BIRTH-DAY

With grateful hearts and much thanksgiving, we announce the arrival of Ethan Francis.

Number eight (earthside) arrived August 20th at 5:31 in the morning.

Overall, this was an easy pregnancy, minimal sickness and I felt good throughout.  

That is up until the last couple weeks.  Given the arrival times of the last couple of babies, I fully expected to have this guy a bit earlier than he arrived, however, all is God's perfect timing.

I had been having contractions since the last week of July--but nothing ever progressed and time went on..and on..and on..

I will say I got a bit grumpy and anxious that no baby was coming.  It literally felt like he was just going to stay inside for good.  Irrational, I know.  We passed the due date and still nothing.  I ended up having to schedule some tests if he did not arrive by a certain time.

Well, again--in God's perfect time, I woke up sometime after 2am on Thursday, August 20th--an unseasonably cold August morning (it was in the 50's at that hour!)-- wondering if I was dreaming.  I used the bathroom and went back to bed..or tried to at least.  It was not a dream.  The pain was real. BUT--I had been having contractions on and off for a couple weeks, so nothing to get excited about.  I went to sit in the living room instead of laying back down.  A couple trips to the bathroom and more contractions, and I decided to wake Mike up "just in case" around 3am.  It has to be noted that he had very much been looking forward to a special workout at the gym that morning, so his plans were "ruined" in that regard.  Contractions were about 3-5 minutes apart and I called the midwives around 3:30am.  Mike got to setting up all the birth paraphenalia --

as I paced the kitchen.  The midwives arrived around 4:15/4:30am, I'm not 100% sure because I was not watching the clock.  Contractions were about the same--not picking up or getting closer.  I had an exam to hopefully speed things up--but there was nothing to speed up--I was already at 8-9cm and the bag of waters was bulging.  (I've only had one baby where the waters broke and no baby immediately followed)

So I walked around a bit more and got in the tub maybe 5:15am--a few short minutes later I had to push and out popped mister Ethan!!  Two pushes and there he was!  

A lot smaller than I had expected at 8lbs 9 oz..(not that I'm complaining!!).

The kids started peeking around the corner shortly afterwards, while I was still in the tub.  The girls first had awoken when he cried and then Jared and Grant.  The boys downstairs took awhile to come up and eventually we woke up Levi so we could get a pictures with everyone together.

We were a little worried about how this guy would react, but honestly other than nap time being off for him lately, he has been really good and loves to hold Ethan. 

About an hour after birth, we rounded up the troops.  The midwives left a bit after 7am and just like that we are a family of 10!  Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!

Ethan means "Strong" and Francis is the masculine spelling as he is named after my maternal grandmother.

He is sleeping pretty well and eating like a champ and just looking as cute as can be all the while.

We are so very thankful for this new blessing!!

SNEAK PEAK

Spring of 2020 we started a bit of a renovation project.

Finishing the basement--or semi-finishing the basement.

I don't really have before pictures, but its hard to believe it is the same space..

We had a toilet hook-up down there, but no bathroom...Now there is a bathroom, a playroom and a bedroom for the two oldest boys.  As you can see from the pictures below-it is not completely done yet, but its come a long way.  

Even not completely finished--it is amazing to have the extra space, especially for the kids to play!

WHY NOT?

We welcome our new additions today! 

So far name suggestions are Ham and Bacon..we will see.  

It all came together pretty quickly--

there had been a sign out down the road from us "piglets for sale" and it caught my eye every time I passed it.  I mentioned that to Mike and he said the same.  So we decided to see how much they were going for and the price was right.

He got the pigpen built very quickly, we picked up feed and lo and behold the piggies were picked up this morning!

GRADUATION 2020

We had a Kindergarten and 8th grade graduation this year!

It was postponed from May until the end of July--but it happened!!

Unfortunately, we didn't get too many pictures of the 8th grade "ceremony" because as parents we were called up to stand with him and say a couple of words.

We're entering high school in a few short weeks!  A whole new experience.

Thanks to TLC for making this happen "with everything going on" and thanks to Liebenzell for allowing us to use the property!

Congratulations, Graduates!

A THING

                                                                                

                                                                  So, this thing happened.

                                                                

                                            We now have a 14 year old!  Where did that time go?

                                        Not to mention that we have an upcoming FRESHMAN!!!

    

Graduation pictures will follow (soon, I hope).

"CRUNCH"

We had been talking about replacing our 2004 15 passenger van for awhile.

While it served us well, with very little issue for almost 8 years--it was literally starting to fall apart.

Then Covid hit and we decided since it wasn't getting a whole lot of use, we would wait until next year to replace it.  

Well, a couple of Sundays ago, we were all dressed and loaded into the van for church and it wouldn't start.  Not even with a jump.

It was a fairly simple fix, but just one more thing added to the list against it.

A day or so after it was fixed and road ready, we had a fairly lengthy drive on a super hot day.

The A/C doesn't work and the big back window latch was broken so couldn't be opened.

Needless to say, it was miserable.

I'm not really big on a/c either, but on a day like that it was necessary and didn't work.

I believe it was literally the day before when I was informed that Mike had a van trade-in at work.

He ended up bringing it home for a test-drive.

A 2016 12 passenger transit van.

The dealership has never had this kind of trade-in during the entirety of his hire there. 

Hardly any miles on it and too good to pass up.

It seemed very providential that at this time and place it pretty much fell into our laps.

Sooo, paperwork is completed and we now have what is dubbed "Crunch."

The wrap is slowly coming off.

Out with the old and in with the new.

It does not have the same beefy feel of the E350, the front end is shorter, a few less seats and a couple of other differences--but overall we are pleased.  It rides nicely.  

We thank the Lord for His provision!

GOD IS IN CONTROL

What a crazy time we are living in right now, don't you agree?

This Covid-19 virus is terrorizing the world.

Schools are closed.

Government offices are closed.

Many "non-essential" businesses are closed.

Even some churches have shut their doors.

Curfews are in place.

Quarantines abound.

Just today 25 people were laid off from my husband's place of employment.

Through it all, God's Word says that there is nothing new under the sun.
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever and that should be a comfort to us.

Philippians 4:6-7 says
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 says
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Luke 21:25-28
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

I could go on and on..during this time of fear and uncertainty--LOOK UP
God is in control.