Twenty-seven, Thirty-seven

For my 27th birthday on March 21st, Miguel took me out to eat and I really enjoyed trying a new restaurant here in Magdalena!

They serve hamburgers, tacos, traditional Mexican food, and sea food. The hamburgers we had were phenomenal, so it makes me curious about the other food genres. Hopefully, we make it back sometime!

My gift was the flower pot in the picture above and we also repotted some of my other plants which was exciting. 

Thank you for your prayers for my transition out of the kitchen and starting maternity leave. It has gone better than I expected, probably because it happened somewhat gradually. These last two weeks were spring break and therefore the general routine at CVE was different which I think helped me to ease my way out. My brother Justin's visit and weekly trips to Tucson for appointments and birthing class have  also successfully diverted my attention!

Also, a shout out to the ladies below who are carrying on without me!

Justin was here the second week of April and we really enjoyed having him. We ate delicious Mexican food, climbed cross mountain very slowly, and participated in a mini CVE "work team" that Tuesday and Wednesday. For the mini work team, CVE staff and kids signed up to help and participate. We had breakfast and devotions and split up to do painting and landscaping and maintenance projects. It really brought a lot of life and fellowship! 

On another note, my younger siblings continue to transition into adulthood one-by-one and I always enjoy witnessing it when we get to be together (and from a far). Justin is graduating this year and it's such a blessing to see the young man that he is becoming.

It's been exciting to really focus on preparing for the baby's arrival! Getting clothes washed, cleaning around the house, packing bags, reading up on helpful information. 

I'm now 37 weeks pregnant! Saturday we had maternity photos taken and today I had my last ultrasound. So enjoy the bump and baby update...

We had so much fun taking these pictures with Addy Beyer! 

Three and a half years ago, she took our engagement photos and wedding photos when she was just getting started with her photography business. 

And here is baby Aviña, peaking from behind his hand! According to the doctor's measurements he is about 3 kilos and nearing seven pounds. He has been really kicking and wiggling and last night for the first time, I was like, "I think I'm ready for this baby to be out!" My ribs and pelvis and muscles are getting some hard shoves. 

Please pray for a safe delivery and that no matter how things go, we can feel God's peace and presence through the process! Also, pray for our transition into parenthood. So many unknowns, but so much excitement as we meet a new little person who will be such a big part of our lives!

We can't wait to meet him! 

Baby Shower

 Well, it's been over a month. I've had some difficulty loading pictures the last couple times I've tried to post. But finally, here we are with a brief update.

After a night below freezing, our yard was looking pretty lousy. (It was looking pretty bad even before the freeze.) Anyways, we got to work and trimmed the flower bushes, raked, and Miguel even planted a few rows of sweet corn. I smile to see our little garden plot. We'll have to see how it turns out!

Miguel invested in a spot cleaner for his auto detailing work and we tried it out on our rug. I must say, it does a pretty good job!

Four weeks ago, I decided enough was enough with excuses about piano practice by my students and decided to plan a challenge. Depending on how many times they practiced each week, they earned a smaller or larger prize at the end of four weeks. I'm thankful to report that I was pleased with the results as practice definitely increased and I could tell by their performance!

For the last six weeks, I have been assisting in the Hilos art class with the 7th-9th graders. They (we) have been learning how to draw anime or cartoon faces. I was privileged to also participate and here I am presenting my drawing.

On March 5th, Jackie planned a baby shower for me along with the help of all these beautiful ladies. I felt very blessed by their attention and gifts. 

We also had some good laughs as they guessed the size of my baby bump. Miguel came for a few of the activities. We showed off our skills feeding each other baby food and dressing a doll both while blind folded.

It was a lovely time.  

Finally, baby update!

Ultrasound pictures from 29 weeks!

Saluting with his foot!

Baby bump from 30 weeks!

He has been kicking and wiggling a lot and pushes on my ribs now. Just 8 weeks to go!

Balancing work and baby and everything else has been somewhat stressful lately, however my work responsibilities will be decreasing/transitioning over the next month. Please continue to pray that the transition can go smoothly and that I can remember that first and foremost I am a daughter of God (before my work or being a mom or wife). Thanks for your love and prayers!

Thank you for Praying!

First of all, we are praising God that after a week or so of asking for prayers for Miguel's green card to arrive, it did on January 21st. God showed us that he does work through the prayers of his people! Thank you for praying!

On the 22nd, we attended GCC (Christian Fellowship Group aka the "young group") and learned about the armor of God. We divided in groups and each group drew two of the pieces of armor and found a Bible verse related to them. Keith was kind enough to model the armor for us and pose with these saluting soldiers!

Issa came over one Friday and we played games together. She also shared this delicious recipe with me that included steak, bacon, beans, green salsa, little onions, chilis, and cilantro.

Due to COVID outbreaks, the café was open only for take-out and we had the pleasure of hosting the men's Bible study a couple Tuesday nights. Here is Benjamin, Julián, Francisco, and Miguel.

The Cissna Park team arrived on January 28th. I really appreciated the help of the ladies for the meals on Saturday and Sunday especially when I realized that the plates and cups hadn't been used in awhile and needed a good rinse!

Brittney, my joy camp buddy from a few years ago, was back and reminded me that she reads this blog. Hi Brittney!!

Hilos also started up again the first week of February. It was a joy to see the kids again along with a few new faces and we are excited for what this semester will bring.

I enjoyed printing out these little flags with the buddy groups on them. (The kids sit with their buddy during the social emotional class.)

Saturday morning pancakes are a good way to use up sour milk!

Miguel made my day on Thursday by making lemonade and serving it to me in a glass with a slice of lemon.  

BABY UPDATE: 25 weeks!

The weeks are slipping by and along with kicking, our "chiquitín" has started stretching and pushing a lot. (Even right now while I'm writing this post.) His favorite position has his feet on my right side, so that is where we usually feel his kicks. However, one evening he decided to flip over and kick on the left side. He and his dad had a little poke/kick fight until Mom said that she was ready to go to sleep and they needed to calm down! :) We love getting to talk and sing to him and can't wait to meet our little boy in May.

(I'm actually 26 weeks now, but the photo is from 25 weeks.)

As I look ahead to the coming transition, I ask for your prayers. I've been very invested in the CVE kitchen and Hilos relationships and I think I might feel a little lost as I start to hand those responsibilities over to others in March and April. Please pray that I can remember that my true identity is in Christ, not my work, not being a wife or a mother, but being a daughter of God!

Peoria trip 2021-2022

Miguel and I were greatly blessed this Christmas season as we traveled to Illinois to visit my family. We enjoyed a slightly longer trip than normal (16 days). I especially enjoyed watching Miguel interact with and get to know my grandparents, siblings, and other family members.

Our trip started in Tucson. While we waited for our flight at 4:40 in the evening, we decided to visit the air and space museum there as a kind of Christmas gift to ourselves. 

This is the presidential plane that John F. Kennedy used.

This is an old simulator cab used for training.

As we looked at the airplanes, I kept thinking of my Grandpa Ricketts who served in the air force and would have had so much to tell us about the planes if he had been there. We sent him pictures! Other highlights included a blackbird and the NASA building where we read about the different missions into space.

After arriving in Peoria late Tuesday night (Dec 21), we spent Wednesday morning relaxing and in the afternoon drove up to Bishop Hill with my brother Philip to where my brother Justin has been working about one day a week at a pottery shop. He has mostly done cutting clay by hand for rectangular pieces, but that day he had just started trying the wheel, so he gave us a little demo. We were surprised to learn how difficult it is to center the clay on the wheel.

Wednesday night, after eating out with the rest of my brothers and my sister-in-law, Anni, we arrived at my sister, Emily's house. We spent the night and babysat Carson the next morning. We greatly enjoyed all of our Carson-time, of course, and are delighted that he recognizes us "Auntie Laura" and "Uncle Miggy." 

Unfortunately, I had started getting a cough on Tuesday which turned into a sinus infection, so the couple days we spent at Emily's I was feeling pretty sick. Friday morning, however, we did manage to go through all of Carson's clothes and pack up a box of hand-me-downs for his little cousin! So exciting.

On Saturday, I missed Christmas morning church due to my sinus infection, but was starting to feel better. In the afternoon, we had our family Christmas.

Sunday, we went to church in Forrest, enjoyed meeting and chatting with many dear friends, and celebrated Christmas with my dad's parents in the evening.

My brother, Matt and his wife, Anni, bought a fixer upper in the fall and Monday (Dec 27) we spent helping them  put foam board up against the roof and installing insulation.

Four of my cousins from Ohio (1/2 of the Ramsier family, my mom's sister's children who I hadn't seen in a few years) were also there to help. We enjoyed working hard together and really made some progress. My cousin, Judah, a peoria area local was also there sharing his expertise.

Tuesday morning it snowed. I had told Miguel, "If it snows, I want to build a snowman with you." Well, the snow was perfect for packing and we did just that. This would have been Miguel's first time experiencing anything more than a dusting of snow.

Carson also joined the fun for a bit since my mom ("Grammy") was babysitting him that day.

Tuesday afternoon, we headed to Washington to visit my sister, Megan. We had lunch with her and toured Washington square. Then we drove on to Fairbury and had supper with my mom's parents. 

Wednesday morning, I took Miguel to Dave's (or rather he took me. He did quite a bit of the driving and started to figure out the Peoria area and the route to Forrest). We enjoyed Dave's donuts, bought some groceries for making my dad's parents dinner that night, and were excited to run into Austin Kupferschmid! On Thursday, after visiting my mentor Bonnie for brunch, we stopped by WC market and got to chat with Kathy Kupferschmid as well!

Thursday afternoon, we celebrated Christmas with my mom's parents along with the other half of the Ramsier family. We especially enjoyed a game of Jeopardy, designed with questions about our grandparents and prizes. Thursday night, we headed back to Peoria.

On Friday I helped my mom out around the house and Miguel gave the cars a good cleaning (on the inside).

On Saturday (Jan 1), we were out in the snow again. It was much colder, but we did give Carson a little sled ride. We also experienced driving in the snow that afternoon as we drove into Peoria with my little  brothers to watch Spiderman 3 and buy some groceries. It even felt like an experience to me since I haven't really been in the snow for the last 3-4 years.

We bought groceries to make a Mexican meal for some of my siblings Sunday night. It was interesting trying to choose the right ingredients which is usually so easy, but becomes complicated when the cuts of meat aren't the same and you're trying to find the most authentic tortillas. We figured something out though and enjoyed cooking together in my mom's kitchen.

The menu was steak tacos, potato wedges, and some salsas. (We may have filled the kitchen with smoke). As my siblings arrived, they kept saying, "It smells like a Mexican restaurant in here," so I guess it was a success. 

Monday evening, we had made somewhat last minute plans to visit Marshall and Jan Heinold. This was a great blessing! Marshall brought Miguel, his brother, and two of his cousins to CVE in 2011 when his family was experiencing threats from the "cartels." It was so wonderful to reconnect with them.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent at my mom's. I got to do some geometric art with Timothy and spend some quality time with my mom.

On Wednesday morning, Miguel and I got a much overdue teeth cleaning and check. And Wednesday evening, we greatly enjoyed participating in the monthly family night at Peoria, including supper and a Bible study on the Fruits of the Spirit.

Thursday morning (Jan 6) found us flying out of Peoria airport bright and early. The snow and the sunrise were breathtakingly beautiful. I was entertained the entire 30 minutes to Chicago trying to identify land marks. It helped that we kind of followed the Illinois river. 

Here is a view of Chicago and Lake Michigan.

It was our most uneventful day of flying since COVID (in a wonderful way) and we arrived early to Tucson. It was lovely to get home and settle back in. 

Thanks for praying for our trip!

BABY UPDATE

At 23 weeks, Baby has been growing and kicking a lot! Since Christmas, he kicks for multiple stretches of time each day and the kicks just keep getting stronger. On Tuesday, Jan 11, we had a structural/anatomical ultrasound done in Nogales, MX. We really enjoyed the doctor's thorough explanations and getting to see our baby's face for the first time! 

We appreciate your continued prayers for all the transitions related to becoming parents and are praising God for a healthy baby and pregnancy so far! 

Please pray that Miguel's green card arrives. We sent it through the mail from Peoria to Nogales and it is MIA. This has been really stressful, but we trust God has a plan.