Some Sad News

Just wanted to let everybody know that we lost the baby yesterday morning. I was about 8.5 weeks along. We are sad, for sure, but know that God is sovereign, and He knows what's best for us and for the baby.

Christmas Letter 2008

Once again, in an effort to be “greener,” our Christmas update letter will be here on our blog this year.
Adam’s exciting news is that he will be graduating from Lutheran Brethren Seminary in May 2009 with an MA in Theology. We are all so proud of him! He used this past semester to audit a counseling class and finish up on some old assignments. Spring 2009, he only needs to take one class, and he is done. As for work, he continues to work at UPS driving and in the warehouse, as well as preaching every 4th Sunday at Riverview Assisted Living to the residents that can’t make it out to a service. We have begun attending Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus. It has been just awesome for our family. Adam and I (Rebekah) have been able to be a part of the worship team, and the kids love their Sunday School classes. They just participated in the Christmas program this past weekend (there is a cute video on my Facebook page).

I have been chasing after my three energetic kids. Why can’t I tap that energy? I need it more than they do. I love staying home with them and am incredibly blessed to be able to do so. I am still teaching chemistry online for MSCTC, and I love it. I have been given another section of the same course. So, I teach 40 students instead of 20. It is more work in the sense that I have to correct more papers and answer more questions, but it is a great academic outlet for me. Sadly, because of Adam’s graduation, this will be my last year in the Seminary Women’s group. It is such a blessing seeing all the pastors’ wives at convention in June. I treasure the friendships that I have made in my six years(!) in Seminary Women!

Caleb will be 5 in January and is in his 2nd year of preschool this year. Because of the restructuring of the Fergus Falls schools, he is at McKinley Elementary this year. I just had a parent-teacher conference and was told that he is doing great! Once in story time, the class was reading a book on nighttime, and Caleb explained to the class what “nocturnal” meant (uh oh…a know-it-all just like his mom). He also has begun to read. He can sound out words, and even recognize short words he has read before. He is growing up so fast!

Hannah is 2 ½ and is quite the little spit-fire. She just started potty training and is increasing her independence. However, she still needs the “tri-fecta” within reach (paci, blankie, and drink). She loves her babies and is a great big sister.

Timothy just turned 1 on October 29th. He is constantly trying to keep up with the siblings. He gave up crawling the week of his birthday. He is now a walker and starting to talk. Here is another “Primer” for you:

Zat = What’s that?

Duh = Done.

Dow = Down

Bah = Ball

Buh = Button

Coo = Cool!.

Still more exciting news (as posted below)…we will be welcoming another Ekelund in mid-July. We are so excited for this blessing from the Lord. Caleb is already talking to my belly telling the baby to come out…bit too early, Buddy!

This year has been filled with blessings for our family. All we can do is stand in awe of the One giving us these blessings. In our own situation, we are constantly amazed at how God works in not just the big picture, but the details. However, we shouldn’t be surprised. God has been detail-oriented before the beginning of time. Christ’s birth was prophesied centuries before it came to pass. God told us His name and to whom He would be born (Isaiah 7:14), as well as what city (Micah 5:2). There are many other instances in Scripture of God doing exactly what He said He would do.

Hebrews 6:17-19 says, “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Praise be to God for His unchanging nature! May God, who is unchanging, be your anchor this Christmas and coming year!

Love,

Rebekah Adam Caleb Hannah Timothy & Baby

Thanksgiving Weekend Mini Vacation

I was looking online for places to cut your own Christmas tree near Fergus, and I stumbled onto this "Choose, Cut, and Stay Awhile" package with Cupkie Christmas Village and Thumper Pond Resort. I quickly ran it by Adam, and we surprised the kids with a weekend of fun. Above are a couple of pictures.

For the whole album, you can visit

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11279&l=1326d&id=1279914409

He Speaks!

Adam had a dream last night that we had to speak Timothy's one-syllable language. So, I thought in case that actually became law, I would give you a Primer...his language is very similar to English, might I add.

Ma = Mom
Da = Dad
Dih = Drink
Mo = More.
Ba = Ball
Duh = Done.
Dow = Down.
Babee = Baby
Coo = Cool!

For you linguistic buffs, each word ends in a glottal stop.

Newest Ekelund On The Way!

We just found out that Ekelund version 4.0 (according to the Flude scale) is arriving in mid-July 2009! Yay! I think Caleb might be the most excited. He now wants "twenty hundred babies." Caleb, Mommy can't do that, baby.

Prayer Request for Janice Flude

Don Raun (a former Chadian missionary) gave us a prayer request for the current LB Chadian missionaries (especially Janice Flude) today. I will also be posting this on my Facebook. You can get a link to their blog updated by Janice's brother in my "Blog Friends" under Flude Brood.

Some of you might know Janice from being a Sem Wife two years ago while they prepared to go into missions. On Saturday, Don stopped by to say that Janice was very sick and in the French Military Clinic in N'djamena. I will type the update email Don received today word for word for you:


"Several of you have written and asked how Janice is doing. Please continue to pray. She continues to have allergic reactions on a daily basis. Two of them have been life threatening. The French doctor believes that it is the Larium (malaria preventative) that she is allergic to. Larium stays in the system for a couple weeks so that is why they believe she continues to have these reactions. It will probably be another week before it subsides. In the meantime, she is on Benadryl and prednisone.

Kirsten (Holzner) says there has been a lot of sickness. Betsy and Katie are both sick right now with fevers and diarrhea. Several of the Flude kids have been sick as well. In the last week most of the adults have had very little sleep dealing with all of this.

Your prayers are MUCH appreciated by those there and by us!!"

Why there isn't much new Ekelund news...

We haven't posted in a while because we have been really busy this month. Adam's sister and family are here from RI visiting for 12 days. So fun! We are busy running around after a 4, 3, 2, 1 year, and 10 month old. I will have pics soon I hope...

"He who has ears, let him hear!"

Friday night and Saturday 160 of us in Fergus Falls joined with 715 other sites across the globe to hear God's word through Beth Moore. She spoke in Louisville, KY and it was simulcasted to over 70,000 people. Praise Him! The worship was led by Travis Cotrell and his worship team. The Lord has seriously blessed them with beautiful instruments.

The theme of the weekend was "100 Fold Harvest," and the text was Luke 8 the Parable of the Sower. Her main points were
1. Treasure the wonder
-the wonder of His Word

2. Protect your heart.
-so the enemy can't take the Word from you

3. Expect a test.
-life is not going to be easy

4. Dig some roots.
-root yourself in His Word, and you will bear fruit

5. Stop the choke.
-stop being anxious and untrusting of Him who is able

6. Retain it.
-remember the word you are given from Him; don't just hear it

7. Press forth to the 100 fold.
-the harvest doesn't necessarily come immediately; we need to perservere.


Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come.

Welcome to the Gun Show

What!?! You gonna mess with her?

Hannah's Turn To Shine

Flude Brood, do you remember Caleb's table grace? The 2nd video is for you...

More Funny Kid Quotes

6-4: To Hannah: "Well, well, well. What happened to not wanting to play hide-n-seek?"

6-11: "When Jesus comes back to earth, I will open the door for Him."

6-23: On the way home, we were trying to keep Caleb awake so he would nap at home in his bed. He said, "My eyes keep saying, 'Take a nap, Caleb. Take a nap'."

6-29: Caleb rode his tricycle to church on this particular Sunday. I asked him how he was going to stop at the intersection. He said, "I will apply the brakes when I want to stop." (Wait. How old are you?)

Finally, a Hannah quote on June 16th. She was copying her brother's speech. "I NEVER get peanut butter and jelly." (The ironic thing? They have pb&j every day for lunch.)

Independence Day

I know I haven't posted in a long time. It seems like I am found on Facebook more often. I am trying to use the public link for my photo albums to share with family and friends since Google discontinued Hello.

Here are some shots from 4th of July. We like to go to the courthouse and take some pictures in front of all the American flags. We are so thankful to the men and women who are currently protecting our freedom and are very fortunate to live in this country.

Zeke Bronson

I was very fortunate to be with Mandy and Danny as they welcomed Ezekiel Alan Bronson into the world. I got to video up until the time Mandy started pushing, and then once he was getting checked over by the nurses. It reminded me of when Karen Osborne videoed my labor with Caleb. Here are some pictures...

Pre-Zeke with Beth, Ashley, and Kayoko

Momma and Baby

Bronson Family

More Barbecue Pics

Lots of people are back to Fergus for the annual convention (http://www.clba.org/). Here are some more pics from the barbecue. I am putting all of them on my facebook profile.

Josiah, you are adorable!


John talking with the Zeniyas


Erick & Wayne


Jacquie & Shawn


Luke, Chris, & Jay


Hannah, Ayaka, Hyato, Caleb & Danny


Caristy, Little N, Amy & CARRIE! Did you have another baby??? 4 boys now!!! Ha Ha Just kidding. That's Timothy she was taking care of for me.


Overview


Jeanette, Luke, Koki & Keiko

Happy Father's Day!

Today was a busy day in the Ekelund house. Adam preached at Hope Lutheran Brethren in Barnesville this morning. We went out to lunch with some of our friends there, and then we had a barbecue for LBS Grads (2004-2008). I think I am beating all of my blogger friends by posting now...you may see some repeat pics on other blogs. Love you guys!


John & Little N

Mandy, Hannah, Caleb & Danny

Matty & Ren

For the Fludes

Just thought y'all would like to see how Timbo is growing. And yes, his first words are "Da-Da" even when mom is the hand that feeds him.

Water Balloon Fun

It really isn't warm enough for water balloons yet, but we needed some summer fun. We are ready if anybody wants to battle us...

Hannah's Quote

Ok, a quick cute one...

Mom: We are going to Target. If you behave, maybe we can get something special.
Hannah: Oh that sounds nice. That will be fun.

I wish I had a sound byte for you.

So long Wendy Underpants...

Today is another HappySad day in Ekelundville. Today, we gave Wendy Underpants to Hans. We are happy to give the van away because we have been blessed by the Bowmans and the Fludes with vehicles. We are also happy to give the van to someone we know, and someone who needs it. It also feeds my OCD with patterns; Fludes give us Fenway (by the way that is the green van's name) --> we give Hellands Wendy --> Fludes take over for Hellands.


Wendy, Fenway, & Tony

Here is a brief history (similar to a eulogy except she isn't dead...yet) of Wendy Underpants. First of all, Wendy is the first vehicle either Adam or I ever bought, and she is the first vehicle we bought together as a married couple in 2001 from Ed Pettigrew. Her name came about because our license plate was WU-160 (RI plate). That plate iz immortalized on one of the famouz wallz at Zorbaz (Otter Tail Lake).

She was briefly taken from us while I worked in Providence. Someone smashed the driverside window and used a spare key to have a little joy ride. Dana found her a couple days later just wet on the inside with a few of our belongings taken, but our wedding negatives still there. Praise the Lord! The Lord is merciful!

My dad drove her out here from Maine when we moved in July 2003. She has driven Melissa Vold and I to West Acres in Fargo when we were both 8 months pregnant. Everyone gawked at us as we walked (briefly) around the mall. She has seen three Ekelund babies join our family (not first hand, but a couple of days old...gross). She will be missed, but the Hellands said that I still have visiting privileges. YAY!


So long old girl!

Cool Dudes and Cute Vids

This is a rhyme we learned when Caleb was just a baby...

Adam is such a good daddy!

Tristyn Poppins

This year Hillcrest put on the musical Mary Poppins. Our babysitter for Sem Women played the lead. Her name is Tristyn and she is so talented! She is from the east coast and will be our babysitter next year too. YAY! Wouldn't you want Mary Poppins as your nanny?




"It's a jolly holiday with Mary..." (that's for you MIL & SIL)


"Chim Chiminy Chim Chiminy Chim Chim Cheroo..."


Tristyn Poppins

I was wondering if Hannah would say, "That's not Mary Poppins!" or "That's Tristyn!" But all she wanted to do was dance. She loved the opening prelude. She made it through 3 scenes, and she and daddy went home to bed.

Caleb's Quotes

Ok. I have to get these written down so I don't forget them...thought you would enjoy. Pretty soon I will be blogging Hannah's sayings. :)

4-13-08
Oh, that's impressive.

4-13-08
I always have to go to the terlet!
(Daddy & Erick call the toilet a terlet based on an SNL "Terget" skit)

4-15-08
Middlesota

4-22-08
a mysterious friendly monster

5-3-08
Well, that movie went well.
(Talking about the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe)

5-9-08
Dad! Get your shoes on. I want to show you something amazing.

5-11-08
What in the blazes is going on here?

Oh to be a kid again...

Hannah got a box from Gramma w/dogs yesterday. Yet again, the packing material is just as fun as the present itself.

Mama's Learnin'

It is hard to figure out all the minute differences between subsequent children...but I am learning. The first video was taken about a month ago.

Another April Blizzard

Ok. This is just getting ridiculous. They said snow, but a blizzard? We actually got snowed in this time. Adam walked to school to do a paper and everything.

Hannah found something more destructive to do with her time. She is currently very moisturized.

Doctor Visit

Hannah has had a bad cough this past weekend. Timothy had a little cough starting too. So, I took them to the doctor today. Hannah has Restrictive Airway Disease (RAD) just like Caleb. He was diagnosed last fall. It is basically pre-Asthma, and she may grow out of it. For now, she just has trouble breathing when she gets a cold. This pic is with her first nebulizer treatment.


Here are the kids before they went out in the melting snow at the park. Hannah's suit was supposed to be for next year. So, you are getting a preview now. Isn't it adorable? Momma has a keen eye for matching.


At the doctor we also noticed Timothy is getting his first tooth! It must have popped up overnight. The only time I could get a picture was during one of the times when he is insisting that I hold him. After a minute of his insistance, I am thoroughly convinced he is right. Don't you just want to pick him up when he looks like that?

I know it is difficult to see, but it is the bottom left front tooth.

NOMAAAHH!

Ok, Boston fans. We just got some hand-me-downs from cousin Stephen. Even though he is gone...we still like NOMAAAHH!

Spring Wonderland?

This was our yard yesterday!!!


Ok Ok Ok. I know I am in Minnesota, but snow??? We got hit with about 6 inches today. We woke up to a Winter Storm Warning. I laughed because there was nothing outside. After church it just dumped inch after inch after inch.
The great thing is that it is primo snowman making snow. I sent the boys out to shovel and play. They used the snowman making kit that Adam and I got for a wedding gift from the Kinnaman kids.


This is the finished product. Our snowman family.