Family Vacation

Brandon and I thought it would be fun to have a little get-away before the baby comes along in 5 weeks. On Thursday, we took Maddie to the Minneapolis area for a mini-family vacation. It was wonderful! We stayed at a hotel, took Maddie in the pool, took in a Twins game, enjoyed the Como Zoo, and the Underwater Adventures in the Mall of America. We all had a really great time - Maddie really enjoyed all of the animals at the zoo and the fish at the mall. It was so fun to experience everything through Maddie - it was like a new experience for me all over again! It's awesome to see her curiosity. She was a great traveler. It was wonderful to get away, but also nice to come home. We will be traveling quite a bit over the next month - mostly back and forth to the Cities on weekends. Hopefully the baby will wait until we return from our trips, or else come early! I am now 35 weeks along, and feeling like he/she can come anytime now!

Enjoy these pictures from our time in Minneapolis and St. Paul. I love our time spent together as a family. Maddie especially enjoys having Daddy around so much during the day. It will be hard to send him off to work on Monday! We are thankful for what time we do get to have! We'll keep you updated on any baby news!

An update - way overdue!

Wow, life has been crazy busy! We are finishing up the Nav school year here; the students are deep in finals. I am happy that I don't have to do those anymore! Last weekend we had our end of the year final picnic. We had a great turnout of 30 students and staff. It is hard to say goodbye to the seniors that are leaving! It is the last group of students that we knew as students at UMD. We had a nice dinner out with them last night, wishing them well and congratulations on all they have accomplished. I am attaching a picture of my freshmen women's Bible study group. A week ago, we went out for ice cream in canal park. They have been a fun group of women to get to know!



In family news...I am now 32 and a 1/2 weeks along! Our baby is growing a lot now! I feel her (or it could be a him!) moving around a lot. Keeps me up at night - but I really enjoy feeling those movements. Here is a photo of me at 32 weeks.



I had a very special mother's day weekend. Brandon and Maddie really made me feel special with breakfast in bed, flowers, cards, and a new camera! I enjoyed lots of time with family - I do so love an appreciate my mom, mother-in-law, and grandmas! I am so blessed to have all of my grandmothers and all of Brandon's grandmothers living still! I am happy that Maddie is getting to know them as well. Another treat was having Kelly home for the weekend.





We are looking forward to a pretty low-key summer. We won't be involved with many Nav things, as there are not any students around for the summer! We are in need of some good, quality family time - and an adjustment period, once the baby arrives! We hope you all are doing well and had enjoyable mother's days as well. God bless!

Happy Easter!

Our family wants to wish all of you a blessed Easter this weekend. We have been doing some reflecting on the sacrifice God did for us on the cross, by sending His Son to die. We are eternally grateful. We are saved because He died. Praying that you know that truth today! Have a blessed holiday. Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Pool Party

Well, we are still having winter here - snowstorm today. Not so much fun - but Maddie and I got to have a taste of summer with a pool party at ECFE yesterday. We would love to share these photos with you. She wasn't too sure of the water and didn't last long in the pool - but it was fun to see all of the kiddos in their swimsuits/swim diapers. :) Enjoy the photos and may they help you think of spring!







We are praying desperately for our friends in the Fargo/Moorhead area that are dealing with the floods. We pray that everyone is safe and that not too much harm is done to homes. Also - we are praying for a miracle for our Pastor's son - Josh Sorvik, who was in a skiing accident this past weekend. He has a severed spinal cord and it looks like the is going to be paralyzed from the waist down. Please pray that God will heal his spine - and that he will walk again! He is only a senior in high school - it is a scary and sad situation. We believe God can do anything!

Music Class

Maddie and I have been attending a music class once a week - which has been held at an assisted living place, on London Road. It has been so much fun for both of us - and the residents really enjoy watching the toddlers sing and dance to the music. I am putting some pictures up of our time at music. We do have a fun time! Also, you can see how much I am showing now....at 24 weeks. The baby is really moving a lot now - it is such a good feeling, even though it can drive me crazy at times.

It Looks Like, MAYBE, but Not so Sure....a Girl?!?!?

Brandon and I had our 20 week ultrasound yesterday. We had been looking forward to this day for a long time - so we could find out our baby's sex. Baby wasn't cooperating the best for the technician. At one point - the legs were way up by the head, then they were all curled up, so it was hard to get a good look. It looks like Maddie might be having a little sister! Although they couldn't give us a percentage of how sure they were....that's just how difficult the baby was being. We are thinking girl - but it could very easily still be a surprise when she/he is born! :) We are thrilled and are looking forward to meeting our little girl in 4 and a half short months. The best news: our baby looks very healthy and is developing normally. Praise God for that! Check out some pictures of our little girl. (or boy?!?!?)

Not too much new...

Nothing big has really been happening around here lately - just a lot of illness! Maddie had the stomach flu for a week and I also had it as well for about 24 hours. We are feeling much better now, thankfully. It has been a tough winter for being sick. Lots of colds, ear infections, influenza....when will it end? Maddie and I have been stuck in the house today, because of an ice storm that is hitting the Northland. It has been kinda nice though, having a day at home. I have been able to get lots done.

An update about Navigators at UMD! Things are going well as we started up the new semester, the third week in January. Students are back and in full swing with classes. God has really answered our prayers as we had been seeking whether or not we should start up another Nav Night on campus for all of the students to come together in fellowship and worship. Towards the end of last semester, many students expressed an interest and wanted to help lead. (Praise God! We need student leaders!) So, our new night is called - Nav ICE (Inciting Love, Community, and Encouragement) We had our first gathering on Thursday night, Feb. 5th. It was amazing! God really blessed all of the planning and prayer that went into the night. We had 35 students! I didn't even recognize everyone! God blew me away - beyond my expectations. The majority of the students are new to campus and/or to the Navigators. It has been such an encouragement. Praise God for how He always comes through! We are excited to see how He moves in these students as we progress through the semester. Please continue to keep the Navigators at UMD in your prayers. Pray that we would be leading according to God's will, and not our own. And pray that we would bring ALL of the glory to Him and Him alone.

Family news: Maddie is quite the chatterbox. She is starting to say quite a few words and repeat/mimic things Brandon or I do. It's a lot of fun. I know she doesn't understand the fact that she is going to be a big sister and that her world is going to turn upside down in July, when this baby comes - but she does come and point to my belly when I say, "Maddie, where is mommy's baby?" :) She has no clue, but it is still cute. Our BIG ultrasound is next week, on Tuesday! We will hopefully get to find out the sex of the baby. We are excited for that. So stay tuned for that big news.

I'll post a few pictures from our weekend. We went over to Park Point to check out the lake and the built up ice. We had a fun time together as a family.





Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Enjoy your Saturday with those you love. God bless!