Happy Birthday Pop- Pop & Fatherkins!!!!

Happy Birthday to my dad and Jeremiah's pop-pop!!!  Today is my dad's birthday and I am so proud to have him as my dad!  My dad has served the Lord faithfully in a very secular government job, working for the US Department of Agriculture for 40 years!  While working there, he has faced much adversity and challenges but the Lord has greatly used him to stand for Truth in a dark place!  I am very proud of my dad's integrity and his faithfulness to the Lord at work and at church and at home.  My dad has served Church of the Open Door faithfully in several capacities as a faithful elder and working lead many missions trip and has a passion for missions!  He loves the body of Christ and loves to serve the church!  My dad also loves to serve the missionaries around the world!  I can remember as a young girl, we would often have missionaries in our home and my parents loved them and it was fun to get to know their children as well as be exposed to the world!  My dad has also served our family well and he truly is a wonderful dad!  It is a joy for me now in this season to see him as Pop-pop and know that he will be a great grandpa to our little guy!  Dad is great wtih kids and it is fun for me to see him with little Jeremiah- I know it reminds him of us!  :) 
So Happy Birthday Dad & Pop-Pop!!!

Visitors & Playmates

The last couple weeks- Jeremiah has had several visitors to our home! 
Amy Samad and Jack came over to visit us one Friday.  We are so thankful the Lord brought Jack into Jacob and Amy's home and they are doing a wonderful job as parents!!!

And last week- our dear darling friends came to visit and Laura did a wonderful photo shoot for us of little Jeremiah!  Jeremiah got to meet baby Jude who is now 10 months old!  It seems like just yesterday he was born!  We were so thankful they made a stop in Cincinnati as they are friends we truly miss from Seminary days!   

On another note- Michael has become quite the feeder of our little one- since we have to supplement him with the bottle- Michael has been especially helpful in taking him after I nurse to feed him some more and give me a little break!!! 

We love Chick Fil A!!!

Last Saturday, we made our weekend venture to Chick fil A!  In Louisville, we loved going here as there was one not too far away!  In Cincinnati, we only wished they had more around!  We have to drive almost across town to go to one but the drive is well worth it!  Special thanks to Sarah Brown for the gift card and we love the baby cow that you got us from there!  Jeremiah was dressed and ready to head out to his first Chick fil A experience!!

Look how excited he is!!!

On another note, we praise God that Michael had a good back appointment today!  His body is responding well to the calcium treatment.  The doctor said they think his kidney stones and osteoporosis may stem from something not functioning in his kidneys and they said the medication he is currently on seems to be helping his body to process calcium!  We praise God for a wise family doctor again who had the God given knowledge to search out the "behind the kidney stone" facts!  We can definately see God's hand in all this, even as Michael's appointment was moved from February 7th to January 5th- if it had stayed on Feb. 7th- he would have never made it as that was the day we had Jeremiah!  We praise God for His provision and timing and giving wise doctors to link things together!!!

A Few Of Our Favorite Things!

Jeremiah has been truly blessed by the many people in his life that have shown love to him at such a young age.  Here are some special gifts that we have received that he wanted to personally thank the givers of these gifts.  :)

And we do praise the Lord that Jeremiah did gain a normal amount of weight this week so I will have to continue to feed him and pump some supplemental formula in him throughout the day.  I am praying for perseverance with this as the whole process can take me up to an hour to feed him which can kinda be discouraging at times.  But we praise the Lord he is doing better!

Wojnickis- our pastor and his wife from Louisville gave us a beautiful cradle that we use for Jeremiah to sleep in during the day- so he doens't get his days and nights mixed up.  :)

Grandma Renner knit Jeremiah a beautiful blanket that he plays on.

Aunt Beka sent a penguin blanket that we use to swaddle him in at night- it is his nightime blanket.

Nicholsons sent some cute lion clothes.

Aunt Laura made a beautiful little blanket for Jeremiah. 

My good friend Anne Marrs made a beautiful lion blanket for Jeremiah- he loves to lay on it and look at he lions.

Aunt Linda & Uncle Bill sent a little boy and sheet globe that says Jesus Loves Me.

Jarrod & Korie gave Jeremiah an Good Time Ice onesie- Michael used to work for Good Time Ice back in York, PA when we were engaged!  Jeremiah will wear this in honor of his daddy proudly! 

Good friend Laura gave Jeremiah a cute giraffe with a verse which we love!  Of course, Jeremiah loves it  Laura- don't go by the look on his face!  :)

One Month Old & Sweet Friends

Jeremiah turned one month old on Monday!  I can hardly believe he is over 4 weeks old now.  The Lord has been gracious to us in this season!  I feel like we are learning more about how to care for the little guy every day.  At times these past 4 weeks, I have been so overwhelmed at the precious gift God has give us and I have at times been anxious about how to care best for this little one.  The Lord reminded me of my need for trusting in Him again this week as we went to the doctor and found Jeremiah is not gaining weight like he should.  My initial response was one of worry and doubting myself as a mom that I know how to feed him correctly and wondering why he was not gaining weight.  I can easily put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure I do things right.  Thanksfully, through the encouragement of my gentle, steadfast husband and Sara Fillmann a sweet friend, they encouraged me to take one step at a time.  We are trying to feed him a bottle which was a challenge at first as he did not know what to do with it- so we are told to supplement him some with formula and a bottle. 

We also were very encouraged on Sunday to have two out of town visitors who were driving through Cincinnati on their way to other destinations.  Anne Marrs & Emily are sweet friends from Louisville and it was so fun to see them for a little bit.  Jeremiah can't wait until Aunt Anne has a chance to babysit him and spend more time with him!  And we are still rooting for Emily to go to college next year at Xavier in Cincinnati though we want her to go where the Lord leads her.  And then Bryan & Marcie Williamson and their sweet girls Hailey and Kelsey visited from Michigan.  This family has been such an encouragement to us since we met them at Grace in Louisville.  Bryan's dear parents were in our small group in Louisville at Faith church and we just adore his parents, Jim & Susan and really love Bryan and Marcie too as they have been a continual joy to know and encouragement to us!  So it was fun to visit with these sweet friends!!  :)

We are all too excited to be seeing the our friends- David, Laura, Lord willing, next week sometime!!!!  I can't wait for Jude & Jeremiah to meet and hope some day- they can be good friends!!  :)

Creation Sings the Father's Song!

Tonight, Jeremiah and I have been listening to the Getty- Awaken the Dawn CD!  It is an amazing CD and have been just thinking through the lyrics for this song- Creation Sings the Father's Song...

We LOVE the Gettys and ever since being at Southern have been impacted by their rich musical lyrics!!  One of the things we loved about Faith Community Church in Louisville was that we sang so many songs from the Gettys and we just appreciate the rich lyrics of this couple!  It is so refreshing to listen to worship music in the midst of changing diapers, feeding and trying to do a few things when he is sleeping not to mention calming him when he cries and trying to sleep myself.  I have definately sensed the Lord's grace in this season of being tired and overwhelmed but thankful the Lord has given me this season.  As many moms, have said- if you can make it through Week 6, the fussiness seems to die down- I don't want to just "make it" there or when he sleeps through the night, I want to treasure each of these days knowing they are a gift!  Even as I write this, I can't help but think of a few dear friends who are waiting and longing for their babies and looking forward to the joyful day when they hear their baby's cry!!!  And I do pray that the Lord would give them patient endurance in this season until he brings their little one's home to them!  And I pray each day that I would be thankful for little Jeremiah and not take him for granted!  There were many years when I longed for a little baby and longed to be at home and be a mom and I pray that the Lord would give me strength and joy in this season to treasure each day! 

The same God who we see His fingerprints in flakes of snow, commands the newborn babies' cry!
May we contemplate and echo the glories of our God and King! 

Creation sings the Father's song;
He calls the sun to wake the dawn
And run the course of day
Till evening falls in crimson rays.
His fingerprints in flakes of snow,
His breath upon this spinning globe,
He charts the eagle's flight;
Commands the newborn baby's cry.

CHORUS
Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing,
"Hallelujah!" Fill the earth with songs of worship;
Tell the wonders of creation's King.

Creation gazed upon His face;
The ageless One in time's embrace
Unveiled the Father's plan
Of reconciling God and man.
A second Adam walked the earth,
Whose blameless life would break the curse,
Whose death would set us free
To live with Him eternally.

Creation longs for His return,
When Christ shall reign upon the earth;
The bitter wars that rage
Are birth pains of a coming age.
When He renews the land and sky,
All heav'n will sing and earth reply
With one resplendent theme: The glories of our God and King!
Words and Music by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend

A few more pictures...

Here are a few more pictures of baby Jeremiah- he is so funny when he sucks his pacifier.  :)
Jeremiah was able to go visit his Great Grandmas last weekend as well which was a sweet treat! 

No mom!  Please don't change my diaper again!!!

It really stresses me out!

I wonder if our little boy will learn Hebrew?

Michael reading to Jeremiah!

Great Grandma Lyons

Great Grandma Renner

Grandpa Growl

Jeremiah- 2 weeks

I am finding these days that it is hard to find time to post pictures of the little guy amidst trying to feed and sleep myself when he is resting.  We have enjoyed these 2 weeks with our little man though we are beginning to wonder if he is taking on his often associated nickname in the book of Jeremiah- the weeping prophet.  He is a good baby but the last 2 weeks, Michael and I have definately realized how much we need wisdom from the Lord in raising this child.  We have had a few nights where he wailed unconsolably and we felt at a loss to know what to do to help the little guy.  Either he has some gas/tummy problems which we are trying to figure out or he is weeping over the sins of Israel- we're not sure which.  :)  Thankfully, my mom has been with us for 2 weeks and this weekend my Dad, sister Rachel & brother Josh were able to come visit for President's weekend.  We enjoyed a few short outings with them and Jeremiah enjoyed Mom-mom and Pop-pop time and time with Aunt Rache and Uncle Josh!!  It was a sad day on Monday when I watched my fam drive away on Monday, knowing Michael and I were now on our own.  Thankfully- Michael's mom will be taking off Wednesday to Friday to help me this week- thanks Grandma Lyons!  Michael is being a great daddy though it is definately hard for him to study with some of Jeremiah's sleepless nights.  So we are praying for grace and strength and trusting the Lord sustains through this season as I know He promises He will!  I am so thankful for some sweet moms and friends who have given me encouragement and advice just when I felt hopeless in figuring out my little guy!  So thanks my sweet friends for your encouragement and love!  I admire you all the more! 

On another note- we have been amazed by the outpouring of love/affection through cards and gifts for Jeremiah in the mail- hoping to post some of them soon!  And Evangelical Community Church ( our church in Cincinnati ) has been a HUGE blessing with the meals they have been bringing to us the past 2 weeks!  What a blessed ministry- we are very grateful!

I detect a little smile :)

Home

Well, we made it home from the hospital on Wednesday night.  Mom came in on Wednesday and has been with us this whole week and next week.  She has been such a blessing as it is taking Jeremiah a little bit to get adjusted to his new surroundings- the first night he cried most of the night and I think if my mom had not been up with me taking shifts- I would have been weeping but thankfully the Lord is sustaining us!  He is giving much grace!  Now- just praying that the Lord enables Jeremiah to eat better and that my milk comes in more fully so that can gain weight.  We went to the doctor today and he is still loosing but hopefully by our appointment Tuesday he will start gaining.  We thank the Lord for a kind patient doctor and I am thankful for other sweet friends and moms giving me suggestions on things. 

Some visitors in the hospital- Michael's friends from Hebrew Union and a professor, Sarah Brown (a sweet friend from college brought Michael Chick fil A in the hospital and even got him a baby cow!), and Erin Spring visited us and sent us from Olivia and the triplets a beautiful bouquet of flowers!!!!  And Grandma Lyons and Great Grandma Renner came as well to visit us in the hospital!  We have been thankful for the meals the Lyons, my mom and Jordan have brought us.  Jordan- a friend of Michael's from Hebrew Union found a place that makes Gluten Free pizza and last night brought it over- that was a HUGE treat for Michael!  Michael is enjoying being a dad and is in charge of wake time with him and often reads him Hebrew the small time Jeremiah is awake until he falls asleep.  :)