The Next Step in our Journey

Matt and I will be finishing the PC year with a big question mark for our future. At this point, we don't yet know where we will be heading off to, so in the mean time... we get to move home! Back to Minnesota to serve at Sovereign Grace Fellowship as we continue to pursue a couple of options. To say I am excited about this is a HUGE understatement! I can't wait to find out where Matt will be servingand we will be moving to, but since we don't quite know that yet, there is no place better than HOME! The amount of time we will be in MN will depend on how quickly things move along with where Matt will be serving next, so I guess it's anywhere from 1 month to 6 months. And we just found out we will be living with the best roommates EVER, the Eikums! We lived with them for the two months before we came to Maryland and it was so much fun! I can't wait for grilling out, softball games, tiger sauce, a million other things and maybe a little 'So You Think You Can Dance' for us girls! They are such a wonderful example of hospitality and selflessness as they are again opening their home to us - and this time we have little Case to keep us all entertained! Eikums, thank you so much for serving us in this way. Matt and I are thrilled to be moving back in with you two! And we are THRILLED to be able to spend at least some time with all of you who we love so much back in MN. Ah, a MN summer! Tonight I will be dreaming of tubing, wake boarding, grilling, playing bocce ball and best of all, Case's first Twins game!!

1st Mother's Day, 28th Birthday

Wow, what a day! This was my first Mother's Day and it will be so memorable! It was also my birthday which made it for an extra fun day. Matt and I are going to celebrate my birthday tomorrow, so I get two days in a row! After church, the Hansen's and the Lockhart's came over and we grilled out/they surprised me with Taco Salad (my all time favorite)! For dessert, Jen made a birthday cake that was a huge chocolate chip cookie - again, my favorite! During dessert, the kids all shared one thing they were thankful for about their mom, Matt shared on behalf of Case - so sweet! Then, and this was the best... the Lockhart's wrote and sang a song for Jen, it was so cute! While I missed my family so much today, it will always be a great memory to have spent my Mother's Day with these amazing families. After the Dad's cleaned up, we spent the afternoon lounging in the yard, playing frisbee, catch, spinning games, etc. It was an absolutely beautiful day!

Micah always plays with Case, he's so great!

Hannah and Bryon
Sweet Katie
Our little family!

Staph Infection: The Sequel

MY TURN! ughhhh... yep, that's right. It was probably only a matter of time, and it happened... I got staph infection. Oh, but that's not all. I got a virus similar to strep throat - Matty described it as my throat looked like it was covered in freezer burn. It was miserable! Basically on Tuesday morning I had a little scratchy throat and thought I was maybe getting a cold or something. We went out to dinner to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with the Alexanders and I continued to feel worse and worse throughout the evening. By the time I got home I had a temp close to 100 and that's when it hit me, I probably had staph. Sure enough, I had a bump - small at the time but doubled in size by the time I got to the hospital. One great thing was, Besty came along and kept me company at the hospital so Matt could stay home with Case. How sweet is that! I mean, not many people get three hours to just sit and hang out with Betsy Ricucci. Although, by the end of it, I don't know if I was exactly coherent. My temp had gone up over 101, my whole body hurt, it was just bad. I came home, tried to sleep and woke up Wednesday morning feeling worse. So my dear friend, Emily came over and took care of Case and I for the day. I basically slept until 4pm, only waking up to feed Case. My day was something like, sit up and think about getting dressed, lie back down for 10 minutes, sit up and put shirt on, like back down for 10 minutes, sit up and put pants on, lie back down for 10 minutes. It was rough. Thursday was a tiny bit better, but finally by Friday I knew I would live to tell about it. I'm just thankful I am feeling well enough to celebrate my first Mother's Day as a mother (not to mention it's my birthday) tomorrow!

The Cool Crowd

Finally!! I have become one of the cool PC wives! How, you ask?? Well, by getting one of these...
Who knew $6.99 was all it would take! I can hardly wait to fit in at lunch after gym day!!

Big Smiles

Case got his first tooth a couple of weeks ago. I didn't even notice he was teething until he was chewing on my finger one day and I felt something sharp, and there it was, his first tooth! Easy! No fussyness, no diaper rash, no running nose, nothing - the tooth just popped up no problem. Well, the next three came in and it was quite the different experience. Poor guy! He was fussy all day long, slept horribly and had a constant runny nose. But they've popped through, and my baby is happy again and looking even older!!

Case showing off his bottom two teeth...

and showing off his two front teeth!

Uncle Kevin

One of the great things about being here in Maryland is, it's where my mom grew up! My mom lived in DC until she was 18 and went off to college in MN and some of her family is still in the area. So Matt, Case and I have had some great opportunities to hang out with my mom's brother, my Uncle Kevin. Some great memories include, helping us move in, having a crab feast at his house, him being the first person to meet Case... and like last weekend, Kevin sometimes joins us for church and then treats Matt and I to a delicious lunch. Although lunch usually consists of Matt and Kevin talking about theological issues WAY above my head! It's been great spending time with Uncle Kevin and he'll be our only family at Graduation!

Kevin and Case (9 days old)Kevin and Case (7 months old)

Picnic Fun (this occured before the haircut)

One "good" thing that came from Matt's staph infection was that we got to attend the PC Spring Picnic! Thankfully Matty was feeling better so we got to join everyone on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The PC admin team did an amazing job putting together the event (as always!). There was good food, animals, a playground, smores and plenty of time to just hang out together.

Case meeting the goat

Case riding the goat!

Katie telling Matt about the goats "nose nose"

Case meeting the ducks

Case talking to the ducks

My fellowship ladies, Megan and Emily and their girls, Izzy and Eva

Julie, Tiffany, Besty and ITime for Smores!

Case had his first ride in the swing!

He loved it, but got a little fearful when Abbie and Katie took over!

It's crazy to think our time here is nearing an end. We only have so many more PC events left! In fact, 6 weeks from tomorrow is graduation! Unbelievable!