10,000 miles in 2 months!

Scott, Bekah and Micah Ruth have been quite the travelers over the past 2 months!! For the months of September and October we had many visitors in our humble abode, due to Micah's birth (grandma Jenette, grandma Lisa, auntie Amanda, church and personal friends)...Then came the holiday months and we packed our bags and headed out! Here are our miles and highlights...

1,000 miles - Omaha, NE
In mid-October we took a road-trip to see Scotty's parents. The purpose of the trip was to surprise grandpa Scott, who had yet to meet his grandson. Mission accomplished, grandpa was VERY surprised (see October entry, "Hi, Grandpa!")

4,000 miles - La Habra, CA
My sister Elizabeth got married to Gregory Luke-Jamie Haskins on November 10, 2007. Micah and I were able to fly out November 4 and spend the whole week with my sisters, parents and close friends. WHAT A BLESSING!! Scott and I had not been to CA since early February (when we announced Micah's forthcoming arrival), so this trip to see my family was such a gift from the Lord and a refresher for my heart. While there, my sisters and I had our traditional "sister overnighter" (what we do before any of us gets married) at a nice hotel by the beach - what a FUN time we had! My mom threw Micah and I a baby shower, which was a GREAT time to see old friends. Scott flew in Thursday (the 8th), which was a surprise to my sister Elizabeth. Greg and Elizabeth's wedding was an incredible day to witness their new union. I was also able to see many of my close family and friends, which I hadn't seen since my own wedding - it was a wonderful to catch up with them. And Scott and I were able to meet our only niece, Anne, for the first time. What an encouraging trip. (See photo album, "CA Visit - Nov. '07")

1,000 miles - Omaha, NE
We got in our good ole faithful Mr. Car again bright and early on Thanksgiving Day (4:00 a.m.) to spend the weekend with Scott and Lisa. Scotty's best friend, Luke Patin, also joined us for the road-trip and the holiday, which made the trip and festivities even more fun. I enjoyed cooking the Thanksgiving meal with Lisa, and Scott and I had some good times to relax, catch up with mom and dad Ruth, and enjoy Luke's friendship with our family. (See photo album, "Thanksgiving in NE, 07")

4,000 miles - La Habra, CA
On Wednesday, December 19, Scott and I loaded our son onto his 3rd airplane flight in his 3 months of life...We were heading to CA for Christmas! Mom and dad Sovilla knew we were coming (as did Elizabeth and Greg), but the rest of my sisters had no idea! Boy, did we surprise them (do you see how we have a trend for surprises)?? We enjoyed seeing our niece, Anne, and Micah interact again - babies are fascinated by other babies. Micah had grown so much since we had been there in November - you honestly couldn't tell that they were 6 months apart! We had a wonderful time with family for Christmas. (Photo album coming soon).

God is so very good to us. We thank Him for the safety in our travels. We praise Him for His goodness to us, and our incredible families (and friends). Hope you were blessed during the holiday season!

Feel free to come to Chicago anytime...we like surprises...

Tummy Time

My son hates tummy time - outright cries, tears, screams and frustration whenever Scott or I place him on his stomach. I don't know if my child will ever learn to crawl.

One day I was talking to my sister Rachel about how Micah vehemently opposes "tummy time" even though it is good for him. Tummy time will help him learn how to crawl, which will in-turn help him learn how to walk, then run, etc...Tummy time is an essential part of growing up - even if he doesn't like it! Now, if he would just quite fussing and start learning!

Rachel made the point that often God puts us on "tummy time." At times God is doing something in our lives that we cry, scream and get frustrated about. He knows that "tummy time" is good for us, but we often fight against it. Fact is, God is using whatever it is in our lives (our specific "tummy time") to grow us.

I do hope Micah learns how to crawl...I also hope that next time God is working in my life for my own good (my "tummy time") that I would quite fussing and start learning!

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Micah loves looking at his reflection in the mirror. I'm not sure if it's early signs of vanity and conceit, or if he thinks he is meeting up with a friend. Whatever the case may be, whenever I put him up close to the mirror, he focuses on his face and smiles. Then he'll start talking to himself and will, of course, place his fist in his mouth and start munching (see previous journal entry). Occasionally he'll also take a peek at the other person in the mirror (either myself or Scott) and will offer a smile to that person as well.

Fist Muncher

Micah hardly ever takes a pacifier, nor sucks his thumb. His object of choice to insert into his mouth is his fist. And it is not a slight sucking, but a complete fist munching. We're sure he thinks that one of these days he'll actually get the whole fist in his mouth, but mom and dad know otherwise.

9 times out of 10 when we look over at Micah, he is going at it with his fist. Drool, sucking, munching, trying to force his fist further into his mouth...sometimes we don't even have to LOOK at him, we simply HEAR him from across the room examining every part of his hand with his mouth.

Scott has hence nicknamed Micah the "Fist Muncher."

Late Saturday night

Chicago is officially covered in snow. This California girl is still getting used to winter! It's work to do something as simple as running to the store to pick up milk - first one has to warm up the car, scrape the ice and snow off the windows, and occasionally even shovel the car out of it's parking spot...and all this BEFORE leaving your home! To top it off, this winter we have Micah. Imagine carrying this 15-pounder down and up three flights of stairs whenever you go somewhere. No complaints, just stating fact. We're still adjusting to life with baby. :-)

Anyhoo, late Saturday night Scott and I were winding down for the evening. It was about 11:00 p.m. and I thought we were going to go to bed. Not so. Scott starting putting his winter gear on and said, "I'm going to shovel out the car." What? That's right, at just an hour or so before midnight Scott went out to clean off the car of all the snow that had built up throughout this snowy Saturday. Yet he didn't stop there. After the car was clean, he proceeded to shovel and salt the back porch - and ALL 3 flights of stairs for our apartment building!

And what did I do while Scott battled the snow? I stayed inside and kept warm, with an occasional peek outside to document this event with photos.

Micah's career choice?

We think this outfit makes Micah look like a little white rap artist...

Kids do indeed grow up so fast.

Today Micah and I (Bekah) visited Aiden and Summer, the kids I used to nanny before Micah was born (my last day of nannying was just 2 days before little Micah entered this world...he was 11 days early)!

I have only visited these two little tikes twice since Micah was born - once in October, and then today. Wow, in just 3 months since I have stopped nannying them, they have grown up SO much! Back in September Aiden was speaking in broken sentences and Summer was still growing out of her baby-ness. Now Aiden speaks complete sentences (and can even carry a conversation) and Summer looks like such a little girl!

How precious it was to my heart to spend some time with them today, let them play with Micah ("Bekah's baby"), and see how they've continued to grow and develop. Aiden and Summer will always have a special place in my heart - after all, I did spend nearly every day with them for over a year! What a blessing it was to be able to care for Aiden and Summer for that year. Now I have a little guy of my own...

Thank you, Lord, for being so very good to me. Watch over these 3 precious ones as they grow. May they have tender hearts toward You.

Micah's little lion friend

Micah is beginning to recognize and remember certain people, activities and objects. It is fun to see his face light up when he sees or experiences something familiar. His latest fascination is with his little lion friend, a toy that dangles from his play mat. He just looks up at it and smiles, talks to it, and even makes it move when he kicks his feet and accidentally makes the arches shake. Micah's other friends include his mom and dad, the light in his room, a cross stitch on his wall (from auntie Hannah), and mom and dad's ceiling.

Thanksgiving

Micah's down for a nap. Scott's out cleaning the car. Bekah's packing bags...everyone is doing their part in getting ready to drive to g'ma and g'pa Ruth's for Thanksgiving tomorrow...

Micah's finding his voice!

Last night we had our friend Josh over for dinner. While the three of us grown-ups talked, Micah started piping in with some coos and squeals. Now, Micah's been a grunter since day 1, but he's rarely made "happy" sounds which may accompany a smile. Well, last night he made sure we knew he was happy - he was all smiles and coos. How precious!! It is so wonderful to watch him grow and develop!

He is just too cute.

My Sweetie is gone : (

My lovely wife, Bekah, is out of town this week. She's in CA with baby Micah, and I'm here in Chicago...all alone : ( Sniff, sniff. At least I get to see her on Thursday when I fly out to join them for the wedding of her sister, Elizabeth. Greg is her finance, and I'm actually a groomsman, a first for me :)

Oh, yeah, I don't want to forget to mention that last week was Breakthrough's big Annual Benefit Dinner/Fundraiser. We all worked really hard, God showed up, and it all payed off. $705,000 was raised in one night! Praise God! But we're still a bit shy of our goal of $750,000. So if you're feeling generous, then check out our website, and pay special attention to the donation page : ) God bless ya'll !! - scotty

"Hi Grandpa!"

This past Saturday and Sunday we were able to introduce Micah to his grandpa Ruth - unbeknownst to him!

Though Lisa had had the opportunity to meet her grandson (she came out for a few days in September), Scott had not. Our plans were to get together for Thanksgiving - that would be the soonest Scott could meet his grandson.

We wouldn't have it!! By Thanksgiving, Micah will be nearly 3 months old and much bigger. So, we planned a surprise trip to Omaha that would cross paths with Scott's and Lisa's. What were our first words when we saw Scott? "Hi Grandpa!" Grandpa Scott Ruth was very surprised. We all enjoyed our evening together, then the three of us (Scotty, Bekah, Micah) drove back to Chicago on Sunday.

Micah will be introduced to his other grandpa, Tom Sovilla, in early November when we fly out to CA for Bekah's sister's wedding. Can't wait for those two to finally meet!

Super Micah!

We have discovered that our little baby boy has secret powers that originate from Planet Krypton. Go Super Micah. Go.

Only Son

The other night I (Bekah) was putting Micah to bed. After he fell asleep in my arms, I looked down at the face of my only son - calm, peaceful, adorable. Then I thought about the fact that this is the way Jesus entered the world - in the form of a little baby. This Jesus was Someone's only Son - God's.

I got to thinking about how God gave up His only Son for us, a sinful people, because of love. As I looked at Micah I thought to myself that there is no way I would give up my son for anyone, especially not for wicked people!! I love Micah so much, and I don't want harm to befall him. If anyone intentionally hurt him, I know my first inclination would not be to love that person!

I realized that the love I have for Micah does not even compare with the love God has for His Son, Jesus. Yet God also loves every man and woman on this earth, so much so that he gave His only Son Jesus to die for them, so that we could be in relationship with God.

"No!" I thought to myself as I held my only son Micah and looked down at his precious face. "No, God, it hurts too much to think about You willingly giving up Your only precious Son for sinful people...letting Jesus die for me. I am so undeserving!" I was overwhelmed by the concept of grace. I realized how much it cost God for me to be in relationship with Him - the death of His perfect son.

God's grace is amazing.

We're Live!!!

Hey Everyone,

Welcome to the long-awaited Ruth Family Website! We call it Ruth Reflections because this is a place where we can share our wonderings, photos, and passions with those whom we love. This is our Journal, and we will try to keep it fresh with the latest rumblings around the Ruth Family.

The greatest thing that's happened recently (besides launching this website :) is the birth of our beautiful baby boy, Micah Scott Ruth. He is our first born son, and we couldn't be prouder. He was born on Thursday morning (9/6/07), 6lbs 9oz. He is very lankey, like his father, and we can't wait to see him grow up! Well, we're actually not in that big of a hurry, because for one he's too darn cute right now, and also he's probably cheaper now than he will be in 16 years :)

Anywho, check out the wonderful photos we have of him in our Photo Gallery.

Feel free to leave comments on our Journal entries, we would love to hear your thoughts!