Ms. Abi is six months old today!

In a nutshell

Where has the last month gone to?!?! Here's a run down of our last four weeks... Back to the last week of February, Dad Gold visited. We spend a handful of days on the boat. Both days there was a lady on the boat, we caught next to nothing. The day I stayed home... at least 6 fish for each of the guys! The following weekend was to be our "quiet" family weekend which was actually Steven's cover up for the surprise of my two best friends from grad school arriving for a long weekend visit. Steven was all prepped for this and was "manny" (male nanny; a household joke here) the night us girls stayed downtown (my first night away from Abi). This past week/end, Mom Gold flew in and us girls went to Seattle to visit one of our favorite wineries Chateau Ste Michelle. That week, Steven was in Orlando for a fire district accreditation conference. It sounds like he had an absolutely wonderful time. In addition to classes, he also enjoyed Universal Studios and took in a Cirque de Soleil show. And tonight, I am packing my bag for a 2 day children ministry conference in Bellevue, WA.

It's been absolutely wonderful seeing family and friends. As I peruse the upcoming weeks of the calendar, it's filled with more fun events and then finally in April, our family will have an entire week together at Eagle Crest. Technically, I'll be working and many of Steven's friends will be at the resort (or live in Redmond) so it'll be time filled with fellowship, nonetheless, we'll have one full week of actually staying in the same house every night!

Must run in the family

The first photo: Michaela @ approx. 7 mo old at Rex Hill Winery (Aug 2007)
The second photo: Abi @ approx. 5 1/2 mo old at Chateau Ste Michelle Winery (March 2010)

Peaches

Maybe they're too sweet...

We'll give it another go tomorrow. :)

Updates ala Photos

Abi and I went back to MN this month for a short visit while Steven worked all but 24 hours of a 6 day stretch. We enjoyed our time immensely as you can see with the photos of Abi and her cousins Michaela & Danielle and me and my cousins Nick and Chan. Abi is now 5 months old and LOVING her rice cereal and the sweet potatoes tonight. We are excited for a visit from Grandpa Gold starting tomorrow and a little time off together to enjoy fishing.

Healthy

Quick updates on our household:
- Aubrey is trying to get the Return to Work program at SDAO running and successful. Patience is a virtue so I'm praying for more of them. :) It's going very well, but it's tough not to put in more hours. Nonetheless, I'd much rather spend my evenings enjoying my family.
- Steven is working lots. He's got the next group of Explorers through the entrance process now. He was asked to work on the District's accreditation team as well so will likely be traveling to Orlando in March for conference. He's also gotten the sump pump on the Dink+1 (our fishing boat) fixed and ready for 3-4 straight days of fishing later this month.
- Ms. Abi is healthy. We were in the ER last Monday evening due to sudden onset of wheezing to her existing cough/congestion. After x-rays and a nebulizer treatment (which she and her lungs responded very well to), we went home with an inhaler and amoxicillin for ear infection and bronchitis. We are grateful for Dr. G who diagnosed her the next day (4 month well baby check up) with RSV. That wasn't a surprise as another baby at daycare had been admitted in the hospital that week for RSV. Abi spent a week home w/Daddy & Mommy as well as a visit from Grannie and Auntie Stephie. She bounced back VERY well as you can see in the picture. She weighed in at 15 lb. 11 oz. for her 4 month visit so is on the upper end of growth for her age. She seemed to immensely enjoy her first taste of rice cereal tonight and somehow managed to eat (or at least let run down her face) most of what we mixed for her. Daddy gave feeding her a shot for awhile.. it was dully noted that everything within reach is fair game for Abi now too.

Blessed

After another busy day, the evening brings some time to play with Abi, vacuum, organize, put tax documents in one pile (ha ha), throw a batch of laundry in the washer, etc. etc. And thus will proceed next week and the following week, etc etc. I took a couple minutes to read Malcolm & Christine's blog and I was reminded how much I miss family and friends in the midwest. But it also reminded me how grateful I am for them despite the distance. Then I started thinking of all the blessings... we had a wonderful visit in Nov w/family & friends in MN, my friend Jill got a new job in Wisconsin, Dick's treatment is going well, Leroy's "Earl" may not be there, I know without a doubt my new job is where God has placed me for His glory, Steven is excelling at his promotion and has had the privilege of ministering through it, we had a great visit when Steve & Annie received their Businesspeople of the Year Award, spent time with their wonderful friends (love the Kaps and Settlemeyers!) and more visits are on the horizon with Mom and Dad (can it be tomorrow yet?!). The Twins' and families are coming for a visit tomorrow for their 30th birthdays which means more time with people who bless our lives. I was reading John 6:35 and Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Those who come to me will never be hungry..." He wasn't referring to actual food... but rather the amazing sustenance that He so graciously filled my heart with this evening. To those in our lives who "feed" us: thank you for being God's blessings. You are much loved!