Baby Nursery

Our Christmas Card

Dear family and friends,

This year the miraculous birth of Christ takes on a whole new meaning as Frank and I are expecting our own little miracle in February. As we wait in expectation I have to admit that we have many questions and fears about becoming parents. But when we look to the Christ child, and read His comforting words in the Bible we have found great peace. Just like Jesus, our baby will teach us many things. God, in his compassion and humility, thankfully starts these lessons with a cute and cuddly baby that has developed love, anticipation and wonder for 9 months while in the mothers womb. We are very excited to start this journey. Unlike Mary and Joseph, we have wonderfully supportive family, friends and church family who are excited and hopeful with us! Thank you!

Our bundle of joy is expected February 27th. We have been busy getting ready for his/her arrival (we want to be surprised on the gender). In September Amelia quit her job at Stanislaus County Agriculture Dept. to devote more time to her schooling (my goal is to have my masters thesis finished before the baby comes, and now it looks like a reality!). This month I will finish up my last 15 units of classes and will graduate in May. I plan to stay at home with the baby. In October we moved to a beautiful home in Patterson owned by Frank’s parents and located next door to them on the cucumber farm. Now we are enjoying country life again with a great view of the foothills. Frank is still enjoying his job at CNP (California Natural Products) in Lathrop. Now that we are in Patterson he has a better commute for which we are both very thankful. But now our commute to church is 20 minutes long! We are still involved in community life at Westside Ministries even though we live in Patterson. For Christmas we will be traveling to Holland to spend the holidays with Frank’s extended family. All of Frank’s siblings (and their families) will also be going! We will be enjoying the holidays with family, sight seeing and attending family reunions / parties. Well, it looks like I’m out of room. Merry Christmas, and we wish you all of God’s best in the coming year! Love…. Frank and Amelia

11th Annual Lunch Bunch Christmas

Our annual ornament exchange was at our house this year.... it was so much fun. After the traditional exchanging of ornaments with each other the girls surprised me with a baby shower gift, flowers and cake! It was a great time of catching up on new news, talking about babies, engagements and travels. I believe it was Ralph Waldo Emmerson who said, "Ah, how good it feels in the hand of an old friend". It's a wonderful treasure to grow up and grow old with friends such as these.

Home Sweet Home

We finally moved into our new home! It's so SPACIOUS and wonderfully cozy. More than we had hoped for... Last weekend we put up the Christmas tree! Why is it that the Christmas lights always decide to go out AFTER the entire tree is decorated? Both strands of brand-new lights went out on us the day after we put them up. Arg! In this picture, Amelia is 26 weeks pregnant (6 and a half months). The baby has been kicking up a storm lately, it's fun for Frank and I to feel. At this stage the baby's hearing has developed enough to hear us...poor thing has to endure my singing along with the Christmas CD's. Hopefully he/she will inherit their fathers good singing ability. I wonder how the baby and I will do as we travel to Holland? Hopefully it will be an easy transition to the new time, foods and schedules. I've done a lot of traveling in my day but this time I don't know what to expect! What an adventure!

Movin on up...

Lot's of moving going on these days....

1. Felt the baby move for the first time--on my last day of work after eating tons of sweets at the surprise baby shower they threw me!

2. Moved in with Jake and Ada (Frank's parents) in Patterson last weekend. All of our things are in storage for an undetermined amount of time. The plan is to move into the double-wide mobile home next door to them but the current renters are late in moving out. Pray that their new house will be fixed quickly.

3. My status moved from employed, completely stressed out, full-time student to unemployed, fully content, full time student and wife. I'm loving life.

4. Franks commute to work moved from Hwy 99 to I5. We are both very happy about that.... so much less traffic which means Frank gets home earlier even though it's the same travel distance as before.

Picture Day

Well today was picture day again. We are now at 19 weeks, 5 days... half way there! Baby Breugem is due February 27th, 2007. We took Grammy (my mom) and Oma (Frank's mom) to see the sonogram today... it was so much fun!

Baby Breugem

So, Everyone has been complaining about the lack of updates from the Breugem Family... Well, surprise! We're pregnant! Yes, it's not a joke, it's true. Here's the proof:
















Needless to say, we're ecstatic! We've decided that we don't want to know what the baby's gender is... So, you don't need to ask, we won't know... :)

Our house

Clean on the outside, dirty on the inside. Ironic isn't it.

Luscious Lasagna

Remember our lasagna experiment? One of our half dead potato plants got the lasagna and the other half dead one didn't. We planted them in the ground on the same day and they got watered the same amounts. This is what they looked like after just one month. The lasagna one not only looked healthier, but was also growing lantana and morning glories nearby!

our cute cukes

These are the cucumbers that Jake gave me a couple weeks ago. They have been waiting and waiting and WAITING to go outside in the garden. Did I say the cukes were waiting? I meant to say I have been waiting.... when will it ever stop raining?

Lasagna anyone?

Lasagna anyone?

This is what Patricia Lanza calls a lasagna garden. It's made up of layers of organic matter, much like a compost pile. I used wetted newspaper first, then green weeds, then pine needles, next was kitchen scraps and shredded paper and topped off with composted manure and leaves. The cool thing is that you don't have to wait for it to compost before you use it in the garden.... you just plant right into it. The idea is that you have a raised bed, without weeds and without the wasted space and time composting takes. Im trying to bring this potato vine back to life... it was given to me because it was presumed dead. With a little love I think it will thrive... just like us... the manure's of life mixed with love from the Father make us stronger.

Frank and I made our first apple pie together! It was sooo yummy!

Papapavlo's Bistro

Our 10 month anniversary dinner. Wonderful Mediterranean food and fantastic atmosphere.

My Pop

My Pop

Last night we had a lovely evening celebrating my Pop's birthday... He just got back from one of his jaunts out of state with a friend doing "bussiness". It was good to spend some time with mom and dad over dinner at our house. In traditional mennonite manner, I need to tell you what we ate, and that it was "yummy". .. Mom brought a new shrimp and spinach salad with a lemon and vinegar dressing (wow). I just learned how to make fish so we had pesto and garlic whiting fish, sauteed butternut squash and rice. For dessert mom brought four fancy 500 calorie miniature ice cream cakes (graham cracker crust, nutella, coffee ice cream and whipped cream). Went great with the vanilla nut coffee.

We bought him a years subscription to Car and Driver. Mom got him a gift certificate to the Bible Book Store. Funny thing, I ran into mom at Borders unaware that we were both looking for a book to buy for dad's birthday, but neither of us did. After dad opened his gifts and cards he sat back in the reclining computer chair with his arms behind his head and started listing off all that he was thankful for... for being retired and able to do work that is enjoyable and not back braking, he has great health, he loves his wife, he sincerely enjoys spending time with all of his kids (and one in-law), and all of his family is serving the Lord. "God's really been good to me", he says as he nods his head. I have to agree.

Last night

After writing on the computer for 9 hours and Frank getting off work late (because some idiot shot a CHP this morning on the 99 so it took him an hour and a half to drive to work which meant he had to stay late) we got invited out to dinner by Ruth and Derrick (Frank's sister and her husband). I was so happy.

We went to Hungry Hunter, (yeah) and I ordered some great mahi mahi with a fabulous ceasar salad. And for dessert we had an amazing ice cream cake with oreo crust and 2 inches of whipped cream, drizzeled with fudge and roasted almonds. My stomach wanted to explode on the way home but it was totally worth it. And the best part is, Derrick treated!

I take that back, the best part was going to their new home and playing Apples to Apples. What a fun game. It was a very relaxing evening and we had a fantastic time.... thank you Ruth and Derrick!

How 'bout an update on my schooling....

1. I went to my first class of the semester yesterday. There are people enrolled that will be very helpful to me finishing my thesis. The class is for all thesis writing students of every major... my 4H advisor is in this class! Also, my comittee chair person is one of the teachers and the other teacher is the other comittee member! So I can meet with them weekly to answer questions and get help!

2. I haven't heard about the scholarship yet, keep praying!

3. I am over half way done with my rough draft (minus the formating and illustrations) and I'm still shooting to be done with it by March 1!

4. Thank you for praying for me and sending along scholarship announcements when you hear of them... it's been very much appreciated.

Valentine's Day (ooh la laa)

My man is so good to me... we had a wonder full valentine's day! After giving me a dozen red roses AND potted red tulips AND the sweetest card I ever read (it made me cry), Frank took me for a walk on the bluff of my childhood farm, along the river. The almods were blooming and the smell of honey (and cow manure) was fresh in the air. We walked and talked and watched the sun set (sigh). When we pulled onto the long dirt driveway we stopped to talk to my old neighbor, Mike, who was working in the yard (as usual). He and Nadine have the most beautiful garden! While chatting with him we noticed that half of the orchard had already been pulled out. Wow, it looked different.

We knew it would happen one day but I just didn't expect to see it so soon... all things change in time don't they? I had so many dreams about the "home place" as a child and teen... I was a little sad to see someone else taking over with different dreams and ambitions (not to say they are bad ones). But then when I look at our pictures now, days later, and see my smiling husband I realise that I have better dreams and ambitions to look forward to... raising children and making a home with him. These seem much more adventurous than holding on to the old dreams. I still dream of the home place and haven't fully let it go, but having new dreams comforts me. I am also comforted by the words of our Lord in John 14:1-4
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

This world is not our home is it?

Glad Gladys

I went to visit my old friend Gladys. We haven't been friends all that long, but she is 91 so I can call her my old friend. She is always so happy, it's probably how she got the name.

She and her daughter live on a VERY fixed income and yet she never complains. And what do you think I came home with?! Gifts from Gladys! Homemade honey apricot jam, butternut squash, peanut butter cookies, a magazine and some leftover welfare food she wanted to donate to the shelter. She's amazing!

I took her some wood scraps from a local cabinet shop. She uses them in her wood stove to heat her house in the winter. We first met when I was just learning to garden and she would write to me and give me tips and advice. I've learned so much from her.... She is always talking about what the Lord is doing for her and how He has helped her, she is always wanting to give her last penny for a great cause or charity, she is always busy, she is aways cheerful, she prays constantly about everything, she does her excersizes every morning..... she is a wonderful old friend.

Well i guess its time for another update...

What have we been up to?

• we are both getting over nasty colds, its been two weeks now!
• we had a lovely weekend get together with Gaby and the girls ( friends from wsm) we drank rootbeer floats and they brought me flowers! I planted them in my window box
• Speaking of planting, my fava bean cover crop is about 5 inches tall. Im excited because the neighbor moved out so maybe now i can take over his garden plot too!
• I bought a book on lasagna gardening, im gonna try it.
• Ive been working steadily on my thesis project. Its coming along.
• We celebrated with friends Dennis and Megan last weekend. A sunny Saturday wedding, it was beautiful, frank was the best man (he was oh so cute).
• Andrew also came home for the wedding, it was great to spend time with him and eat moms good cookin.
  
• Andrew, mom and pops came to church with us, Frank and I helped serve communion so it was my first time ever to serve my family communion, and i got to hear andrew sing for the first time too (at a little family worship time sat. night)
• frank filed turbo tax and we are getting a big chunk of money back...whew! this will help pay back some of what we owe on his new transmission. God provided once again!

Prayer requests

Please PRAY for Amelia to receive scholarship money for school this year.
She is sending off applications today and next week... and constantly searching for more...
PRAY also that the LORD would lead and guide her
as she writes her thesis book on Permaculture Gardening.
It must be finished my March1!
THANK YOU

Tomatoes in January

The fondue party

New Year's Eve

Also our first... last year I was at a church youth group "lock-in party",(hey is that an oxymoron or what) and Frank was eating fondue at his parents. But this year I also got to dip my prong with the rest... my first fondue party at that. It was great fun... we dipped crab, steak, chicken, shrimp, veggies and all sorts of things unimaginable.... and for dessert we had homemade Dutch delectables; ollie bollen and apple flappen (I know I spelled those horribly wrong but I'm still only on disc one of my begginer Dutch lessons... I love the lessons Esther, thank you again!) After stuffing our faces, all of Frank's sibllings left for parties so we opened up a 1000 piece puzzle in front of the fireplace and worked until it was finished at 1am. Of course we stopped for a 2 minute countdown and a quick swig of apple cider at midnight. Happy New Year all!

Our First Christmas

We had a funny start to our Christmas this year but it was definately memorable... We had previously decided not to buy gifts for each other this Christmas because funds have been short. Besides, we were busy with fun family affairs and hardley noticed until the day of when our parents presented mushy gushy love letters to each other that brought tears to our eyes and reminded us that we hadn't even gotten each other a card!

So we, or should I say I, decided then and there that we were to celebrate Christmas late... of course I had to explain the whole illogical idea to Frank about how my feelings changed and how now I do want to celebrate with gifts, and that we could use the money that we recieved as gifts from our parents to purchase gifts for each other. Good ol Frank, he's so patient with me. And he got me the sweetest thing... a book on country living, self sustainably. It was perfect! I was not as creative; I got him two shirts, socks and boxers.

So to finish my story, the following weekend after Christmas we celebrated at home by getting all dolled up and I made enchiladas, spanish rice and beans for dinner. After opening our gifts we snuggled on the couch with a movie. It was so wonderful. Thank you Frank...

You know how it goes.....

You know how it goes.....

Right when you start putting money away in savings, things happen. Last friday I took my car in to get the transmission looked at, with much trepidation I might add. And yeah, it was going to be $2800!!! Can you believe that? So, I thought, bite the BIG OL' stinkin' bullet, and get it fixed. My car has at least 100K left in it. So I signed the thing so that they could order the rebuilt transmission.

But over the weekend I talked to my father-in-law, and he suggested I get another quote, that this sounded really expensive. I agreed, and went to aamco this morning. $40 to get a diagnostic ran on my tranny. So I did it. 2 hours later and $40 poorer, I found out what I already knew... that it's on its way out.

Aamco's quote was $1675 for labor and a new torque converter $325 for "Soft parts" and $250 to $800 for "Hard parts". ("Soft" parts being for gaskets and the like, and "Hard" parts being actual gears and such.) And not only that, but I called the first place to see if I could get out of that one, and they said only if I pay to ship the tranny and restock it (that being whatever shipping would cost, plus a "restocking" fee of 10% a total of about $300). So,... rather than paying the $300 shipping-restocking fee, plus whatever aamco would charge, which would end up being at least as expensive as the first place I went to, I casually went back into the aamco office, paid for the diagnostic, told them "No, thank you." and left.

So, now I'm going to go to the original place since I got them to take $100 dollars off the amount... Man have I never felt as stressed as now...

Frank