Well, we’re back in Colorado Springs and none the worse for wear! The actual flight (the one with two nap-deprived children) went about as well as it possibly could have. Asa didn’t like the fact that the plane moved, but he got used to it after a couple minutes and he was happy as a clam for most of the flight, thanks to plenty of bribery. Naomi, thanks to our Boba carrier, basically slept most of the time.
We are still pretty tired, and slowly trying to catch up on the sleep we’ve been missing since Naomi’s arrival. Please pray that we will be able to get the rest we need this summer so that we can apply ourselves fully to our studies next semester (Yes, Rachel will be taking classes too!)
In short, here’s what happened since our last major update:
- We had our baby girl, Naomi Honor, on March 15th, 9 lbs 4 oz, 21 in. (Rachel did most of the work)
- Work and school kept Stephen very busy with little free time
- Asa and Naomi kept Rachel very busy with very little free time
- We found out we’re getting a three bedroom apartment with its own bathroom next year!
- Asa learned to walk and is talking like crazy
- Naomi learned to smile, and thinks she can talk
- Stephen finished off his first year of Bible school, where the learning hasn’t slowed down
- Stephen is enjoying 2 weeks off of work to get settled and catch up on a little sleep (you know, when the kids cooperate)
And now in long:
Naomi is healthy and quite agreeable as long as we can get her to nap enough. Asa is adjusting well to his role as big brother, and is getting used to not having all our attention. He picks up on new words and signs from everywhere, and sometimes we think he makes some up (Like his sign for “bite” which is a combination of the sign for “eat” and his interpretation of the sign for “drink”).
Stephen’s job at the school is officially over, as the full-timer I was filling in for has been replaced by two more full-timers. This comes as a bit of a relief, as we were really running on fumes by the end of the semester. Stephen would spend the mornings in class, come home for a quick lunch before work, then have dinner, do homework and go to bed, helping with the kids in there sometime too. Rachel, therefore, spent the entire day struggling to get Naomi to eat and nap as much as she needed, while keeping Asa out of trouble and helping him to not feel replaced. Without a regular job (he hopes to fill in with odd jobs), Stephen will be able to spend more time with Rachel and the kids, making life a little less hectic for everyone involved.
Our new apartment (at around 900 to 1,000 sq feet, 3 bedrooms 1 bath) is going to be a HUGE blessing compared with our old one (490 sq feet, 2 bedrooms, no baths). Not only do we get a bedroom for each child, but we will have our own bathroom (you don’t realize how convenient that is until you have to walk down the hall to use a public one), as well as a larger living space. We are very thankful to be able to live in this larger apartment for our next school year.
Stephen has continued to enjoy classes, and is learning brand new things about God on a regular basis. It’s just incredible how much information can be soaked up when you’re spending three to four hours per day under some incredible Bible teachers who are incredible Christians. I thank God that I get this second shot at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of Bible school.
This semester’s classes took me from Isaiah through Acts and I Corinthians. Throughout the Prophets, we saw all the ways Israel failed while God remained faithful. It was cool to see God’s promises and threats to Israel in Moses’ day being fulfilled and carried out exactly as He promised more than 1,000 years later. Then to see more promises fulfilled as we moved into the New Testament. It is incredible how much an understanding of the first five books sheds light on the historical book0s, which sheds light on the Prophets, which sheds light on the entire New Testament. Studying through the Bible chronologically has helped me to view the New Testament through a firm grasp of the Old. I Corinthians was an exciting class as it’s the first Epistle we studied, and it is much more directly applicable to my life today than, say, Leviticus. I am looking forward to next semester which will be kicked off with Romans, one of the richest epistles concerning Christian life. I am also excited to have Rachel sitting next to me for most of my classes, sharing in the opportunity to study God’s Word.
Our plans for the summer are to work and spend time with family and friends before we head back to our training. Stephen will be working for his dad again while Rachel continues to pour her life into the kids. Any of you who live in Colorado Springs are welcome to give us a call and set up a time to get together with us, as we’d love to touch base while we have the chance.
Now for a few random pictures of our life lately:
Naomi makes us tired:
Asa tries out Daddy’s work boots:
This past year we got to have the Miller Family living right across from us. Asa and Sophie became such good friends. We will miss them!
The Kids. Asa 18 mths, Naomi 1 mth. Don’t they look thrilled with my attempt at a photo shoot?
Asa in the hall outside our apartment the morning before we were completely moved out. He’s doing his interpretation of the sign for “drink.” On the right is some of our stuff where it’s being stored in hall over the summer, until we can move into our new place.
This is just after we arrived in Colorado. Naomi was NOT happy. : )
Naomi and Daddy hanging out.
Naomi Honor, 2.5 months old.
