Green=car, Red=plane, Blue=bus

This past week, the baby got to travel all over the place.  Over the course of seven days, he was able to see four great-grandparents, five grandparents, seven aunts and uncles, eight second cousins, three great-uncles, three great-aunts, just to mention family members.

We flew out of Baltimore early Saturday morning, and Allen was great on the plane.  He either slept or played the whole trip.

Bound for St. Louis

After a short layover in Detroit, we arrived in St. Louis at about 9:30am local time.  My dad then picked us up at the airport, and we headed to Hermann, Missouri.  This area is where all of my dad’s side of the family came from, back five or six generations to our German ancestors who settled there in the early to mid 1800′s.  We were met by my Grandma and Grandpa Speckhals at their home.  They were thrilled to see the baby (and us too, of course!).  The next day, Andrea and Allen got to meet all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins–including my UNCLE Allen .

With Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Speckhals

Late Monday, we were dropped off at the bus station in St. Louis for the five hour trip up to Chicago, to see the rest of the family and attend the Preaching Conference at Fairhaven.  Again, Allen was super on the bus trip.  The bus was well worth it.  It was very clean, spacious, convenient, and had free WiFi the whole trip.  It ended up being only $13.00 a piece.

From Tuesday to Saturday, we stayed in Chesterton, and were privileged to attend all of the Preaching Conference.  Andrea and I were able to go to the Alumni picnic, catch up with friends, and listen to some pointed and convicting messages from several different speakers.

And of course, this was the first time the Leslie side of the family was able to see Allen.  Lindsey was over-thrilled, and probably kissed the little guy about 100 times.  Aunt Sharon was able to fly in from Utah, and Uncle Jim and Aunt Bethany were already in the area, of course.  As an extra blessing, Andrea’s great-grandparents (the Campbells) from Macon, Georgia were able to fly in for the conference.

With Grandpa Leslie

With Grandma Leslie

With Auntie Lindsey

With Great Grandma Campbell

After the conference was over, we spent a day with the Leslies in Chicago while Grandma and Grandpa Campbell and Sharon were dropped off at the airport.  While we were in Chicago, of course we couldn’t pass up Al’s #1 Italian Beef and Garrett’s Popcorn.  Too bad the baby couldn’t be a part of it!

We arrived home at about 9:00pm last night, a little exhausted, but very thankful for the opportunity to travel, attend the Preaching Conference, and have a good amount of quality time with our families.  Now, back to the real world!

Here he is–Allen Joseph Speckhals: born on February 4, 2012 at 11:55pm at the York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania.  He was 7 pounds, 15.5 ounces, and 20 inches long.  Mommy was in active labor for about 12 hours, and is thanking God for modern medicine and epidurals!  She has recovered relatively well, and is right now just trying to get some rest.

The baby is also doing really well.  He has caught on to feeding normally, and we are blessed far more than we deserve for a healthy little boy.  It truly is great to see the miracle of a new little version of myself and Andrea.  I am beyond amazed, and still soaking it in.  I’ll just let our unprofessional photography do the rest of the story-telling tonight.  Nana (mom Murdock!) will help us with real pictures here next week.  We’ll be sure to post them!

First Picture!

First Picture with Mommy

 

First Family Picture

Baby Face

 

With Dad

With His Outfit from Mr. and Mrs. Brady

Getting in His Car Seat for the First Time

Going Home

At Home

More changes are to come.  Stay tuned!

Andrea and I talked about what we want his bedroom to look like.  Both of us agree that it we want it to be somewhere he can “grow into”; which means that we don’t want it to look too “baby.”  We decided on an explorer/traveler theme with compasses, ships, planes, etc.–or shall I say that I chose it!  I think that parents naturally want their children to be images of them, in a way: at least the positive parts of them.  With that being the case, Allen (I’m pretty sure that’s how we’re going to spell his name!) will probably be molded into a boy who likes geography and history.

Of course, his grandparents will also get a lot of say.  His Grandpa Speckhals already bought him a whole lot of St. Louis Cardinals apparel: including pacifiers, onesies, a ball cap, bottles, and a few other things.  What does that tell you?  He’ll be a Cardinals fan.  Of course, his Aunt Sharon may have a thing or two to say about that, being a Cubs fan!

Then, Allen’s dad (me!), Uncle Adam, and Grandpa Murdock are surely going to make him a Michigan State Spartans fan.  I can’t remember, but the Murdock’s may have gotten him a few Spartans things already.  If there’s anything he will be a fan of, it will definitely be Michigan State!

What will the Leslie’s make him?  If his Grandpa Leslie has his way, Allen will be a long mountain climber!  Aunt Sharon will want him to be a Marathon runner, Uncle Jim: a wrestler , and Aunt Lindsey: a cowboy, for sure.

Lastly, but most influential, will be his mom and dad.  Dad is going to want him to like McDonald’s, and Mom is going to want an authentic Mexican food eating partner.  From mom will also come a love for good biographies, classics, and the Spanish language.  From dad will come a taste for war, guns, and basketball.

But after all of this, he will be completely his own person; which makes all of this so exciting!  It will be fun to watch him grow up: to see his likes and dislikes, his hobbies and his hates, his tastes and repulsions.  Nothing is more important, though, than for him to inherit the Christian heritage passed on by his parents and grandparents.  If that was all we could give him, Andrea and I would be overjoyed!

Autumn Flavor!

Have you seen this cookie flying around the internet lately?  I did, and I had to try it…especially since my Dustin loves all things Apple!  Well, when I bit into one of the cookies, warm out of the oven, I thought, “This is quite possibly the best cookie I have ever tasted” –And I am a gooey, chocolatey, caramel, peanut buttery kind of gal!  But the apple cider flavor in the cookie itself is so vibrant and delicious, not to mention the warm caramel center –heavenly!

Please do make these…unless you are related to me and live in Indiana, because I plan on bringing some with me when I come to see YOU all (Indiana family) next week.  They are a bit of work, and somewhat time consuming, but worth every penny.  My suggestion is to make a big batch and maybe freeze some to pull out later.  That way your time and work is more worthwhile.  And hurry…it just wouldn’t be the same to serve Apple Cider cookies at Christmas time, or Easter!  They are certainly a Fall Favorite!

Oh, and don’t over bake them.  After cooling, mine ended up harder and crunchy.  I think the caramel –being a sugar –heats to a high temperature, and perhaps it cooks the cookie from the inside too.  Never fear, though –if yours cool to a crunchy version, and you prefer the soft, stick it in the microwave for 8-10 seconds for “fresh from the oven” taste!  They’re so much better that way!  Enjoy!

Fall Salad: Spinach, Chopped Apples, Swiss Cheese, Concord Grapes, and Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing! Hmmmm...

Chicken Pot Pie --with a Top and Bottom Crust! Comfort Food...

Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Icing! Southern Delight!

Yes, that’s me.  Just look at me.  Don’t I have the haggard, refugee look?  I mean, I’ve been through it all: the church (IFB!), the academy, the youth group, the college –the MEXICO TRIP! (oh,no!) –and I even grew up living on campus!!!

And I survived…and very well!  I now am very happily married to a wonderful man, attending church and serving the Lord in a like-minded IFB church in Pennsylvania, have great friends, wonderful relationships with my parents in in-laws, and we are expecting our first baby in February!  I have soooo much more than I ever deserved, and all because of the grace of God in my life.  Boy, is He ever good to me.

Married May, 2009

And a big part of God’s grace to me was placing me at Fairhaven Baptist Church.  My Dad and Mom met at Fairhaven (before they ever were “Dad” and “Mom” –and before I was even thought of!).  They were married and eventually I was born there in Indiana.   Later Sharon and Jim were born, and eventually Lindsey.  Lindsey had lots of complications at birth, and the whole church prayed and prayed for her.  She eventually learned to walk and talk, and today everyone loves Lindsey at Fairhaven –maybe because they remember praying her through those precarious early days!  God is so good to all of us, but often we forget.  I grew up with some friends who have forgotten.  I wonder if any of them remember how God spared and healed Lindsey?  How we all prayed together for her, and saw God’s miracle?

Well, I spent my childhood growing up at Fairhaven, attending Sunday School, riding on the Chesterton bus route that my Dad served on, attending school at the Academy, and going to day camp in the summers.  I loved it!  And I am so thankful for godly parents.  I feel so rich to have had a Dad and Mom who were faithful to read the Bible to us every day and who also were tough on us in order to teach us Biblical character.  Now Mom is in Heaven, but what a legacy and gift she left us.  Of course my parents disciplined us…and thanks to God’s grace in giving me this discipline, I am what I am today.  I would not be the person I am if it were not for the godly discipline in my childhood.  It is Biblical…it’s right.  I count myself privileged to have had the wonderful childhood I had.  I wonder if any of my friends remember those things.

Our family at a Fourth of July concert

Later I entered the Junior High Youth Group.  I loved Junior High.  I really began to have an interest in spiritual things in Junior High.  I accepted Christ as my personal Savior in the eighth grade.  And I even was present on that Mexico Trip of 1997.  For all the criticisms and allegations and bitterness that are taking place right now regarding that trip, I wonder if anyone remembers the trip how I do –?  I remember a trip where I fell in love with the Mexican people, where I treasured every word of Spanish I could learn, where I heard good, Bible messages, and was challenged from the Word of God almost every day –a trip I was sad to see end.  I wonder if my friends remember any of those things about that Mexico Trip?

Don't you just love the hairstyle! It was hot down there!

My friend Becca...I know she won't mind if I post this!?! She's very forgiving like that!

I went on through Senior High and College, and even stayed an extra year before going out on my own.  I consider my education at the Academy and College as superior in every way, and that is very valuable to me.  Why, our teachers labored over their lessons, and loved us and cared for our personal lives too!  Our pastors, Pastor Damron, Pastor Whitecar, Pastor Voegtlin, and Preacher loved us and prayed hours for us!  The Lord gave me a strength of character, and a love for Him and His Word through Fairhaven.  I would not trade it for anything!  Nothing.  I wonder if any of my friends remember how God worked on them during those years.  I know He did, I remember distinct times for some of them…but what happened?  Have they forgotten all of that?  Oh, that they would remember…how much God loves them still!

Our family --and Dustin...He became more and more of a permanent fixture around our house until I finally married him!

Because of Fairhaven, I married my wonderful husband, and because of Fairhaven, and the biblical teaching I received there, we have a wonderful marriage.  Now we are thrilled at the responsibility and blessing God has given us in a little child to be born in February.  We look forward to raising this little one for the Lord too!  We are currently very happy to be serving in an Independent, Fundamental, Baptist church in Pennsylvania.  God is so good to us, and we look forward to all He has in store!  But let us NEVER FORGET everything He has done for us!

Dustin and I in Baltimore last winter

The only picture we have so far of our "soon to be"!

Deu 4:9  Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; 

Psa 78:7  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: