Thursday, March 20

My sweet little niece Ella (Erin and Andy’s daughter) is getting tubes in her ears this morning. I am praying that all goes well and that the tubes will ease her continuous ear infections.

I’ve got a bad case of the Fridays. We’re off tomorrow for Good Friday, and we’ll be driving down to Rock Rapids to see my family. I’m super excited because I haven’t seen them since Christmas, and it feels like FOREVER!

Melissa and Jaylen will be home too, and we’ll be going to see my mom’s side of the family (Grandma and Grandpa Muecke and the gang) on Saturday. I’m going to pick up some more supplies tonight for the Easter bunny, and I’m going to get some stuff for Melissa and I to do First Communion invites for Jaylen and Megan.

Megan’s first communion is Saturday, April 19 in Mahtomedi. Jaylen’s is Sunday, April 27 in Omaha. I can’t believe they are already in second grade!!! It’s just not possible.

I’m excited for Megan because she is going to a water park today with a little friend from school and her family. Shea is terribly jealous, but I’m excited that Megan has a friend who wants to hang out with her while they’re on Spring Break.

Happy First Day of Spring, BTW! We’re supposed to get 2–4 inches of snow tonight, but at least it’s 40°F and it should melt quickly. I’m hoping the roads will be good for our road trip tomorrow.

I just printed out the spring and summer community ed program calendar. Shea should be old enough for T-ball this year, and Megan is excited to play softball. So we’ve got to get signed up. I am soooo excited to get outside and do things. I can’t wait to start gardening and walking and going to the park.

I wonder what Sam will think of grass. I remember Megan hating it and Shea just plowed through it. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. ;-)

Braggin' on Shea

I don’t brag on my boy Shea as often as I should, but he really is quite the awesome little boy.

• The other day, Charlie picked up the boys from daycare, and Laurie asked him how we taught Shea to write his name. Charlie said, “err, we didn’t.” But low and behold, he can write his name! Megan said she showed him once, but I certainly don’t know of anyone sitting down and really working with him on it. Bad parenting probably – but a great kid.
• So last night he wrote his name on each of his Valentines for the kids at daycare. Plus he counted out the pieces of candy and put the candy and card in bags for each child. He was so cute doing such big kid stuff.
• Yesterday morning he was talking about what he wants to be when grows up. He’s thinking that fireman, policeman, or race-car man would be good. He was weighing the pros and cons of each and asking me which one I thought he should be. I think he’s leaning toward race-car man at the moment.
• Another thing that is so sweet about him is that he always asks before taking something – a drink of my water, a piece of my candy, etc. And he waits for me to respond before taking what he wants. Megan doesn’t do that. :-p

He has his frustrating 4-year-old moments, but he’s a sweetheart. Thanks for letting me share!

Spiritual Maturity

It’s not about what you know; it’s about what you do.

- Jason Anderson, Speaking Pastor, Eagle Brook Church (listen/view online Sept 22&23 at www.eaglebrookchurch.com)

 

I-35W bridge collapse

"I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned." That is the first line of Aaron Shust's song "My Savior, God." The Christian radio station played that this morning after a report from a woman who was requesting prayer for her friend who has not been heard from since the bridge on I35W collapsed. She said her friend's husband and two daughters are at the hotel where families are waiting for word of their loved ones. It is hard to imagine that God could be glorified in this tragedy, but I firmly believe that He will.

My little family and the friends we have heard from are safe. Thank you, Jesus. I got home yesterday at about 6:20 and sat and watched the television in stunned silence. My mouth literally hung open. I remember thinking that I should close it because it was so cliche that it was hanging open, but when I closed it, it just fell open again.

Thank you to all of our friends and family who checked in with us. That bridge is not part of our daily route in any way. We stick pretty close to the St. Paul side, but whenever we go to Minneapolis, that is the route we take. I have sat on that bridge in rush hour traffic many times on my way to meetings and events. In fact, when Charlie and his dad go to the Twins game on Saturday, they would have taken the bridge, but not now.

I was most concerned about my coworker Ron who lives in South Minneapolis, but he is here safe and sound this morning. He said he crossed the bridge about 30 minutes before the collapse. I know that he is especially stunned today.

Let's all pray today for the survivors, the victims, their friends and families, and for everyone working in that area today and in the coming weeks and months. Pray for the rerouted traffic and for everyone affected by this tragedy.

Something comforting to me was after a prayer from our governor Tim Pawlenty this morning on the Christian radio station, they played "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe. It was an awesome reminder to me that our brothers and sisters who are trapped under the bridge or in the water right now aren't really there. They've already met Jesus face to face and are in His glorious presence.

37 weeks!

Baby and I are doing well. We’re officially term today at 37 weeks, but I don’t plan on seeing our new little guy for at least another 2-3 weeks. I slept a lot over the weekend, but I got a lot done too. Michelle came over on Friday night to help me move furniture and vacuum our bedroom. We’ve got it all set up with the bassinet and glider. Sunday we made final runs to Babies R Us and Wal-Mart for baby supplies. I pulled out my breast pump and verified it works and that I have all the pieces I need.

Yesterday my friend Wendy from my Bible study group brought a car seat, swing (fancy one that swings both ways), and a rocker/bouncer for me. Her daughter will be a year in May, and they’re done with them, so she’s giving it all to me. Is that awesome or what!!! Everything is in perfect condition, but I pulled all the covers off and washed them last night. We’re really getting down to it! Any ideas on how I can thank Wendy and her family? Gift certificate? Have them over for dinner? Both?

I did stay home yesterday morning to sleep; I just could not pull myself out of bed. Then I didn’t feel all that great all day either. I had a lot of trouble falling asleep last night, so maybe I got too much sleep. I am feeling much better today. I think it has a lot to do with my attitude … hormones, feelings, etc. I have a dr’s appointment on Wednesday morning, and I think I’ll ask her about cutting my work schedule down a bit – maybe to just 3 or 4 days a week. It’d be nice to just have one day a week to myself to catch up on sleep or whatever I need to be doing around the house.

If you could, say a prayer for my friend Tara who I work with at Trane. She’s due June 21 with her third baby, and she has been diagnosed with preclampsia (high blood pressure). She was in the emergency room all day Friday while they monitored her bp and treated her for the headache that comes with the high bp. They told her to come back in if her bp didn’t go down or the meds they gave her didn’t help with the headache. Well, she didn’t go back, but we finally convinced her today to go back and get monitored for the day again because her headaches have not gone away, and her bp has not gone down. I don’t know what they’ll do – put her on bed rest maybe. I know that will drive her crazy. Just please keep her and her baby in your prayers.

Megan and Shea are doing well. We are taking them to the new brother/new sister class at the hospital on Thursday evening, and I can’t wait. I remember how much fun Megan had diapering, feeding, and swaddling her “baby” when we took the class before Shea arrived. I’m also excited to tour the hospital and get to see the babies in the nursery. I will really be itching to have this baby then!

A quick note to Baby

Baby, Baby, just 5 weeks to go! I'm jealous because your Aunt Melody and Uncle Kenny just had their baby - Josephine Harper. I'm very excited to meet my new niece, but it reminds me how anxious I am to hold my own new little baby! Continue to grow strong and well, and we'll be seeing each other soon!

Josephine Harper W was born!

We have a new niece/cousin! Kenny and Melody (Charlie's sister and her husband) had their second baby girl on Friday, March 30. Little Josephine was greeted by excited big sister, 2.5 year old, Eva Cecilia. Mom, Baby, and everyone is doing great - Praise the Lord!

We hope to see all of them this summer, but here are some pictures for in the mean time.