First Road Trip

This was a big weekend for our family. Silas took his first road trip! We drove our Accord with Silas and two dogs six hours to see Shane's family in Illinois. Thankfully everyone did great in the car. We stayed with Shane's mom out at the lake. As you can see, Silas was all smiles with Grandma and Grandpa. I'm actually not sure which was cuter, Silas smiling or Grandma and Grandpa trying to get those smiles...

Silas also got to meet several other very special people while we were in Pekin. We spent some time with Shane's dad and his sister, Tara. Silas loved snuggling and sleeping with Grandpa Mike...

Shane, Silas, and Aunt Tara. Silas has two Aunt Taras (we both have sisters named Tara) so we'll have to figure out how to distinguish between them someday...

On Sunday, Shane's family had a get-together to celebrate the recent marriage of one of his cousins. So Silas got to meet the whole family. It was very special for him to meet his Great Grandma and Grandpa Draher. Silas is their fourth great-grandchild...

One of our dear friends, Susan, had twins this spring. We had to go see them while we were home! What precious girls they are. Here is me with Susan. She is holding Delanie and I have Natalie. I still can't believe that Silas will be that big, sitting up, and interacting soon...

We also went to see the Josh, Kim, and Ava Fryman while we were in town. They were so sweet to have us for dinner. Silas looks pretty curious about Ava. In reality, he was pretty fussy while we were there, but I suppose he was just getting Kim ready for their second little one who is on the way...

We had such a busy, but wonderful weekend. It is a joy to share Silas with friends and family who mean so much to us. It was pretty late when we headed home on Sunday so Grandma got to give Silas a bottle to save us some time while we packed the car.

Six Favorite Weeks

Our baby is six weeks old today. I can't believe how much he has grown and changed already. At our doctor's appointment last week he was pushing 12 pounds. He has rolled over several times from tummy to back, and is starting to hold his head up on his own. He is smiling a lot, which we love. And last night he moved from our room to his crib with no problem.

These weeks have been six of my favorite weeks ever. What a treasure it has been to have our baby at home with us. And what a gift it has been to have so many family members and friends get to share the days with us. We have loved every minute.

How am I blessed enough to get to look into these eyes every day?

Last Week's Events

Our good friends Chuck and Karry came to visit last week. While they were here, Jason and Kelly came over from Cincinnati for an afternoon. We spent the day doing all things new for Shane and I...entertaining kids! Here is Chuck, Shane and Jason after the babies had gone to bed.
Karry and daughter Aubrey, Silas and I, and Kelly and daughter Maggie. Aubrey had such fun with "Baby Silas" while they were here. It was so cute to hear Aubrey call him "Baby Alice" when they first got here. After just a few tries she learned to put the "s" sound first...
We went to the Zoo with Chuck and Karry, a first for Silas. He did great, resting in his stroller most of the time. While we were there he took a bottle for the first time. We were pretty proud parents. He acted like he knew exactly what he was doing.



We loved having you all come visit! We're already looking forward to the next time we're all together.

My Boys

The pictures speak for themselves. Too cute and too sweet. I am fully blessed.

Grandma and Grandpa Visit

Shane's mom and Lee came to visit this week. Silas loved getting to see Grandma and Grandpa again. He turned 4 weeks old on Wednesday, so it was fun to have them here for that milestone. They got to be part of a day in the life of Silas...happy wake times, sleepy times, fussy hungry times, wiggly active times, bath time, tummy time, and gym time.

While they were here we took a quick outing to Churchill downs. Here we are in the stands at the finish line. Silas was obviously less than impressed and decided to sleep through the whole event, but the rest of us really enjoyed it...

There is coming a day...

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." Revelation 21:1

My parents flew back to Singapore on Sunday. They had been here for 4 weeks, having arrived just a few days before Silas was born. They were such a gift in the days that followed...cooking and cleaning, offering baby guidance, and loving on our precious son as much as possible. Saying goodbye on Sunday was difficult for all of us.

I've never regretted my parent's decision to follow the Lord's calling on their lives to work in full-time missions. I loved growing up overseas. But we will all openly admit that the journey has not come without it's share of sacrifices. We all miss the companionship of being together. And when we say goodbye I always feel a sort of emptiness that lingers for a while. The house was much quieter yesterday and today. Shane and I are back to cooking for ourselves. And Silas has been a bit fussy, which is not his norm, so I am blaming it on less attention and fewer arms to snuggle in.

The past two days I've been reminded that there is coming a day when there will be no more goodbyes. Amazingly, the scripture specifically states that the sea that separates us will be gone. Oh, how I long for that day...when not only will we be together with each other and our Lord Jesus, but "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." 21:4 What a promise for those who are in Christ Jesus.

In the meantime, we have a treasury of memories from the first weeks of Silas' life. What a joy that we got to share them together. This is my mom and I, and Shane and my dad on the night before they left. We were out to eat and had Silas with us, but little sleepyhead didn't wake up to be in any pictures.


Here is Nana having Sunday School with Silas in his room. So sweet.
And Papa reading the story of Paul and Silas to our Silas out of the children's Bible they got for him.

Aunt Tara and Uncle Jay

Silas loved time with Aunt Tara and Uncle Jay this weekend. He especially loved all the extra snuggles and lovies. We can't wait to see you again soon...