Well,...

We're getting really bad at this. Now that Amelia is pretty much done with her thesis, hopefully she will have time to do some more blogging...

So,... what been going on lately? Well with Miriam's wedding and all of the busyness there of, Hadassah's progressively-longer-each-night sleep at night has definitely taken a turn in the opposite direction. She went from 2 hours her first month or two to 3 to 5 hours by month 3, but now is back down to 2 to 3. Thanks auntie Miriam :)
She of course is cooing, she is "singing" (cooing along with us when we sing), she rolled over (we think it might have been on accident), she has been laughing, she has found her feet and loves to play with them, she "picked" apricots, she's gone swimming, I'm sure that there's more, just can't think of them...
Now is definitely the season in her life of firsts.

Other than what's been going on with her, and with Amelia (her thesis), not too much has been going on with us. I guess that means that I'm(Frank) boring. No news from me.

Here's a taste of the pictures we've been taking lately.



As you can see, our life pretty much revolves around Hadassah now. :)

Frank

Holland '06

We're home from our fun yet busy holiday season in Holland. It was amazing. I don't think I've ever drank so much tea in my life! I can tell that my belly grew because I'm seeing more and more of the bottom of my belly button, but I wonder how much of the weight gain is attributed to all those wonderful pastries, cookies and chocolate! The baby kicked like crazy when we landed in Holland. I said, "It must be as excited as I am to get off this plane" (it was a 9 hour flight). Frank said with a smirk, "No, it's because it's in the Mother Land."

I do know more Dutch than I did before, hopefully I can retain it. We bought, and received as gifts, lots of Dutch baby things, even some children's books. So maybe I will learn Dutch along with the baby. Traveling pregnant at 8 months was not as bad as I expected. I was able to go for a walk daily, which helped me stay regular and full of energy instead of gas ;) I was fed more than regularly, pampered beyond belief and again, given ample amounts of fluids. Frank and his family took such good care of me... always giving me the best seat and the best bed in the house. Frank carried my purse/jacket/scarf all the time, massaged my aching feet/legs/back, stayed home from family outings to rest with me and many other such selfless things. I told him, "Next time we go on a family vacation we have to plan for me to be pregnant again!"

We are only seven weeks away from delivery.... kinda crazy to think about! We still have to take Lamaze classes, take the hospital stork tour, register for gifts, find a pediatrician, have a baby shower, prepare a birthing plan.... and the list goes on. I came home from Holland with a nasty cold and have since passed it on to Frank. We will wait until it passes to get started on these things. We are also still fighting jet lag with a 9 hour time difference. These have slowed us down considerably.

For now I am working on the finishing touches of my thesis, it needs to be turned in this week! So I will be glued to the computer for a few days while my nose runs freely. It was almost torturous to stay home from church yesterday... we miss our friends and church family so much! But, we didn't want to pass on this cold virus to anyone. We spent most of the day in bed and on the couch. Frank went to work today even though he didn't feel well. The only alternative was to spend another quiet day at home (without use of the computer since I am using it today). I think the thought of another day without social interaction motivated him to go to work sick. Hopefully it will pass quickly.

Frank is working on putting our pictures into an online photo album. We are trying to combine the pictures from about 4 cameras, so who knows how long that will take. Stay tuned!

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

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.

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

today is voting day, and im wearing my sticker proudly. its only 9:44 and i think i will be planted in front the computer screen all day long... i dread the thought. i should have waited to vote, just so i'd have a reason to get out of the house. i have a stack of 20+ books to go through and start my literature review for my prospectus.... not even the thesis yet.... just the paper to persuade the committee to allow me to write my thesis on this subject -- a beginners guide to permaculture; gardening for holisitic living. thats the working title anyway. Here's my newest read..... Last Child In The Woods, Saving our children from nature deficit disorder. It's a must read for parents and teachers. I have highlights on every other page!

This morning I went for a walk with my friend Jessica Banana (yes thats her real name) and Jordan (we call him Jor Jor)... the cutest baby ever. I think we walked three miles. Its a good thing I didn't wear my new five dollar Hi tech boots because after grocery shopping my feet were really feeling it, and not just because i spilled hot grease on my foot this morning while frying eggs.
Today is my second day of official unemployment. Yipeeeeeeeeee. We have the winter season free to do fun stuff like travel for the holidays, make crafts and take naps. Isn't that sweet of the county? Ive already been to Michaels craft store. I'm making things to sell at my friends Christmas boutique on November 18 and 19.... finger crocheted scarves, votive candle holders, headpieces like the ones my flower girls wore and grandmas special cinnamon rolls. I'm supposed to be writing a book for my masters project but these things are much more fun!

thats all for now......