I had always thought "holiday cheer" was a figure of speech, as a way to encourage others to be joyful around Christmastime. Micah took this phrase literally and actually gave us a "holiday cheer" on Christmas. :-)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Family Update :-)
Greetings from Michigan!
That’s right, after 5+ years in the wonderful and crazy “Windy City,” we decided to move to be closer to family (Scott’s parents and sister live here). We’ve been in the Grand Rapids area for a month now and absolutely love it; Scott’s parents have been gracious enough to let us live in their home while we get familiar with our new turf. Chicago will always hold a special place in our hearts. So much took place there – college, falling in love, our first full-time jobs, marriage, and having a baby! God was so good to us as we began our family in the city, we are confident that He will continue to do so here in Michigan.
This year began with a then 4-month old Micah finally sleeping through the night, :-) Scott busy at work in a new position at Breakthrough, and Bekah putting in some hours for Breakthrough at home while being full-time mom. These roles all pretty much stayed the same throughout the year, yet there were many milestones and travels that made 2008 a very full and adventurous year!
Our milestones varied, from Scott’s 3-year mark for working at Breakthrough Urban Ministries in March, our 2-year wedding anniversary in July, and Micah’s 1st birthday in September. Micah’s really the one with all the rest of the milestones this year – first tooth at 6 months, first crawl to dad at 10 months, first steps at 14 months…
As for our travels, we were able to make a couple trips to CA for Bekah’s sister’s graduation, and, unfortunately, her grandfather’s funeral; a trip to AZ to visit Scott’s family before they moved to MI; and a trip to PA for Micah to meet his great grandpa and grandma Ruth for the first time. By the time it was all said and done, Micah had flown on 12 airplanes!! This kid sure gets around. We also had some family visit Chicago, and it was always such a joy to see them with Micah, so they too could laugh at his goofiness and be wooed by his baby blue eyes.
As 2008 comes to a close, we look back over the year and are so thankful for how God has taken care of us, both in Chicago and now in our transition to Michigan. We look forward to 2009, and wait in anticipation for the adventures ahead that He has planned for us. Scott is now working for a company called Ministry Sync, setting up new clients on their web-based event-management software (www.ministrysync.com). He also continues his web design work on the side (www.scottymanmedia.com). Bekah continues to be a stay-at-home mom with Micah, and is enjoying watching him grow up into a funny, tender little toddler. As for Micah, his 12th tooth is coming in, and he enjoys walking around in his new sneakers. Oh yes, and antagonizing grandpa and grandma’s 4 Pomeranians upstairs.
Please keep in touch! We hope you all are doing well and we thank the Lord for your friendship. May you be encouraged by God’s great love for you in 2009!
With much love,
Scott, Bekah and Micah
ruthreflections.blogspot.com
That’s right, after 5+ years in the wonderful and crazy “Windy City,” we decided to move to be closer to family (Scott’s parents and sister live here). We’ve been in the Grand Rapids area for a month now and absolutely love it; Scott’s parents have been gracious enough to let us live in their home while we get familiar with our new turf. Chicago will always hold a special place in our hearts. So much took place there – college, falling in love, our first full-time jobs, marriage, and having a baby! God was so good to us as we began our family in the city, we are confident that He will continue to do so here in Michigan. This year began with a then 4-month old Micah finally sleeping through the night, :-) Scott busy at work in a new position at Breakthrough, and Bekah putting in some hours for Breakthrough at home while being full-time mom. These roles all pretty much stayed the same throughout the year, yet there were many milestones and travels that made 2008 a very full and adventurous year!
Our milestones varied, from Scott’s 3-year mark for working at Breakthrough Urban Ministries in March, our 2-year wedding anniversary in July, and Micah’s 1st birthday in September. Micah’s really the one with all the rest of the milestones this year – first tooth at 6 months, first crawl to dad at 10 months, first steps at 14 months…
As for our travels, we were able to make a couple trips to CA for Bekah’s sister’s graduation, and, unfortunately, her grandfather’s funeral; a trip to AZ to visit Scott’s family before they moved to MI; and a trip to PA for Micah to meet his great grandpa and grandma Ruth for the first time. By the time it was all said and done, Micah had flown on 12 airplanes!! This kid sure gets around. We also had some family visit Chicago, and it was always such a joy to see them with Micah, so they too could laugh at his goofiness and be wooed by his baby blue eyes.
As 2008 comes to a close, we look back over the year and are so thankful for how God has taken care of us, both in Chicago and now in our transition to Michigan. We look forward to 2009, and wait in anticipation for the adventures ahead that He has planned for us. Scott is now working for a company called Ministry Sync, setting up new clients on their web-based event-management software (www.ministrysync.com). He also continues his web design work on the side (www.scottymanmedia.com). Bekah continues to be a stay-at-home mom with Micah, and is enjoying watching him grow up into a funny, tender little toddler. As for Micah, his 12th tooth is coming in, and he enjoys walking around in his new sneakers. Oh yes, and antagonizing grandpa and grandma’s 4 Pomeranians upstairs.
Please keep in touch! We hope you all are doing well and we thank the Lord for your friendship. May you be encouraged by God’s great love for you in 2009!
With much love,
Scott, Bekah and Micah
ruthreflections.blogspot.com
Packages, People and Piles of Snow
Packages: Yesterday the 4 Pomeranians started yapping upstairs, so I knew something was up - we had received some packages at the front door from UPS. Two big brown boxes full of Christmas gifts from my family back in California. As I started unloading the boxes to put the presents under the tree I started crying. They could be empty containers wrapped in Christmas paper for all I knew, but the fact that they were from my family made me happy-sad. Happy (and thankful) that I have such a great family who loves us, and sad because I will not be with them for the holidays. Don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to a Ruth family Christmas here in MI, but it's just too bad that the west coast is so far away so that I can't drop in on the Sovilla family festivities for their CA Christmas.
People: Yesterday great grandpa and grandma Ruth arrived via train from PA. They'll be here through Sunday. Let me tell you, these folks are great! Scotty and I were able to visit them in August so Micah could meet his great grandparents, but it was also just a good excuse to spend some time with Scotty's fun and friendly grandparents. Since yesterday, we've already heard their tales from their 13+ hour train ride, laughed with them at Micah, and enjoyed good conversations over Christmas goodies (thanks for baking them, Lisa)! :-)
Piles of Snow: Boy oh boy, Michigan really knows how to do winter! We've gotten TONS of snow, and my "first snow day" has already turned into a couple days of being housebound. Our church service was actually canceled on Sunday, and rumor has it tonight's Christmas Eve service may also face the same fate. There are piles of snow all over the place, and the mounds alongside the driveway and sidewalk just keep growing as we plow and shovel everyday...this is definitely going to be a white Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone! (And Happy Birthday to my one and only brother-in-law, Greg)! :-)
People: Yesterday great grandpa and grandma Ruth arrived via train from PA. They'll be here through Sunday. Let me tell you, these folks are great! Scotty and I were able to visit them in August so Micah could meet his great grandparents, but it was also just a good excuse to spend some time with Scotty's fun and friendly grandparents. Since yesterday, we've already heard their tales from their 13+ hour train ride, laughed with them at Micah, and enjoyed good conversations over Christmas goodies (thanks for baking them, Lisa)! :-)
Piles of Snow: Boy oh boy, Michigan really knows how to do winter! We've gotten TONS of snow, and my "first snow day" has already turned into a couple days of being housebound. Our church service was actually canceled on Sunday, and rumor has it tonight's Christmas Eve service may also face the same fate. There are piles of snow all over the place, and the mounds alongside the driveway and sidewalk just keep growing as we plow and shovel everyday...this is definitely going to be a white Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone! (And Happy Birthday to my one and only brother-in-law, Greg)! :-)
Friday, December 19, 2008
Snowed in!!!
This California girl is entering her 6th winter, but living in the snow can still seem like a new experience at times. Earlier this month, I helped shovel a driveway for the first time in my life, and just today, I experienced my first real "Snow Day." Though Lisa and Amanda cleaned the driveway, sidewalk and back deck of the 7-10+ inches of snow we got this morning, the streets weren't plowed all day. There's no way our 4-door sedan could've left the neighborhood - so I can actually say that I have officially been "snowed in." :-)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Goofing off with Grandma' s Glasses
Micah just loves having a good time. Especially when he can make someone else laugh. He definitely had grandma Ruth cracking up while he was wearing her glasses the other night. Good thing grandma Sovilla has glasses too - Micah will have to try them on for size next time we're in California. :-)
Micah's first pair of shoes!
Micah's been successfully walking for about a month now, so it was high time he got a pair of sneakers. So he and I found a good pair for him at Target last week. He loves them!! Here's a family photo, just moments after Micah put his new shoes on for the first time, before our family outing (please pardon the fact that we are all red-eyed monsters). 
Our family outing was to the library, and Micah loved that too (just about as much as those new shoes). :-) What kid wouldn't love the library with cool toys such as this one? I can remember these maze-like toys from my childhood at the Dr. office, Supercuts, etc...some toys just never go away, because they are just that cool...
"Uncle" Luke-Man
Last week our good friend, Luke, came to visit us in Michigan (he still lives in Chicago). Luke-man (or so we call him) and us go way back...Scott and him were college roommates, then bachelors together for a year before Scott and I got married. He was the best man in our wedding party, and a good friend and fellow Chicagon the past few years. He was actually the first visitor who met Micah when he was born (aside from hospital staff) on Micah's day of birth over a year ago. And, he is the last visitor we had in Chicago, the night before we moved here to Michigan.
Luke's a close enough friend to call "uncle" for Micah. My in-laws know him, Amanda is also good friends with him, and Scotty, Micah and I can't get enough of him. So, "uncle" Luke came last week, and it was enjoyable for all of us! We didn't do more than chillaxin' - eating, talking, watching movies, but it was great. Here's some documentation of Micah's time with "uncle" Luke.
Luke's a close enough friend to call "uncle" for Micah. My in-laws know him, Amanda is also good friends with him, and Scotty, Micah and I can't get enough of him. So, "uncle" Luke came last week, and it was enjoyable for all of us! We didn't do more than chillaxin' - eating, talking, watching movies, but it was great. Here's some documentation of Micah's time with "uncle" Luke.
That was kind
Just a moment ago, the four Pomeranians started their yapping upstairs because there was someone at the door. Lisa came down to get me, and told me it was a visitor for me. Me? Are you sure? I don't know anybody yet. Must be a delivery man for a Christmas package or something.
It was actually two women from my church in the middle of their morning run, one of whom lives on the next street over. She had come with a Christmas Eve service invitation with a personalized note attached, and a bag of mocha cappuccino. They also asked if I was going to make it to women's Bible today, and had noted that they missed seeing me on Sunday.
Wow, how very thoughtful! And the truth is, I've only visited Pathway Church 2-3 times, and women's Bible study 1 time. Though Scott and I have decided that this is our new "home church," we're still new-bees! Yet, they still were so kind as to swing by to see how I was doing.
This is what it means to be in the family of God, and involved in a church that is a real community. There are loving and giving people who sincerely care about you - even if you're the new kid on the block.
That was just so kind of them.
It was actually two women from my church in the middle of their morning run, one of whom lives on the next street over. She had come with a Christmas Eve service invitation with a personalized note attached, and a bag of mocha cappuccino. They also asked if I was going to make it to women's Bible today, and had noted that they missed seeing me on Sunday.
Wow, how very thoughtful! And the truth is, I've only visited Pathway Church 2-3 times, and women's Bible study 1 time. Though Scott and I have decided that this is our new "home church," we're still new-bees! Yet, they still were so kind as to swing by to see how I was doing.
This is what it means to be in the family of God, and involved in a church that is a real community. There are loving and giving people who sincerely care about you - even if you're the new kid on the block.
That was just so kind of them.
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