Yep...this has truly been a crazy year. I am proud to say that I have now successfully made it through school year 2007-2008. Graduation was this morning, and what a day for a graduation! It was about 110 degrees F just five days ago, but today it was stormy and topped out around 70. What gorgeous weather. Enough weather talk, though, because I want to simply give an update on life...
I was not accepted for the MSTF program through ASU this summer. There were over 40 teachers who received an invitation to the fellowship, and none rejected it. Another over 100 teachers were outright rejected right away, but then I fell in a third category, a category of suspense and torturous waiting. I knew all of the other teacher's who'd applied at DVHS were either accepted or rejected, but I received no word from ASU at all. It left me hanging and wondering if I should be doing the summer school gig or if I should plan on doing the MSTF. I wrote in and got a response a couple days later. I was told I was in the third category and I would know by last Friday whether I was in or not. I did not receive any word Friday. I didn't receive any word at all that weekend. I decided to wait until Monday morning to write and email asking whether or not I was in, and there was still no word. I wrote in and received a response in a couple hours: I was not in. So, I was bummed, but what could I do? Therefore, I will be teaching summer school starting this Tuesday. I get three days off in between second semester and summer school, and I plan on using them to the fullest.
The Van Liews in Phoenix will be getting together for the couple of birthday celebrations all rolled into one this Sunday at 4pm AZ time. Charles and Allison will be in town, and I am looking forward to being with family. It has been awhile since we've all be together out here. If you've not heard, Chuck Van Liew, Charles' father, just quit his job and is in limbo right now, but at complete peace because of his faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, and will be looking for a new job. He's been in the same employ for the last 25 years or so, so this is a major change for his family. It is a good move, so no worries there, but it still would have been a huge decision, though the right one. Aren't the hard ones normally the right ones? The whole family is proud of him and wish (pray, actually) for the best.
Amy, as of yesterday, is 3cm dilated and lost the rest of her mucus plug (gross). She had her membranes stripped at the Dr. appointment. She has been having contractions every 10 min or so this evening. We are hopeful that Isaiah Cole Van Liew, our third child (in three years), will be joining us this weekend. This is perfect timing as I am off from work right now and have a three day weekend. As mentioned before, I want to use this weekend to the fullest! Amy is looking forward to being finished with pregnancy for at least a couple years here, though she's said she's still willing to have more. God gave me the perfect woman for me, I'm tellin' ya!
Kate just had a check up this afternoon. She is now 17lbs. 14oz. That's a pound and a half since the February appointment. She is a lean one still, but she is about perfect on the ten percentile curve. We are extremely happy with that report. We weren't sure if she was gaining enough, but that gives us relief and comfort. The LORD has been good to us. Kate's had her struggles in life already, but she is bouncing back well, and she's one of the happiest babies you'll meet to boot. She just had her first birthday a week ago. Aidan turned 2 a month and a half ago, so we have a 2 year old, a 1 year old, and an about to be born (year old). I don't say anything with tongue-in-cheek. And that last sentence wasn't in the least bit sarcastic. Or that one. :)
Aidan's a stud and continuously gains new vocabulary daily now. I love watching him love his sister. I love hearing them laugh together, seeing them play together. Their interaction makes me wonder about Bethany and me: did we act like that when young? I hope so. It's brought Amy and I so much joy and enjoyment that I hope that was given to my parents for their joy and enjoyment. I am in complete wonder. I am so proud to be Aidan's daddy. It is amazing to watch human development and how intelligent such a small child can be. God created some incredible beings, I must say. Too bad we screwed it all up with our stupidity in pride and now that same intelligent child is also an evil, wicked sinner (a.k.a. "sack-o-sin").
Speaking of pride, I got to counsel a student who used to be a CCC leader until midway through last semester (Fall 07). She's had issues with her self-view and has hated her body and it's affected her entire life. Now, I'm not one to go for self-esteem as being key, but a believer needs to view him/herself in the light of God's holiness as well as His grace. We need to see the sinner part, but we also need to see the beauty. The phrase I was given (thank you LORD) during our conversation that brought the first true smile to her face that I've seen in months was: "you're the most beautiful thing He's ever seen." Let me explain. When the LORD looks at us, He sees His Son covering us, and, therefore, He sees the most beautiful thing He's ever seen. True, we have our issues, but we're covered by the blood of the Lamb, people. how incredible is that? Yes, we have our responsibility to live rightly in the LORD's sight, but we have His grace, as well. "Should we go on sinning so that grace may increase? May it never be!" But, on the same token, we are not to beat ourselves up and hold on to guilt for something He's already paid for and taken care of completely! How beautiful the blood! And it's all for His glory. Hey, don't forget...
You're the most beautiful thing He's ever seen!
"I like to eat."
"No, really. I can pack away more than Aidan now."
"This is a staredown if I've ever seen one! Bring it on, mama."
"Yep, me putting more food in my mouth."
"Chicken nuggets rock! And I'm cute, too."
Aidan and Kate were watching NASCAR. Why? Because it was on TV and they love to watch. We were over with the Van Liews at Larry & Susan's house. They family got together to celebrate Bethany and Josiah being in town. It was great to see them. Hopefully I'll put some picks of them up soon. That's first cousin once removed Ashley Van Liew helping Kate stand. You can kind of make out Chuck Van Liew, one of my uncles, sitting at the table in the background.
This is how Aidan and Kate laid on the couch as they were watching movies Saturday morning.
Aidan loves to cross his legs.
Yes, that is nub in the pic with Isaiah. Nub remembers such experiences as being in Aidan's mouth and being in Kate's mouth. Yes, he's a hand-me-down, but he's part of the family.
The tongue sticking out is my favorite.
Oh, and he still has blue eyes.
By the time the other kids were Isaiah's age, they already had their permanent eye color.
Yep, good lookin' boy, though this picture kind of freaks me out. Can't tell if that's a smile or not.
These are our first pictures of the five of us.
Quite the handsome family, wouldn't you say?
She had placed herself up against the side of the pack-n-play.
I don't know how comfortable she could possible be in that position.
But, she slept really well, so what do I have to complain about?
Aidan has a way with words. He counts with incredible accuracy (read the previous post on it) and he tells great jokes (again, read more posts). He is also extremely caring toward his siblings. He's started giving kisses and hugs to both Kate and Isaiah just whenever he feels like it. It melts the heart, let me tell ya. He also has special things he calls his siblings. For Kate, he calls her "Sissy." He'll say things like "Sissy's cup" and "where's Sissy?" For Isaiah, well, he's kind of transitioning back and forth between names. If he's just trying to say Isaiah, he says "Eyes Eyes." He might also just say "Baby." When he wants to put those two together, he says "Baby Eyes." He's now started shortening that to "Be Eyes." I think I like that one the most. What do you think? Vote on the new poll in the side column. You have one week! Let your voice be heard.
A bit of an update: Amy is doing well, and the pain meds are working fine (she's not having to take but two pills a day - unless she's a lot more active for whatever reason). Isaiah got circumcised today (the Dr. said he slept through most of it - he also had his first bit of sugar at the time). Aidan and Kate are now sleeping in the same room (as of Sunday night after we brought Isaiah home for the first time). It has been a challenge to make sure that Aidan and Kate are getting enough sleep, since they love each other and love to interact. They were completely and utterly exhausted tonight, so hopefully they'll sleep well and wake up tomorrow refreshed. We've had people over helping us a ton (THANKS!) including Mike & Francy (agoo & zsa-ji), Grandma Irene (Meema), Ben & Amanda Fagerlie, and now Melissa Hundley (she's going to be spending the next few nights with us while her townhouse has some work done). Amy might not say much, or ask for much, but she is extremely grateful for all everyone is doing (and so am I - especially as I started teaching summer school today and need all the help around the house I can get). JoAnn Blackford has put together a list of ladies who've volunteered to bring us meals over the next two weeks. THANK YOU ALL!!!!
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