Hunter Safety Retreat

Occasionally I have the opportunity to do some teaching here at Camp Forest Springs.  It is normally related to photography or geocaching, but once a year I am able to be involved as an instructor in a different area!  Every September we run a weekend retreat where people can come for hands-on instruction, training, and to receive their Wisconsin Hunter Safety Certification.  Last year I was trained as an official Hunter Safety Instructor, so this year I was able to teach two classes! 

Simulating how to hold a firearm in a boat - In other words, don’t point it at the bottom!

Instruction on how to read a compass and topo map

The smoke from a Muzzle Loader demonstration

Practicing shooting

The 2010 Hunter Safety Group

Meet our new little bundle - Avelyn Joanna

These past few days have been flooded with amazement and wonder for our God.  I loved being a first time mom when Lauren was born but it sure is nice not to have to deal with all the unknowns and fears that come along with it.  It seems this time around, with fears pushed further back in my mind this time, I am able to more fully wrap my mind around the amazing God that we serve.  The days leading up to the birth of Avelyn and the few so far that have followed have definitely been a time that I feel God has pulled me closer to Himself.  I am so amazed at his love for us, his creativity, his patience, his abundant blessings, His grace and His truth.  I know he occasionally brings us through trials to remind us of these things and so if giving labor was what I had to do in order to get a fresh perspective on Him then I am grateful!  His is an amazing and mighty God and the giver of all good things.

So, without further ado we introduce Avelyn Joanna.  It is pronounced like Evelyn only putting a short A on the front like “apple”.  She was born on the 17th at 6:10pm weighing 8lbs 5oz and was 20 inches long.  Labor and delivery went smoothly and Avelyn is doing well.  Lauren could not be more excited to have a little baby sister and Jack, well, he’s his typical laid back self and probably just thinks it’s another one of Lauren’s dolls!

Since my midwife was heading out of town on Wednesday we went in on Tuesday morning in order for my midwife to get labor started by breaking my water and using a pill to help me start to dilate. 

About 7 hours after my water broke (but only a few hours of hard labor) she was born! 

We are now the proud parents of two little girls and a boy!  How exciting.  I know Lauren will be thrilled to have a baby to dress and play with.  And at breakfast time Jesse told Jack that since they were now outnumbered that it meant more guy time for the two of them.  To this Jack responded with a growl! 

We didn’t make it home until about 8:45pm the day after she was born but we woke Lauren up when we got home anyway.  She was beaming when she met her little sister for the first time.  She was telling us about all the things she would share with Avelyn and the things she would teach her.  Then before it was time for Lauren to head back to bed she asked if she could sing “Jesus Loves Me” to Avelyn.  So, of course we let her, and all joined in.  I think she will fill the role of big sister nicely!

This morning it was Jack’s turn to meet his new sister for the first time.  He has given her many kisses now and may just kiss off what little hair she does have!  He can’t quite say Avelyn but he tries to say Avie.  Since v’s are a bit hard at his age still, she will be known to him as Abby.  Oh well I guess that is better than other names a big brother can call his baby sister…right?

As we transition over these next several weeks into life as a family of 5, we covet your prayers.  The Lord has been so good to us and we hope in Him.  Please stop by if you would like to meet our new little girl.  We’d love to share her with you.

Annual Schutt Family Vacation

As always after we get through the fast moving 7 weeks of staff training and youth camps, we take a week to relax with the rest of the Schutt family at Jesse’s grandpa’s house.  It is always so much fun and a much needed time to regroup as a family.  His grandpa lives on a lake and this year the kids thoroughly enjoyed it.  With Lauren getting older she is now able to experience more things than before.  This year was the first time she tried fishing.  She thought it was great fun except when the fish did “flippies”.    She also got to go tubing with daddy and by the end of the week was getting braver with the water so she even jumped into Jesse’s arms from off the dock!  What a girl.  Jack enjoyed time floating in the lake in a little frog and I was able to get some swim time in myself. 

The week went by at a good pace and we felt refreshed after coming back home.  I don’t recall having to chase the kids as much last year though!  Guess that happens more when you have a 3 year old and a 1 1/2 year old that both have a lot of energy.   

Here are some pictures that highlight our time….

Lauren got daddy to play dolls with her.  He got really good at dressing them and undressing them and then dressing them and undressing them…..

She caught 11 fish with Jesse that night!

One of the evenings Grandpa baptized Jesse’s three brothers and one of his cousins in the lake in their backyard.  He is a pastor of a little church just across the road and they frequently use their lake to baptize people.  So neat to see these 4 young men be obedient to Christ in this way.

She loved it and kept wanting to go faster.  Maybe in a few years she will get to try water skiing for the first time!