As of today, (Israel is en route to Taiwan) and Micah is officially wearing clothes for 6 month olds.  We weighed him a few days ago and he was 15 lbs.  Typically babies should double their birth weight when they are 3 months.  However, Micah almost doubled his weight in one month.  AND, he was a big baby. 
Anyhow, I just wanted to say that God has been so good to us.   We’ve been so blessed to have both of our families come up and visit during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  They’ve been such a great help with taking care of the boys and it’s just been so much fun!  I don’t even want to take naps during the day!  (Except for today…somehow I knocked out on the bed after I put Micah down for a nap.)  It’s truly been like a super-duper long vacation.   So, here’s a big thank you to both sets of parents and our siblings.  You have been a blessing to us!
GYC was also a blessing.  (Jen, I went!)  My mom and I pretty much just chilled in the hotel room.  Every time we did venture out to attend a meeting, some sort of disaster seemed to happen.  Prime example being when Iman rushed the stage when Israel was preaching opening night.  He would have run up on stage were it not for the security lady who had to block him…twice.  BUT, the few meetings that we were able to hear live and via the live streaming on the 3ABN website were powerful.  I can’t wait to hear the messages when they’re put up on the website.  I wasn’t able to attend the last meeting/charge, but Israel was really moved by it.  We completely trust that God is going to do something extraordinary with the new E-com.   We’re praying for you guys. 
Of course it was great to see such a concentration of friends in one place too!  The other day, we were reflecting on how blessed our children are to have so many uncles and aunties who love the Lord.  If by God’s grace, our children are there, we believe each of you will have played a special part. 
Well, I’m going to close here.  Tomorrow will be my first time officially attending church after 5 weeks.  I’ll need to get a some things ready tonight if I want us to make it in time.  My brother, Justin, will be preaching so it’ll be a nice treat.  Hope everyone has a happy Sabbath!  I know I will. 

PS:  Pray for Israel!  He’ll be in Taiwan for the GC Youth Congress.  Let’s also pray that God blesses the meetings there.

IA and MC sporting the outfits that Imo bought for them.

Sahm-choon exhausted from all his finals…but ready to baby-sit!

Imo is ready to peace-out to go on a cruise with a mission. 

Micah with his grams…

Micah sporting his Christmas shirt that his daddy bought for him.  Merry 1st Christmas!

Micah Christian at 1 month.  Daddy, come home soon!

The Namm family took over the Ramos house to celebrate the birth of Christ and the birth of Papa Namm. 

The celebration began with the arrival of Papa from DTW.  The cake that is being pictured here is flexible: it was first used for Papa and then it was used (as seen above in this picture) for Uncle Jukes(ie).  Bentley is sneaking some love to Judy.

Uncle Juice (on smoothies) is with nephews Macs and Imax (NOT MANNY & MC)

As soon as Papa got in, we woke up Iman and we had an opening presents ceremony
 

It took everyone to help put the basketball hoop together.  Manu is practicing for his game against Uncle Juice(on) Smoothies

The game was sponsored by Silk Milk–It’s in Manu, is IT in YOU

Then the girls (Julie and Judy) made up a candy house building competition.  We can’t explain all the rules because there were more rules that the Pharisees had back in the day — and they made them up as we went.  But here they are putting together the house that Julie planned while Justin and I were at GYC.

 
Even still, we had some good competition.  The men’s house is on the right.  Notice the streamlineness of our contemporary design versus their sloppy home with yellow snow.  How they won?  I don’t know, but Jukes and Aileen all of a sudden had enough money to buy a Benz.

With all the cheating aside, and all, the men still manifested a spirit of selflessness and we took this picture with them.  Notice the evil smiles on the girls.  BTW, our event was sponsored by Walmart — the Low Price Leader Every Day.

Air Force One was provided by Stephen Row

Vote Stephen Row President 2008!

Stephen: Increase the Piece.

Ramoses

Imanuel & Micah’s grandparents from California came to visit for the first week of Micah’s life.  Unfortunately, on their way here, they had a flight canceled, lost luggage, and it ended with a horrible snow storm, us driving into a ditch, and having a neighbor drive us back home while we waited for the tow truck.  Oh, and they ended up missing their flight back.  We’re hoping that they’re not too traumatized by our weather and that they’d be willing to come back to visit…(maybe in the spring or summer??!!)  

Lala, Manu, Micah, and Vicente Fox (Mexico’s last president)…oh…wait…it’s Abuelo (another word for grandpa)  The mustache is a bit deceiving.

Abuelo showing Micah some love

Manu with his grandparents just before they head back home…a day after their scheduled departure.  Not many flights out of the UP.

Welcome to CMX home of Michigan Tech and Finlandia Universities.  Grandparents on their way out.  But Abuelo wanted to take a picture by the welcome sign.

We need to send this out before we get another winter storm and our electricity goes out and we can’t send this out.

Peace,
Love,
Harmony.

Out.

It’s hard to believe that Micah will only be two weeks tomorrow.  It seems as though we’ve had him for months.  It’s been a joy watching Micah grow and change.  He eats so much.  (This is perfect for my weight-loss plan.)  We went to see his doctor when he was one week old and he weighed 9 lbs 5 oz!  Anyway, his umbilical cord fell off this past Thursday and this evening he got his first tub bath which was nice.  Imanuel is doing great.  He loves his brother and makes sure he gives him a kiss whenever he sees him.  He calls him “baby”, “Micah”, and “brother”.  It’s very sweet.      
 
On a different note, we’ve had severe weather for nearly a week now and it’s been snowing almost non-stop!  Israel has had the wonderful job of snow-blowing our driveway and clearing off the deck & some lawn so Bentley can go potty.   Imanuel also had his first snow outing for this year and had a blast.  He loves the snow!

Micah soaking in the last rays of sun…

Micah & Imanuel