Christmas Eve 2007

As mentioned in my letter, Timothy was asked to be Baby Jesus in the live nativity program at Pioneer Retirement Community.

Adam and I sang Mary Did You Know during the program as well.

Christmas Letter 2007

So, this is the first year I will put this letter in our blog. That way the environment smiles and you don’t have to read a lengthy letter if you don’t want to. You can just look at our beautiful faces.

Adam continues to work at UPS driving and in the warehouse, as well as a CNA at Pioneer Retirement Community. He took this fall semester off from seminary because he didn’t have any more fall classes. This enabled him to work more at Pioneer, and he loves it. He has been helping with the Best Age program which is a voluntary exercise program for the residents. Because he’s been working there more often, he has become more involved in community life. He volunteered us to sing, and Timothy to play baby Jesus in their Christmas program. He has also picked up another preaching Sunday at Riverview Assisted Living. Every 4th Sunday, he preaches to the residents that can’t make it out to a service. On a sad note, we said goodbye to our church family at Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Barnesville. We will really miss worshipping there with our friends. It became difficult for our growing family to travel out to Hope, so we are currently looking for a church family closer to home.

I (Rebekah) have become a mommy to three as of October 29th. It is definitely busier, but I so enjoy staying home with the kids. It is so fun to watch and cheer on the milestones each of them go through. I also just finished teaching my 4th semester of chemistry online for MSCTC. This year they changed my course to a more basic (non major) class with a laboratory. How do I do a lab online? I have a virtual lab program on the web that the students complete. It was really fun adding that to the development of the course. I am still involved with the leadership of the Seminary Women’s group. We had a fun time at the SWEET retreat at Inspiration Point Bible Camp this past September and are planning a low-key sleepover at a lake house in January.

Caleb began preschool this year. He goes to Eisenhower School right down the street four mornings a week. It is a great time for him to be with friends, go on field trips, and play outside. He will turn four on January 7th, and his vocabulary is increasing exponentially. He said that seeing Santa at Elbow Lake this year was “spectacular” and “stupendous.” That’s my boy!

Hannah is 1 ½ and is increasing her vocab too! I always like writing down my kids’ “Primers.”
Blaleb or Baleb = Caleb
Timeeth = Timothy

Orser = Orange
Mallow = Marshmallow
Bursch Teeth = Can I brush my teeth, Mommy?
She is loves to put her blankie on her head and be “Mary” and push her doll around in the stroller. She is learning how to be a big sister. She alerts me when Timothy is crying, and she NEVER lets the pacifier hit the floor when he spits it out.

On October 29th, we welcomed Timothy Thatcher Ekelund into our family. He was 7lbs 8ozs of love. He is growing like a weed and is cooing and smiling at the moment (my favorite stage to date). He is doing everything he can to try to keep up with his siblings.

We have a Christmas tradition that we started when Caleb was almost one to put certain ornaments on the Christmas tree on the evenings before Christmas. They were given to us by Adam’s mom and are FamilyLife’s Adorenaments. Each ornament is a picture of one of the names of Jesus along with a Scripture verse where the name is found. I haven’t earmarked a favorite yet, but one of them is a crown. The name of Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, and the verse is I Timothy 6:15. “He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords… It is amazing to me that the King of kings came to us as a vulnerable baby; to live a perfect and blameless life; to die taking all our sins upon Him; and to rise again triumphant over death so that we could spend eternity with Him if we accept his free gift. Praise be to God for His wonderful gift! May the King of kings and Lord of lords reign in your hearts this Christmas and coming year!

Love,

Rebekah Adam Caleb Hannah Timothy

Snow Fun

Caleb got to spend some time in the snow with Daddy last week. We got two storms that dumped about 5 inches each! The sled is from the Fludes. He's my little angel.

Gramma Visit

Adam's mom got to visit for 3 weeks to take care of things while I recovered from the c-section. It was such a blessing! She cooked and took care of Caleb and Hannah. It was wonderful. Because of it, I think this recovery was quicker than with the other two.

Movie Date

I meant to put this up a while ago, but things have been, shall we say, busy in our house for the past couple months. On October 20th, Caleb and I went on a date to the Safari Movie Theater in Moorhead to see Ratatouille. It was Caleb's first time seeing a movie in a theater.

I think his highlight was the video games in the lobby. There was a game involving pistols, one involving rifles, and the one pictured above. Caleb loves guns a bit too much.

Timothy's Baptism

November 4th was Timothy's baptism. It was at Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Barnesville, MN where we have been attending for the past four years. Pastor Rich Iverson led the service.

Janice and Steve Flude are Timothy's godparents. Pastor Rich made a joke about their commitment being that they didn't fly in from Albertville, France for the baptism. We all laughed. We were glad that Adam's mom was able to be there. Hannah stole the show by talking (rather loudly) while Pastor Rich was talking.

New Ekelund

Welcome, Timothy Thatcher Ekelund!!
Born at 8:06 AM
7 lbs 8 ozs
20 inches long

Belly Pics

Ok, you sick people. Here they are. I am 37 weeks in these pictures. By the way, stretch marks are beautiful (at least that's what I tell myself to make myself feel better).

Anyway, can you tell who is going to be jealous in 10 days?

Some Specks of Joy

So, I have been praying lately that I will see specks of joy amidst my seemingly depressing state. I have been getting overwhelmed lately with taking care of two active toddlers and being HUGE (I will get some belly pics up before it's gone) and tired all the time.

Here is one of the specks...
Hannah, Caleb, and I have been sick with a cold for a week now. We are on the upswing finally, but for a while it was torture. We ran the gamut of symptoms. I won't relay the gory details. Caleb and I get asthmatic coughs with colds/allergies. So, sleeping is difficult. Anyway, one night I was so sick and laying on the couch. Caleb came over and prayed for me that I would get better soon. Then, he prayed for himself. Lord, thank You for being Caleb's ever present help in trouble.

On a side note, a couple days before he prayed that I would have 10 more babies. Lord, You can ignore that one. :)

Caleb's 1st & 2nd Day of Preschool

Well, the day has arrived that I must give up control of my little boy.

Monday was orientation at Eisenhower school here in Fergus. Mom & Caleb went to meet the teacher, find his locker, check out the classroom toys & snacks, and ride the school bus around the block. When we got there, we learned that there was another student moving to the area that was 3. So, since Caleb was the oldest 3-yr old, they asked if he would be willing to go to the 4-yr old room. That meant that he would be the youngest AND go to school 4 days a week instead of 2. I had to call Adam on that front because I just got over the fact that he would be gone for 2 mornings a week. Adam said we should go for it.

Dreaded Tuesday arrived. It would be the first day of school without mom. We got up at 7am to get ready. Caleb, Hannah, and I piled into the minivan wiping the sleep out of our eyes...ok that was me. I was worried that Caleb would cry, and in turn, make me cry and not want to leave him. We went into the school. Caleb found his locker and showed it to Hannah. We went into the classroom where Caleb signed it, and he said, "Bye, Mom." He gave me a kiss and went to play with puzzles. Honestly, that was the perfect drop off. I didn't cry...maybe I was too tired to know what was going on.

The bus was scheduled to drop him off around 12:20pm. I went out on the step at 12:05 with my camera. My big boy arrived home, and the first thing out of his mouth before he even got off the bus was, "MOM! I had the most fun day at school today!!"

Praise the Lord! I made it...I mean, Caleb made it.