James Harold Freidel was born on December 12th at 9:52 pm.
Vital stats:
7 lbs. 0 oz.
20 inches long
Mother and baby are doing great! More pictures to follow.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
It's a boy!
IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!!!
James Harold Freidel was born on December 12th at 9:52 pm.
Vital stats:
7 lbs. 0 oz.
20 inches long
Mother and baby are doing great! More pictures to follow.
James Harold Freidel was born on December 12th at 9:52 pm.
Vital stats:
7 lbs. 0 oz.
20 inches long
Mother and baby are doing great! More pictures to follow.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thanksgiving
One of the not so wonderful things of married life is having to make decisions on which family to spend what holiday with. We wish we could be everywhere at once, but alas it doesn't work that way. Last Thanksgiving we drove up to Iowa with Paul's family to visit Grandpa and Grandma Freidel and this year we drove to Wisconsin with my family. It is really the only time of the year we get to see all my relatives - my Uncle Sam and Aunt Evie from Georgia, Uncle Pete and Aunt Lori from Lake Zurich, and the ones we see a bit more often, Uncle Otto, Aunt Gail and Niki, Uncle Neil, and Opa and Oma all from Wisconsin. Opa is now in a wheel chair but thankfully he is not shaking from his Parkinson's disease. I know it brings him a lot of joy to see his grandchildren. While we were letting our turkey digest before desert, I took some pictures for a photography project I'm working on. They didn't all turn out - I'm still learning the ropes of photography and indoor lighting, but they sure were fun to take!
This is Niki's dog Teddy posing for me. I should have used the flash.
Aunt Evie and Ralphie.
Niki in my favorite hat (my rehearsal dinner hat and present from Paul).
On November 18th, I took my final exam for the ABRSM diploma from England. It went really well, and although I won't know the results for quite awhile, I am pretty sure I passed. No more studying (at least for now)! Paul has two more weeks left and he's done with his second Masters. We'll get to have dinner together on Wednesdays now. Only 4-5 more weeks till the baby is born - and dramatic change in our lives!
The week before last (the 17th-23rd, Paul was gone first at a work training conference and then hunting in Jo Davies County (sp?). I saw him all of two hours between him getting back from the conference and leaving for hunting (actually less as I got home at 10:00PM and he left at 12:30AM). I didn't want to spend all those nights by myself, so my sisters took turns coming and spending the night. On Saturday night, all of them spent the night and we had fun watching a couple movies and talking - as well as trying on my hats. I had them all over my hall floor. I didn't know I had so many. Here are a few of them in a couple pictures.
I have really difficult lighting to work with in my house. In this case, it gave me an antique looking orange color which I thought was pretty.
A fun shot using a slow shutter speed and zooming out as the picture was being exposed.
Katie in a fun hat.
My photogenic sister Kristine posing.
This past weekend, Niki was over at my parents, so Kristine and Niki drove over to the river to pose some more for me. Brittany came to help out and hold the props.
This is Niki's dog Teddy posing for me. I should have used the flash.
Aunt Evie and Ralphie.
Niki in my favorite hat (my rehearsal dinner hat and present from Paul).
On November 18th, I took my final exam for the ABRSM diploma from England. It went really well, and although I won't know the results for quite awhile, I am pretty sure I passed. No more studying (at least for now)! Paul has two more weeks left and he's done with his second Masters. We'll get to have dinner together on Wednesdays now. Only 4-5 more weeks till the baby is born - and dramatic change in our lives!
The week before last (the 17th-23rd, Paul was gone first at a work training conference and then hunting in Jo Davies County (sp?). I saw him all of two hours between him getting back from the conference and leaving for hunting (actually less as I got home at 10:00PM and he left at 12:30AM). I didn't want to spend all those nights by myself, so my sisters took turns coming and spending the night. On Saturday night, all of them spent the night and we had fun watching a couple movies and talking - as well as trying on my hats. I had them all over my hall floor. I didn't know I had so many. Here are a few of them in a couple pictures.
I have really difficult lighting to work with in my house. In this case, it gave me an antique looking orange color which I thought was pretty.
A fun shot using a slow shutter speed and zooming out as the picture was being exposed.
Katie in a fun hat.
My photogenic sister Kristine posing.
This past weekend, Niki was over at my parents, so Kristine and Niki drove over to the river to pose some more for me. Brittany came to help out and hold the props.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Happenings
Hi Everyone!
I've been staying busy studying for my DipABRSM Vocal Performance test which is coming up on the 18th of this month. I had to drop one of my songs due to lack of lung capacity (baby of course) and add two songs. I still have some work to do on memorizing, but the six songs I'll be performing are coming along. The program notes I had to write for my exam are done - yeah! The part I'm the most unsure about is the sight singing part - which is not my strength.
I've also been taking a photography course at the community college in Elgin here - I'm hoping I'm retaining most of the information. Today at the co-op I teach choir at, we had a picture day. I saw the photographer focus on the grey background behind us and then aim the lens at us - and I actually knew what she was doing! At least a few concepts are getting into my pregnancy brain:) Paul has been busy with work and has had to go on a couple out of town business trips in the past couple weeks and next week will be gone for almost the whole week (business and hunting with four of our brothers).
Speaking of hunting, for those of you that know my family and are interested in hunting, Jordan (my 18 almost 19 year old brother) took up bow hunting this year and has already gotten 3 bucks and 3 does! 5 of his deer he got within 24 hours! I think my parents freezer will be full this winter, although some of it will be turned into jerky as my brother Joshua has taken up the art of making jerky - and boy is it good!
Paul and I got to see Abel and meet his new family this past Saturday. It was so nice to see him again. We are so blessed that he is in a wonderful Christian home with wonderful parents. The Lord has really protected him and we believe that He has a special plan for Abel.
Baby's movements are getting bigger and baby gets hiccups a few times a day (poor thing - although I know the head is down whenever I feel the hiccups). I have around 7-8 weeks left to go and then we'll be holding our little one!!!! I am moving slower these days, am looking big for a first time mom, have started getting heartburn for the first time in my life, have resorted to wearing zippered boots, and do have some trouble getting to sleep as it is hard to get comfortable, but overall, I am really feeling well. Paul is having daddy dreams (I'm having dreams about my test coming up) and can't wait to see our little one and find out if we have a little Abigail or a James! I have a bunch of mommy projects that I am looking forward to finishing after my test, and am looking forward to tackling a huge list of "things to do before the baby". Needless to say, we are both getting excited about being parents! My brother Caleb just had one of his orthodontist appointments and when asked what color rubber bands he wanted on his braces, he said pink and blue. So he is going around wearing "uncle colors" proclaiming that he is going to be an uncle, and is looking forward to changing them to all pink or all blue (isn't he sweet)! We have some very excited siblings - not to mention the soon to be grandparents! I don't know what we're going to do on Sunday's - draw numbers maybe? I told my father-in-law that the grandparents get first dibs.
~Rebecca
I've been staying busy studying for my DipABRSM Vocal Performance test which is coming up on the 18th of this month. I had to drop one of my songs due to lack of lung capacity (baby of course) and add two songs. I still have some work to do on memorizing, but the six songs I'll be performing are coming along. The program notes I had to write for my exam are done - yeah! The part I'm the most unsure about is the sight singing part - which is not my strength.
I've also been taking a photography course at the community college in Elgin here - I'm hoping I'm retaining most of the information. Today at the co-op I teach choir at, we had a picture day. I saw the photographer focus on the grey background behind us and then aim the lens at us - and I actually knew what she was doing! At least a few concepts are getting into my pregnancy brain:) Paul has been busy with work and has had to go on a couple out of town business trips in the past couple weeks and next week will be gone for almost the whole week (business and hunting with four of our brothers).
Speaking of hunting, for those of you that know my family and are interested in hunting, Jordan (my 18 almost 19 year old brother) took up bow hunting this year and has already gotten 3 bucks and 3 does! 5 of his deer he got within 24 hours! I think my parents freezer will be full this winter, although some of it will be turned into jerky as my brother Joshua has taken up the art of making jerky - and boy is it good!
Paul and I got to see Abel and meet his new family this past Saturday. It was so nice to see him again. We are so blessed that he is in a wonderful Christian home with wonderful parents. The Lord has really protected him and we believe that He has a special plan for Abel.
Baby's movements are getting bigger and baby gets hiccups a few times a day (poor thing - although I know the head is down whenever I feel the hiccups). I have around 7-8 weeks left to go and then we'll be holding our little one!!!! I am moving slower these days, am looking big for a first time mom, have started getting heartburn for the first time in my life, have resorted to wearing zippered boots, and do have some trouble getting to sleep as it is hard to get comfortable, but overall, I am really feeling well. Paul is having daddy dreams (I'm having dreams about my test coming up) and can't wait to see our little one and find out if we have a little Abigail or a James! I have a bunch of mommy projects that I am looking forward to finishing after my test, and am looking forward to tackling a huge list of "things to do before the baby". Needless to say, we are both getting excited about being parents! My brother Caleb just had one of his orthodontist appointments and when asked what color rubber bands he wanted on his braces, he said pink and blue. So he is going around wearing "uncle colors" proclaiming that he is going to be an uncle, and is looking forward to changing them to all pink or all blue (isn't he sweet)! We have some very excited siblings - not to mention the soon to be grandparents! I don't know what we're going to do on Sunday's - draw numbers maybe? I told my father-in-law that the grandparents get first dibs.
~Rebecca
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
CANADA
Mandy's Wedding
It was so much fun to spend a few days with the Metcalfe Family before the wedding helping get ready for the big day! As there is for any wedding, there were so many last minute details to accomplish and everyone pitched in. Kristine, cousin Niki, Aunt Alida, and her granddaughter Riley were all up in Canada as well - the Metcalfe's had quite the household!
Paul helping Benjamin put chinking material in his log house "bedroom".
Here are Michaela, Katherine, and Meghan doing dishes and helping with food. Suzannah and Abigail were the main meal people bless their hearts - they had so many people to ccok for! They also ended up with most of the dishes.
Rachel putting the greenery on the archway.
Crystal putting the program together (Mandy is in the background). Crystal is getting married on November 29th! She and Phil got engaged while we were there. She's going to live in Manitoba - a bit closer to us.
Paul and I goofing around as we helped make "helper" gifts - chocolate covered pretzels YUM!
Paul and "the crew" washing the vehicles (dirt roads sure make them dusty).
The happy couple with the beautiful quilt Krissy made for them.
Abigail, Niki, and I "arranging" their honeymoon trailer:) Paul also decorated the outside of the trailer (with nice decorations + some cans).
Paul and I ended up getting "pranked" back as we ended up camping in the same campground as the newlyweds (granted it had 700+ sites). We came back one day from hiking and found our pranking reciprocated!
THE BIG DAY!
Uncle Ken and Aunt Joan - parents of the bride.
Rachel getting ready.
The beautiful bride!
The happy bride! Mandy made her own dress!
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Petka!
The bridal party.
The bride and her attendants.
The Metcalfe Family.
The newly engaged couple (they were engaged the day before) Phil and Crystal.
It was so much fun to spend a few days with the Metcalfe Family before the wedding helping get ready for the big day! As there is for any wedding, there were so many last minute details to accomplish and everyone pitched in. Kristine, cousin Niki, Aunt Alida, and her granddaughter Riley were all up in Canada as well - the Metcalfe's had quite the household!
Paul helping Benjamin put chinking material in his log house "bedroom".
Here are Michaela, Katherine, and Meghan doing dishes and helping with food. Suzannah and Abigail were the main meal people bless their hearts - they had so many people to ccok for! They also ended up with most of the dishes.
Rachel putting the greenery on the archway.
Crystal putting the program together (Mandy is in the background). Crystal is getting married on November 29th! She and Phil got engaged while we were there. She's going to live in Manitoba - a bit closer to us.
Paul and I goofing around as we helped make "helper" gifts - chocolate covered pretzels YUM!
Paul and "the crew" washing the vehicles (dirt roads sure make them dusty).
The happy couple with the beautiful quilt Krissy made for them.
Abigail, Niki, and I "arranging" their honeymoon trailer:) Paul also decorated the outside of the trailer (with nice decorations + some cans).
Paul and I ended up getting "pranked" back as we ended up camping in the same campground as the newlyweds (granted it had 700+ sites). We came back one day from hiking and found our pranking reciprocated!
THE BIG DAY!
Uncle Ken and Aunt Joan - parents of the bride.
Rachel getting ready.
The beautiful bride!
The happy bride! Mandy made her own dress!
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Petka!
The bridal party.
The bride and her attendants.
The Metcalfe Family.
The newly engaged couple (they were engaged the day before) Phil and Crystal.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Belated Post
So much has happened in the past couple weeks it's hard to know where to start!
I guess I'll start with August 22nd. We had a birthday/goodbye party for Abel as he was going to his mom's the next day. We had both our families over and a few neighbors. I wanted to do something with a Mexican theme so we had tacos (Krissy informed me American tacos) for dinner. Our neighbors Bill and Jen let us use their bags game so the kids had fun tossing bean bags and also tried their skill swinging at the pinata. Saturday, we packed up all Abel's belongings (a whole car full) and brought him to his mom's house. I did have trouble emotionally packing up his things - the little boy things that had been around the house for a few months. It wasn't easy to know that he wouldn't be coming back. We brought him to his mom's and explained all the new procedures to her and then we left. Paul took me out to Panera Bread and wasn't embarrassed by my red eyes. He was such an encouragement to me - reminding me that Abel is in the Lord's hands and that we could trust the Lord for Abel's care.
Sunday we went out to eat with my parents in honor of our 1st Anniversary. When we got out of the restaurant and Paul started up the car, it wouldn't move. He tried to turn it off and on several times but to no avail. He got out to see if the bumper was stuck on the curb, but it wasn't. He got back into the car and said "I hope it's not the transmission" (it was the car we were taking on vacation). I saw my dad in my mirror and looked in the back of his truck and saw Brittany in the back with a video camera so I got out laughing and said "OK guys, what did you do?" Then, all my siblings came out of the woodwork. They had jacked up the front of our car and put it on blocks and of course captured our attempt at leaving:) Life with the Knottnerus' - that sounds like a good book title:)
Monday I went to Abel's school and gave the school nurse all the info she would need to care for him. We found out that Abel's mom forgot to send his insulin with him (it's a different insulin system than last year) so I ran around and got it.
Monday night (August 25th) Paul and I watched the video of our wedding as Monday was our 1st Anniversary! We also finished the last piece of our cake (we ate a slice every month as we celebrated our "monthaversary's").
Tuesday we went to Lake Geneva and had lunch at a old-fashioned diner and then walked around the town. My parents had given us a gift certificate for an "ice cream social boat ride" on Lake Geneva. It was so relaxing and romantic:) We sat by the lake for awhile, had dinner, and then after searching the stores for a tea cup, we headed home. It was a relaxing day - just what we both needed after all the preparation we spent getting Abel ready.
Wednesday early morning Kristine came home! YEA! We all missed her so much while she was volunteering at the orphanage in Mexico for two months. Her flight was delayed around four hours, but she made it home safely. She said she enjoyed her time there but that she was very ready to come home. I sure hope when Krissy gets married some day, that she will stay nearby - I really missed talking to and seeing her while she was gone.
Friday night I got a call from Abel's new foster mom. At first I was confused as I was helping Abel's mom line up childcare. We don't know all that happened, but for some reason, his mom is unable to care for him. Abel is with a wonderful Christian family now that has three children including another six year old and he is now going to a Christian school. We truly believe that the Lord has His hand on Abel and protected him by putting him in the wonderful home he is in and will continue to protect him. He has been covered in prayer since before we received him into our home and we are praying daily for him.
Life right now is full of getting ready to go on our trip. We leave this Saturday! I am starting to get really excited - seeing our cousins again in Alberta will be so much fun! After the week of wedding preparations and ceremony, Paul and I will travel five hours south to Jasper, Lake Louise, and then to Banff. They are in a beautiful stretch of the Canadian Rockies with Glaciers and ice fields all around. We'll be camping (with an air mattress) so I have piles of gear all around the house:) Paul visited Jasper and Banff in '05 with his siblings Marie and the twins (Jesse and Jeremiah) when they went to Alaska, so he is already declared that he is going to be my personal tour guide:)
Last night we vacuumed out the cars and steam cleaned them - we are ending up having to take Mustard (yup the get away car at our wedding - go back to the wedding entry if you want to see why our car is called Mustard) as Mayo is having oil problems. That means less room, but I think we'll manage - we'll see Friday night I guess.
When we get back, I'll post some of the pictures from our trip.
Till then!
Rebecca
I guess I'll start with August 22nd. We had a birthday/goodbye party for Abel as he was going to his mom's the next day. We had both our families over and a few neighbors. I wanted to do something with a Mexican theme so we had tacos (Krissy informed me American tacos) for dinner. Our neighbors Bill and Jen let us use their bags game so the kids had fun tossing bean bags and also tried their skill swinging at the pinata. Saturday, we packed up all Abel's belongings (a whole car full) and brought him to his mom's house. I did have trouble emotionally packing up his things - the little boy things that had been around the house for a few months. It wasn't easy to know that he wouldn't be coming back. We brought him to his mom's and explained all the new procedures to her and then we left. Paul took me out to Panera Bread and wasn't embarrassed by my red eyes. He was such an encouragement to me - reminding me that Abel is in the Lord's hands and that we could trust the Lord for Abel's care.
Sunday we went out to eat with my parents in honor of our 1st Anniversary. When we got out of the restaurant and Paul started up the car, it wouldn't move. He tried to turn it off and on several times but to no avail. He got out to see if the bumper was stuck on the curb, but it wasn't. He got back into the car and said "I hope it's not the transmission" (it was the car we were taking on vacation). I saw my dad in my mirror and looked in the back of his truck and saw Brittany in the back with a video camera so I got out laughing and said "OK guys, what did you do?" Then, all my siblings came out of the woodwork. They had jacked up the front of our car and put it on blocks and of course captured our attempt at leaving:) Life with the Knottnerus' - that sounds like a good book title:)
Monday I went to Abel's school and gave the school nurse all the info she would need to care for him. We found out that Abel's mom forgot to send his insulin with him (it's a different insulin system than last year) so I ran around and got it.
Monday night (August 25th) Paul and I watched the video of our wedding as Monday was our 1st Anniversary! We also finished the last piece of our cake (we ate a slice every month as we celebrated our "monthaversary's").
Tuesday we went to Lake Geneva and had lunch at a old-fashioned diner and then walked around the town. My parents had given us a gift certificate for an "ice cream social boat ride" on Lake Geneva. It was so relaxing and romantic:) We sat by the lake for awhile, had dinner, and then after searching the stores for a tea cup, we headed home. It was a relaxing day - just what we both needed after all the preparation we spent getting Abel ready.
Wednesday early morning Kristine came home! YEA! We all missed her so much while she was volunteering at the orphanage in Mexico for two months. Her flight was delayed around four hours, but she made it home safely. She said she enjoyed her time there but that she was very ready to come home. I sure hope when Krissy gets married some day, that she will stay nearby - I really missed talking to and seeing her while she was gone.
Friday night I got a call from Abel's new foster mom. At first I was confused as I was helping Abel's mom line up childcare. We don't know all that happened, but for some reason, his mom is unable to care for him. Abel is with a wonderful Christian family now that has three children including another six year old and he is now going to a Christian school. We truly believe that the Lord has His hand on Abel and protected him by putting him in the wonderful home he is in and will continue to protect him. He has been covered in prayer since before we received him into our home and we are praying daily for him.
Life right now is full of getting ready to go on our trip. We leave this Saturday! I am starting to get really excited - seeing our cousins again in Alberta will be so much fun! After the week of wedding preparations and ceremony, Paul and I will travel five hours south to Jasper, Lake Louise, and then to Banff. They are in a beautiful stretch of the Canadian Rockies with Glaciers and ice fields all around. We'll be camping (with an air mattress) so I have piles of gear all around the house:) Paul visited Jasper and Banff in '05 with his siblings Marie and the twins (Jesse and Jeremiah) when they went to Alaska, so he is already declared that he is going to be my personal tour guide:)
Last night we vacuumed out the cars and steam cleaned them - we are ending up having to take Mustard (yup the get away car at our wedding - go back to the wedding entry if you want to see why our car is called Mustard) as Mayo is having oil problems. That means less room, but I think we'll manage - we'll see Friday night I guess.
When we get back, I'll post some of the pictures from our trip.
Till then!
Rebecca
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Camping
Paul was able to get Monday and Tuesday off work so after church on Sunday we went up to Union, IL for a few days of camping. Monday we took Abel to the Wild West Town next door to the campground. It was fun to spend time together - we may not have much longer with Abel. It is likely that he'll be with us a little less than two weeks. It will be hard to see him go - he has been such a big part of our life for four months. It will be very different not having a busy six year old running around. Hopefully we'll be able to have continued contact with him and his mom. His mom needs to find a daycare that will bring him to school in the mornings and watch him on Saturdays in Aurora - we are praying his mom will find a place this week. We were hoping that they would move to Elgin so we could help out, but that wasn't meant to be.
Cousins
My cousin Jeremy from Nevada visited my family with his nine month old daughter in July. Unfortunately his wife Rhonda wasn't able to come with - hope to meet you soon Rhonda! We had a really good time laughing and watching London literally "run" around - an early walker.
She sure loves her daddy! After seeing them together, I think Paul won't mind if our baby is a daughter. Something about a daddy and his little girl:)
Jeremy and London
Paul and London
She sure loves her daddy! After seeing them together, I think Paul won't mind if our baby is a daughter. Something about a daddy and his little girl:)
Jeremy and London
Paul and London
Friday, July 18, 2008
Update
Since the last post...
I drove a 15 passenger van full of teenagers (mostly my siblings and siblings-in-law) up to Beulah, MI for our church's youth retreat. I have to say, this group was exceptional - well behaved, respectful, and a lot of fun! Abel had a blast too - he was never without a sibling (nine of mine were on the trip) and enjoyed being the youngest on the trip. A very generous couple from the Roselle church hosted all 28 of us including all the chaperones and the pastors family in their vacation home on Crystal Lake. Mr. Laslo took us out on his boat and many people went tubing (I admit I did jump on the tube - the last sporting activity for me for a long while). We went to the Sleeping Bear Dunes by Lake Michigan and most of the group did the 450 foot run down to Lake Michigan and the exhausting climb back up - this I didn't do but I did it last year with my family. It was a fun 5 days (June 27- July 1). I wish Paul could have come, but he has to save all his vacation days for our trip to Canada and the baby.
On July 16th Abel turned 6 years old! We went swimming at a pool with my family - a great way to spend a hot afternoon. We had a cupcake with his mom at our house this past Sunday and are going to have some of his friends over in a week for a little party.
For all of you who are wondering, Kristine is doing great and loving her time serving in Mexico!
I haven't talked to her on the phone but she has texted me a few times and I am kept updated by my mom. When she first got down there, the English teacher was gone for three weeks. Kristine became the full time English teacher for 30 kids (I think K-8th grade) within days of arriving. The school was using paces and a video program for the class, but the video system was down for awhile so she had to make up her own curriculum till it was fixed. The school at the orphanage is from 8:30 AM to 5 PM and runs all year round except for three weeks (she teaches the last hour of the day). One of those weeks was last week where the orphanage had a VBS - like camp. I think she worked even longer hours during that week! She told my mom that if she didn't have things to come back to, she'd love to stay longer! She gets back on August 26th.
Abel at a Lake Michigan beach.
Anna (Paul's sister), Brittany (my sister), Ruth (Paul's sister)
and a friend.
Some of my favorite guys: Caleb, Josh, Philip, Timothy, and Michael
Brothers: Caleb, Jesse, and Timothy
Bible study led by Wil Franco.
Abel hard a work on one of his creations!
Partial view of the 450' drop - you can't capture it in a picture.
Standing at the top you can't see all the way down as it is so steep!
The group almost back from their climb. They went swimming
while down at the bottom in Lake Michigan.
A little tired maybe?
Another brother shot
A beautiful sunset over Crystal Lake.
The clean up Freidel/Knottnerus crew!
The birthday boy!
Abel and Caleb
Here I am a couple weeks ago starting to get a little belly.
We heard the baby's heartbeat a couple weeks ago -
it was so nice to hear. The Lord has been very
gracious to me this pregnancy - I've hardly had
any nauseousness. I've been very tired, but still
have enough energy to keep on top of a very
active six year old! The due date of our first baby
was a couple days ago - God has given us peace about
the experience. If we had had that baby, we wouldn't
be having our little one now growing inside me and
we wouldn't have had the opportunity to love and care for Abel.
I am so glad that God knows what is best for us!
I drove a 15 passenger van full of teenagers (mostly my siblings and siblings-in-law) up to Beulah, MI for our church's youth retreat. I have to say, this group was exceptional - well behaved, respectful, and a lot of fun! Abel had a blast too - he was never without a sibling (nine of mine were on the trip) and enjoyed being the youngest on the trip. A very generous couple from the Roselle church hosted all 28 of us including all the chaperones and the pastors family in their vacation home on Crystal Lake. Mr. Laslo took us out on his boat and many people went tubing (I admit I did jump on the tube - the last sporting activity for me for a long while). We went to the Sleeping Bear Dunes by Lake Michigan and most of the group did the 450 foot run down to Lake Michigan and the exhausting climb back up - this I didn't do but I did it last year with my family. It was a fun 5 days (June 27- July 1). I wish Paul could have come, but he has to save all his vacation days for our trip to Canada and the baby.
On July 16th Abel turned 6 years old! We went swimming at a pool with my family - a great way to spend a hot afternoon. We had a cupcake with his mom at our house this past Sunday and are going to have some of his friends over in a week for a little party.
For all of you who are wondering, Kristine is doing great and loving her time serving in Mexico!
I haven't talked to her on the phone but she has texted me a few times and I am kept updated by my mom. When she first got down there, the English teacher was gone for three weeks. Kristine became the full time English teacher for 30 kids (I think K-8th grade) within days of arriving. The school was using paces and a video program for the class, but the video system was down for awhile so she had to make up her own curriculum till it was fixed. The school at the orphanage is from 8:30 AM to 5 PM and runs all year round except for three weeks (she teaches the last hour of the day). One of those weeks was last week where the orphanage had a VBS - like camp. I think she worked even longer hours during that week! She told my mom that if she didn't have things to come back to, she'd love to stay longer! She gets back on August 26th.
Abel at a Lake Michigan beach.
Anna (Paul's sister), Brittany (my sister), Ruth (Paul's sister)
and a friend.
Some of my favorite guys: Caleb, Josh, Philip, Timothy, and Michael
Brothers: Caleb, Jesse, and Timothy
Bible study led by Wil Franco.
Abel hard a work on one of his creations!
Partial view of the 450' drop - you can't capture it in a picture.
Standing at the top you can't see all the way down as it is so steep!
The group almost back from their climb. They went swimming
while down at the bottom in Lake Michigan.
A little tired maybe?
Another brother shot
A beautiful sunset over Crystal Lake.
The clean up Freidel/Knottnerus crew!
The birthday boy!
Abel and Caleb
Here I am a couple weeks ago starting to get a little belly.
We heard the baby's heartbeat a couple weeks ago -
it was so nice to hear. The Lord has been very
gracious to me this pregnancy - I've hardly had
any nauseousness. I've been very tired, but still
have enough energy to keep on top of a very
active six year old! The due date of our first baby
was a couple days ago - God has given us peace about
the experience. If we had had that baby, we wouldn't
be having our little one now growing inside me and
we wouldn't have had the opportunity to love and care for Abel.
I am so glad that God knows what is best for us!
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