Getting Weighed: Posyandu

Posyandu is a community-based system here in Indonesia with the intent of improving the health of pregnant women and children under 5.  We are still learning what all the posyandu entails.  What we do know is that once a month, each neighborhood hosts a posyandu where children can be weighed in order to track their growth. Our neighbor hosts the posyandu for our neighborhood and last month we took all the boys to be weighed.

Ryan wasn't thrilled about being weighed, as you can see. At 5 months old, he weighed 7.1 kilos (~15.6 lbs).

Joel had the most fun out of the three boys. One month shy of his second birthday, he weighed 10.7 kilos (~23.5 lbs)

Connor, like Ryan, was not a fan of this experience. At 3.5 years old, he weighed 12.1 kilos (~26.7 lbs).

After they were weighed, they were given a very healthy snack- a fried pastry with a banana and chocolate wrapped inside. Though they didn't enjoy being weighed, they sure enjoyed their treat!

July 2016 Newsletter

Hello from Indonesia!

These past six weeks in Indonesia have flown by.  As can be imagined, life has been a crazy adjustment, thus I am just now sitting down to write our first blogpost from Indonesia.  Since pictures are more fun than lots of words, here are some highlights of our time in Salatiga so far...

We take a walk as a family most afternoons.  It is a great way to get the boys out and about but also a way for us to meet people and use the language we are learning.

Three blond boys are quite the attraction on our walks. It has opened the door for many good conversations and the beginning of relationships.

On hot nights, it is nice to cool off in Dad and Mom's air conditioned room and read some books before bedtime.

He rolled over! Ryan is four months old and learning new things every day.

Who needs a TV when you can just go outside and play in the rain?

One day, Ryan had to come to school with us. He was very popular! Fortunately, he slept through most of our classes so we were still able to focus.

Connor and Joel were excited when Daddy bought a scooter.

Joel's first ride on the scooter. He loved it!

Connor's first ride on the scooter. He loved it too and always asks to go with Jeremy whenever he see him get on the bike.

Pack. Move. Pack. Wait.

These last four weeks have been a whirlwind of goodbyes, packing, moving and more packing.  Two weeks ago, we moved from Spokane to Salem, Oregon to live with my folks until we leave for Indonesia.  Here's a small glimpse into our final preparations as we wait for our visas to be approved.

Connor had a hard time watching our house being packed up and people picking up our furniture.  But after seeing pictures of the house where we will be moving into in Indonesia and what his new bed will look like, he quickly decided that moving was a ok. He was a good little helper, helping daddy load the Uhaul.

Joel is young enough to not understand what is going on other than he had a fun new place to play.

Our three crates arrived at my folk's house in Salem, OR a few days after we arrived. Now for the fun of loading them with all our totes, Jeremy's toolbox and an oven. It's like a big puzzle.

My four Toews boys!

Yet again, Connor and Joel have found another new place to play.  This time it was in a place where they were contained, and we always knew where to find them. :)

16 totes plus a variety of items stuffed between each tote and crate #1 is almost packed.

Jeremy's tool box is packed (thanks to the help of my dad and Jeremy's brother Nathan), and now it serves as a good work station as Jeremy documents everything that gets put into each crate.

February Newsletter

Ryan Russell Toews

We are excited to introduce you to Ryan Russell Toews!!  He decided to make his grand entrance on Saturday morning, February 6th...not waiting for his scheduled c-section date (February 17).  At 10:24am, he was born via c-section.  He weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19 inches long.  We are thanking the Lord for another healthy boy!  We are blessed!

Blessing #3!

Two very excited big brothers meeting their little brother!

First family picture as a family of 5

Home sweet home!

Baby Update...

Thank you all for your prayers that our little guy would turn!  He has stayed breech even after an attempt to manually flip him by our doctor as well as other spinning techniques.  Obviously he is in this position for a reason.  If he doesn't try to make his grand entrance on his own, we are scheduled for a c-section on February 17th at 7:30am.

Thank you again for praying and for all your encouragement!  We are looking forward to introducing him to you soon!

I Just Don't Know

In this season of so many big life changes, I have been challenged by the fact that there are few answers to the plethora of questions, and I find myself often saying "I just don't know."

When do you think your baby is going to arrive?....I just don't know.
     (Due February 17th but has shown signs of coming early)

When do you think you will be moving out of your house in Spokane?....I just don't know.
     (Around the end of February but now that too might be up in the air because of visa issues)

When do you think you will be finally moving to Indonesia?...I just don't know.
     (Depends on our visas.  We turned in the paper work 5 months ago and have heard nothing since.)

What will life look like for you in Indonesia?...I just don't know.
    (Won't know until I get there.)

As I stop and ponder the fact that I truly have no control over some of life's circumstances, it stretches my "planning" personality and reminds me that I need to not be relying on myself but on the Lord. After all, HE is the one who knows and the one who does have perfect control of everything in my life.

Whether life seems stable or like a whirlwind, we can trust the God who holds it in His strong, loving, capable hands.  Oh how I need to be reminded of that often!  I need to surrender my plans to Him daily in order that His perfect plan may be accomplished.