Cousins

Savannah came home from the hospital last night and we got to go over for a visit. Sierra just couldn't get enough of her new cousin.

Love at First Sight

Savannah Jane

Savannah Jane Beck - May 12, 2008

9 lbs. 4 oz.

She's finally here! Susie started having contractions yesterday (Mother's Day!) very early in the morning. By about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, her water broke. She spent all night in active labor but stubborn little Savannah Jane wasn't going to make things easy. At about 5 o'clock this morning the doctor decided that a C-section was in order. I was able to see "Annie" for just a few brief minutes as they whisked her from the operating room into the nursery and began running tests. (I had to get home and take care of the girls so that Marc could get to work.) She is a beautiful, healthy girl. I plan to take Sierra and Ally over to the hospital this morning, so I'll have some better pictures to post real soon. Thanks for all your prayers! We are so blessed to welcome this precious little girl into our family. Thank you, Lord!

A Happy, HAPPY Birthday

Today I celebrated 32 years of life! Marc took the day off and we had a great time together as a family. (Thanks, Marc!) We started off at Meridian Lanes for a round of bowling. Sierra and Ally had a fabulous time at the lanes. They had never been bowling before, but loved every minute of it. Can you tell?!

Then we had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and walked around the mall for a short while. The girls took good naps in the afternoon and then several family members stopped by in the evening for cake and ice cream. Thanks to everyone who made it such a fun day! By the way, I got some cool stuff: several shirts, Salt City candles, Print Shop, Kohl's gift card, some books, a scrapbook, and a necklace.

Tomorrow will be bittersweet...Mom leaves to go back to Israel in the morning. It's good to know that she and Dad will be back in just about four weeks. Unfortunately, Susie will not deliver the baby before "Grandma Phyllis" has to leave. Boo-hoo! On that note, an induction has been scheduled for next Wednesday night if things don't happen naturally before then.

We plan to drive over to see Shoshone Falls with Chuck and Missy tomorrow and stop by the Bruneau dunes on the way home. Another fun and busy day...better get to bed. Night, night.

Bike, Basketballs and Bunkbeds...but no Baby!

Both girls scored some really cool stuff this weekend! Each one has officially graduated to a new stage in their young lives.

Sierra is now cruising around on a "big kid" bike. Marc bought her a fancy (pink!) Diamondback bike complete with a bell, gadget pack and streamers. She loves to ride to the park and never complains of getting tired. Unfortunately, she hasn't figured out the backpedaling breaks, so we've had some close calls on the curbs. She also loves her pink helmet! Funny note - when we're driving around town she always points out the people on motorcycles who aren't wearing helmets and tells me that they are not being very safe.

Sierra at Chateau Park, a couple blocks from our house.

We have recently discovered that Ally is very interested and quite talented with a basketball. A few weeks ago, some neighbors got a new hoop and often play street ball in the evenings while we are eating dinner. She is so distracted by their game that she can hardly eat. So, we were thinking that we would get her a kid's hoop for her birthday next month. Well...guess what we found at a yard sale on Saturday morning? A Fisher Price basketball hoop in excellent condition! Ally could hardly wait to get home and try it out. She invites everyone she knows to come play basketball with her and makes loud announcements whenever anyone misses a shot. (I'll have to get her on video and post it because I wish that you could hear her.) So, now I guess that we are back to the drawing board on birthday gift ideas. Oh well!

Ally shoots some hoops on Sunday afternoon. What form!

But here's the real zinger! Marc and I have been shopping around for bunk beds, thinking that it is about time for Ally to be out of her crib and Sierra out of her toddler bed. There were several we liked, but the price tags were pretty high. We figured that we would have to spend AT LEAST $1000 to get a set with mattresses. Again....yard sailing paid off! We found a really sturdy set, with mattresses, a great top-bunk rail, in great condition, with a built in desk and set of drawers, and with the kind of ladder that Marc wanted for a grand total of $200!!! What a steal. I have to admit, they are bulky and take up most of the space in the girls' room...but you should see how excited those girls are to go to bed. Ally is supremely jealous that she doesn't get to sleep on the top bunk, but from the minute she wakes up she can't decide whether to go outside and shoot baskets or climb up and down the ladder to visit Sierra a dozen times.

First morning on the bunks.

It was a busy and fun weekend, as you can tell. I have just one more picture to post, though. I was cleaning up the breakfast dishes a few days ago and heard the girls playing happily together in the playroom. I had to sneak in on them with a camera because here is what I found:

Dr. Sierra working on Ally's hurt knee. Gotta love it!

MK....TK....PK

Missionary Kid....Teacher's Kid.....Preacher's Kid

The vote was overwhelmingly positive at church yesterday. Thanks for all your prayers. Mom and Dad will be moving to Idaho in June and will begin their ministry at MFBC on August first. It will be a busy summer of transition for them. Don't stop praying now. We are so excited to have them living just a few miles from us!!! The girls don't really understand the changes ahead, but they are in for a big treat. I can just picture Sierra and Ally traipsing into "Pastor Randy's" office at church for a spin at his desk chair and a dip into his candy jar. Marc and I will enjoy Dad's good preaching and Mom's Bible studies. (Not to mention the free babysitting, good cooking, etc.) We would never have imagined ourselves in this position. God has certainly proven this verse true again:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Holding Our Breath

It feels like we've been holding our breath for a long time. Pretty soon it will be time to exhale and fill our lungs again. Tomorrow is the church vote we've been waiting for. Please be in prayer. We want God's perfect will for MFBC.
Secondly, it seems that our niece is going to wait until her due date (or later!) to make her grand appearance. We were all expecting her to be a little early, I think. Susie has decided to avoid public places from now on due to the comments that she has been receiving. Please pray for her comfort and patience.

That's it for tonight. I have lots to post about the weekend, but it will have to wait for later. As I just sang to my girls, "God is so good....He's so good to me!"