one of their own and not an “in-law”.  

A special thanks to Daniel for working so hard on his summer break!  I love my new shelves in the basement!  Thanks too for setting the Wii up for me (and testing it out to make sure it was working properly! hehe)

Here are a couple of pictures from their visit.  I didn’t do a very good job of documenting the events…but here’s a few that I do have!

Julia hanging out with her "Mzee" (m-zay) which means 'honored old man' in Swahili. I think these two are going to be buds!

Uncle Daniel learning what to do when a baby "throws up". No worries!

There she is!  A super sweet and smiley two-month old Julia!  I am loving life as her mom especially in the last week or so.  She is becoming so interactive…I just know she will bust out her first “for real” giggle so soon- she tries really hard.  Here’s a run down of Julia at two months old.

• Now weighs 11lb 14oz!
• Survived her two month old shots like a champ…Mommy survived them like a wimp!  Daddy was the rock for both of us…so glad he went!
• Tries so hard every day to hold that head up…she enjoys it more sitting on my lap…tummy time is not her fave!
• Now averaging 6-7 hours of sleep EVERY night!  Hooray!
• Already has a boy pining for her at Coco’s house (the sweet lady who watches her while I work).  We call him “Jamers”…short for Jameson.  He’s an older man at 18 months.  We’ll interview him once he can talk.
• Which, by the way, we have more than survived two weeks of being back to work.  These last two weeks have made me more thankful for a job that lets me work from home for half of the day.
• Smiles, a big toothless grin, LOTS during the day.
• Is beginning to learn how to use those arms.  Smacking herself in the face is less while sucking on her fist more and more.
• Makes lots of eye contact.  She doesn’t stare at lights as much now as she looks at the person holding her or nearest to her.  She has also discovered that there is a fun toy attached to her car seat.  We’re now working on her reaching for it or holding it…she’s not so much into that at this point…just content to look (maybe that’s a good way to be!)

She really is a super sweet baby.  She definitely has some fussy moments but for the most part she whines a little bit when she’s hungry, needs to be changed, or is bored and when we fix those things she goes right back to smiling.  Today, in fact, I did my first “make you feel horrible” thing.  I was trying to carry her and a box upstairs when I bonked her head on the doorway.  As the screaming commenced I felt pretty terrible.  She screamed and screamed, I rocked and apologized (thought it might help).  But then she stopped and smiled at me!  She’s also super forgiving…except maybe she doesn’t really know what that means yet.

Julia with Forrest, her BFF, on her first walk in the stroller. For those not in this area, Spring is officially here! All snow is gone with (hopefully) no possibility of coming back! On this particular walk, I'm pretty sure I was sweating by the time we got home! Yay for 70 degrees (above zero! ha)