Papa and Nanny send you lots of xxxooo
My birthday letter to Mia on her 6th Birthday
7 years ago
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Happy, happy 3rd birthday, Brock!!!
Today Brock is 3 years old!! Have a happy, happy birthday and enjoy your big party today with your aunts, uncles, cousin Robert and all your friends. We love you sooooooooooooo much!!
Papa and Nanny send you lots of xxxooo
Papa and Nanny send you lots of xxxooo
Friday, September 18, 2009
Our 33 Anniversary...
Today we are celebrating our 33rd anniversary. God has blessed us "above what we could ask or think" over all these years. We have for wonderful children...Rachel, Elizabeth, Rebekah and Daniel, 1 beautiful daughter-in-law - Candice, 3 sons-in-law - Matt, Jason and Ben, and 5 of the most adorable grandbabies....Brock, Micah, Evie, Robert and Caleb.
We thank the Lord every day for the 33 years He has given us together to serve Him...we were 1 year in Winona Lake, Indiana, 7 years in Newell, Iowa, and now 25+ years in Manton, Michigan.
But most of all, I am so thankful for the loving, godly husband and best friend that I have had for all these years, and pray that we will have many more together.
We thank the Lord every day for the 33 years He has given us together to serve Him...we were 1 year in Winona Lake, Indiana, 7 years in Newell, Iowa, and now 25+ years in Manton, Michigan.
But most of all, I am so thankful for the loving, godly husband and best friend that I have had for all these years, and pray that we will have many more together.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Happy, happy 1st birthday, Evie Marie
Happy 1st birthday, Evie!!! What a joy you have brought to our family, and we love you sooooooo much! Enjoy your very special day, and your big party on Saturday! Papa and Nanny send you lots of hugs and kisses xxxxoooo
Evie enjoying her birthday cake!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Taiwan...what a wonderful trip
What a wonderful week we had in Taiwan with Matt, Rachel, Micah and new baby Caleb. What a joy to be there and hold our precious new grandson and enjoy interacting with Micah.
How we miss our little ones!!
In Danshui
at the zoo
at the zoo
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
More Caleb...
Caleb's Birth....by Rachel
August 19th at 3:59am
Caleb arrived earlier than I thought he would! I had a really busy day on Tuesday...busier than normal. Went hiking in the morning and then took Micah for a swim and then did quite a bit of work in the afternoon. Imagine my surprise when I started having strong contractions around 10pm! I was in a bit of denial and thought I might have a touch of the stomach flu since I felt so sick...and actually threw up. I called our doula, Angie, and she laughed and said, "You don't have the flu! You're going into labor!" And so I was. The contractions came on strong right away, and I labored at home until 6am. Angie came over at 3am to help coach me through them. Let me tell you, a doula is a wise investment. I don't know what I would have done without her! I used a birthing ball and stayed at home until Angie thought I was dialated to 4cm. We called Linda and Campbell, who came over to watch Micah (thanks, guys!), and off we went to the hospital! Good thing we left when we did...shortly after I arrived, my water broke and I dilated to 8cm in about 30 minutes! By the time I got around to asking about an epidural, they told me it was too late---this baby was coming soon! So no drugs for this mama! Angie and Matt were right by my side as I pushed for a good 2 hours...that was the hardest part. Dr. Lee (who has delivered a lot of ORTV babies) was great...he's a very quiet Chinese man, but I saw a different side of him in labor...he would loudly encourage me to "push,push,push,push,pushpushpushpush!" Those of you who have had Dr. Lee know what I'm talking about, right? He was great. After a LOT of pushing, Caleb was born at 10:11am. What an incredible feeling...Matt cut the umbilical cord, and I was able to feed him immediately. Praise the Lord. I had visitors within a couple of hours and was so giddy that I didn't sleep until that night...I was too excited to sleep! I'm so thankful everything went well, and I know a lot of you were praying for me. THANK YOU. I have been eating the traditional Chinese "post-birth" food the last few days, which was a gift from some dear Chinese friends. Chinese women take a "month of rest" after they give birth, and even though I'm not doing an official month of rest, I am open to eating some of the traditional soups, foods, etc. I took some pictures of the foods I've eaten the last couple of days, which are very different from the food you'd find in a U.S. hospital. Well, that's the story in a nutshell! More details than you wanted, I'm sure, but I know there are a few of you who are interested in the story. What an incredible journey...thank you, Lord, for allowing me to conceive (that was a miracle in itself) and give birth to a healthy baby boy. We pray that Caleb will love you with his whole heart, soul, mind and strength.
August 19th at 3:59am
Caleb arrived earlier than I thought he would! I had a really busy day on Tuesday...busier than normal. Went hiking in the morning and then took Micah for a swim and then did quite a bit of work in the afternoon. Imagine my surprise when I started having strong contractions around 10pm! I was in a bit of denial and thought I might have a touch of the stomach flu since I felt so sick...and actually threw up. I called our doula, Angie, and she laughed and said, "You don't have the flu! You're going into labor!" And so I was. The contractions came on strong right away, and I labored at home until 6am. Angie came over at 3am to help coach me through them. Let me tell you, a doula is a wise investment. I don't know what I would have done without her! I used a birthing ball and stayed at home until Angie thought I was dialated to 4cm. We called Linda and Campbell, who came over to watch Micah (thanks, guys!), and off we went to the hospital! Good thing we left when we did...shortly after I arrived, my water broke and I dilated to 8cm in about 30 minutes! By the time I got around to asking about an epidural, they told me it was too late---this baby was coming soon! So no drugs for this mama! Angie and Matt were right by my side as I pushed for a good 2 hours...that was the hardest part. Dr. Lee (who has delivered a lot of ORTV babies) was great...he's a very quiet Chinese man, but I saw a different side of him in labor...he would loudly encourage me to "push,push,push,push,pushpushpushpush!" Those of you who have had Dr. Lee know what I'm talking about, right? He was great. After a LOT of pushing, Caleb was born at 10:11am. What an incredible feeling...Matt cut the umbilical cord, and I was able to feed him immediately. Praise the Lord. I had visitors within a couple of hours and was so giddy that I didn't sleep until that night...I was too excited to sleep! I'm so thankful everything went well, and I know a lot of you were praying for me. THANK YOU. I have been eating the traditional Chinese "post-birth" food the last few days, which was a gift from some dear Chinese friends. Chinese women take a "month of rest" after they give birth, and even though I'm not doing an official month of rest, I am open to eating some of the traditional soups, foods, etc. I took some pictures of the foods I've eaten the last couple of days, which are very different from the food you'd find in a U.S. hospital. Well, that's the story in a nutshell! More details than you wanted, I'm sure, but I know there are a few of you who are interested in the story. What an incredible journey...thank you, Lord, for allowing me to conceive (that was a miracle in itself) and give birth to a healthy baby boy. We pray that Caleb will love you with his whole heart, soul, mind and strength.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Caleb Andrew Sawatzky has arrived!!!
Announcing...
Caleb Andrew Sawatzky
August 19th
10:11am
7 1/2 lbs
21" long
What a wonderful blessing from the Lord! Both Mommy and baby are doing fine!
Caleb will be welcomed home by big brother, Micah
Caleb Andrew Sawatzky
August 19th
10:11am
7 1/2 lbs
21" long
What a wonderful blessing from the Lord! Both Mommy and baby are doing fine!
Caleb will be welcomed home by big brother, Micah
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Many hands working together
Today we had a BIG workday here at church....we had a super crew out! We got our beautiful stairway stained
A crew stained our Ark and train at our play area
Staining the back deck of the church
Mowing lawns and pulled weeds...
Staining the back deck of the church
Mowing lawns and pulled weeds...
Cleaning out the shed and washing windows
and serving a DELICIOUS lunch to all...with great homemade pies :)
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