Stong Man Shaw

Meeting His Cousin

Here is Jacob meeting his cousin (who is in his Aunt Jenny's belly right now and will come out to meet us late Dec/early Jan). He can't wait to play with him!

I want one!

Jacob is Too Cute When He Sleeps

The Last of the Beach Pictures

Finally, here are the last pictures from the beach (from about 2 months ago). Enjoy!

Our House

Here are the up-to-date pictures of the house. Adam meet with the builder on 8/13 to have the pre-drywall meeting. They should have started the drywall already. We don't drive by it as much since this is the slow part where we don't see the progress. The builder is still saying we should be in in October. I can't wait!

Introducing . . .

Miss Hailey Hope Canada

Hailey was born at 2:04pm weighing 7lbs 13oz and is 20" long. She has thick black hair (would you expect any different from Sean's baby?!?) and blue eyes.

Jacob can't wait to meet her!!!!!

Proud Papa Can't Wait to Meet His Little Girl

I just talked to Sean and they are excited about meeting their precious Hailey. He said it is just starting to hit him that it is really real. Check out the post on his blog (I LOVE the guitar strap idea...too bad Adam and I don't play guitar or we would have to steal the idea!):

http://canadafamilyfla.blogspot.com/

Hailey is on her way!

Kim is going to have a c-section within the hour. Please pray for overwhelming peace for Sean & Kim and that they will be able to enjoy this incredible time as their daughter is born!

Kim Update

Kim is getting an epidural right now. She is only 3cm. The doctors are hoping that the epidural relaxes her body enough to start active labor. Hailey is showing NO signs of stress! If active labor doesn't start by 1230/100, then they will do a c-section. Kim really didn't want one, so please pray that her body will respond and no matter the outcome that God will wash both of them in His peace!

Kim is at Florida Hospital Altamonte.
Stacy Butschek will be coordinating meals for them once they get home.

Do we have a Hailey yet?

Nope. No Hailey.

Kim's water broke about 3am. This morning they have decreased the magnesium (the medicine they gave her to help lower her blood pressure) and increased the pitossin (don't know how to spell that one). Her contractions are much stronger, but she is still saying it is not bad (I think she is lying). We should be meeting Hailey sometime today! =)

Update on Kim

She is just 2cm dilated and they are hunkering down for the night. I guess we have to wait until tomorrow to meet Miss Hailey. Please be praying for peace and stamina for Sean and Kim. Thankfully, Kim isn't in any real pain yet, just uncomfortable because she is hooked up and can't move too much. Until tomorrow...

My Son

Oh my goodness. I just had to share these. I am uploading my pictures onto the computer and Jacob is behind me and I look back (he was just talking, not fussing at all) and this is what I saw...

The Youth Retreat

The retreat was wonderful this year. We definitely felt Rick & Carrie stepping back and Sean & Kim not being there. It was a lot of responsibility, but I would do it all over again (although it is nice to know that the retreats after this will be easier, unless the Canadas keep trying to have babies during the retreat).

Bob Levins spoke during the night sessions, Adam spoke Friday morning (I was supposed to speak as well, but had too many things to do so my gracious husband spoke on my part as well) and Rick and Jenny spoke on Saturday morning. They all did a wonderful job.

I think my favorite was Saturday night when Bob spoke on Samson in a message titles "What are you doing in the vineyard?" It was really good. In Numbers it tells of the Nazrerite vow that he took and then in Judges we see him breaking all aspects of that vow (walking through the vineyard when he is do have nothing to do with grapes, raisins, wine, etc.; eating hunny out of a dead carcass when he isn't supposed to touch unclean things...). The last part of the vow that he broke was the cutting of his hair and that is when he lost his strength (and then our Almighty, Gracious God redeemed him once more at the end of his life). It was a different way of looking at the story and was really good!

The free time was a blast as always. We had a thunderstorm that chased us inside for a little on Saturday, but it cleared up just in time for the blob. I have pictures to post, they are on Ally's computer so hopefully next week I'll have a slide show. I went on the blob this year. I went a total of 3 times and even got double bounced (had 2 people jump off to bounce me) the last time. It was really fun!

Worship was good and different. I played the piano and I haven't played in years. It went well, except one song that we pulled out at the end (that we hadn't practiced at all) had a wrong chord. I had to play something and I couldn't figure out what the right chord was. Adam said that I would miss 2 beats and then play the chord and huff really loud. That was embarrassing.

We are taking a break from youth tonight just to give everyone time to recuperate. We are excited about the new year and are planning on starting to plan the next retreat come October. I always love the retreats and love having that time with the kids.

Jacob did wonderful and just about everyone there held him at some point. They really love him and I love that we can model to him what serving Christ looks like.

Until later...enjoy the "storm"!

Miss Hailey is on her way!

Kim is at the hospital getting induced right now! Jacob can't wait to meet his buddy. Stacy said it could be as late as tomorrow night before we get to meet the precious bundle. I'll keep you posted.

Check out their blog: http://canadafamilyfla.blogspot.com/

We're Home!

Well, we made it home safe and sound from the youth retreat. We had a blast! It was bitter-sweet as we miss Sean and Kim and it was Rick and Carrie's last "official" youthish thing. We will miss them so much...but I can't talk about that, I have cried enough!

Jacob did really well and there are so many stories to tell. I hope to post all of the details on Wednesday (that is if the hurricane doesn't knock our power out, although I wouldn't mind a reason just to do absolutely nothing but play with Jacob!).

Miss Hailey is still in the womb (http://canadafamilyfla.blogspot.com/). She was supposed to come out and meet Jacob yesterday, but she wants to stay inside. He talked with her yesterday. He put his hands on Kim's belly and then another time he laid his head on it (but I think it was because he really wanted her Starbucks cup). Jacob said that Hailey told him something about her being nervous about all of the magic that her daddy does. Who knows what that means!?! =)

Back to work now...

Update on Shaws

Wow, I can't believe that the month is just about 1/2 way over and that Jacob will be 8 months old in just a week! Time is really flying. So much has been happening around our "house", I thought it was time for a quick update. . .

We leave Wednesday night for our youth retreat. We are super excited and stressed and overwhelmed. So many emotions, not enough time. We have a lot of responsibility this year. Kim and Sean, the middle school small group leaders, aren't going this year because Kim is due to give birth to Miss Hailey on Sunday (at least that is her due date), so they are staying behind. That means that the responsibility of worship falls on us. I am playing the piano at the retreat. I'm getting nervous and wondering why I said I would do it (we don't like for the youth to play in the band if they don't have to so that they can be ministered to at the retreat). Craziness. God, move my fingers when I am playing...please! All stress and long lists of things to do aside, I cannot wait. It is going to be a great retreat!

Our house is coming along. We have a roof, shingles, windows, a front door, electric, phone, cable and security system wiring run, and all of the framing is done. Adam meets with the builder tomorrow for the pre-drywall meeting. How exciting!

Jacob is doing great. He is making more sounds and starting to be entertained by us talking funny to him or watching tv. You can tell he is understanding more, which is good since he has taken to spitting again and will do it when he is eating or when he is mad and so then this mommy has to get onto him and tell him that that kind of behavior is not acceptable. Laugh all you want, but he knows when I talk serious...he knows when I mean business and usually stops (usually meaning 50% of the time!)

Last bit of news, Rick and Carrie Schuessler have been over the youth ministry at our church for over 7 years now (they started 2 weeks after they got back from their honeymoon). They have decided that that season of their life is over and are going to be stepping down after the retreat and no longer will be involved in youth. Adam and I will be taking over for them. I guess that means I'm married to a youth pastor - it just sounds weird and too official/stuffy! We are excited. If I think about it long enough I get a little scared as it is a lot of responsibility and has its far share of drama, but it will be a blast. We really love those kids like they are our own.

Please be praying for us as we enter this new and exciting season and as we go on the retreat and for Jacob's health (he has been pulling on his ear for days now, is fussy and has a runny nose - we are going to the doctor later today).

My God is a big God and has big plans for the Shaw family. That is so exciting and comforting that He already knows what is going to happen! I can't wait to see what he has in store for this weekend at the retreat...

This could be Garnet and Jacob in a few months!

Dog tickles baby...

Why children are so easy to love!

1) NUDITY: I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'

2) OPINIONS: On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.'

3) KETCHUP: A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.'

4) MORE NUDITY: A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'

5) POLICE # 1: While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'

6) POLICE # 2: It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked. 'It sure is,' I replied puzzled. The boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'

7) ELDERLY: While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'

8) DEATH: While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.'

9) SCHOOL: A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'

10) BIBLE: A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. 'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out. 'What have you got there, dear?' With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

NOW IF THIS DIDN'T BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY, GO BACK TO BED AND FORGET IT!

Never Hire a Gay Weather Man

Our House!

Ok, so for those of you who know me, I don't like to do something unless I can do it 100%. That is why I am so bad lately about putting pictures up (I still owe you pictures from the beach and my mom really wants our family pictures that we took put up as well - Mom, check out our photo link and they are up now). I haven't had the time lately to do it right so I just haven't done it at all, but I just couldn't take it. Jenn Heuslein (http://the-heuslein-family.blogspot.com/) is so good about putting up pictures of their house, I figured I had to get some of our up as well.

So here you go. I have more (see I couldn't do it 100%, but I am surviving!) as these are just up to 7/27. When Adam drove by yesterday, they had the plywood on the roof, the inside framed out, the paper on the roof and shingles stacked and almost all of the windows up. I can't wait to see it tomorrow! Almost time for them to start on the inside stuff! Enjoy our house in progress...