March 2011
SHAHEENUPDATE
This update is for you who, we have found, really care for us. Some of you we may have met once, others, we have known our entire lifetime. We understand that we could just as easily use facebook, twitter, or email to write you individually. However, we want to offer a more personal touch in updating you about how our lives together, by the will of God, are progressing.
MARCH MADNESS by Amanda Shaheen
March, by far, was one of the busiest months we’ve had since the holidays. It was full of birthdays, meetings, and family visits. It has been one year since we bought our house, and I moved to St. Charles in preparation for Jiryis’ arrival in May. I can hardly believe how fast a year has gone! One evening this month, Jiryis and I were looking at the pictures from his birthday party. We came across a picture of a full room of people, our dearest friends, crammed into a kitchen to celebrate Jiryis. At one point, he stopped and said “Can you believe a year ago none of these people were apart of our lives! That’s crazy to think how many friends we’ve gotten since being here this past year.” We have been blessed, immensely, this past year. Back in September, I wrote an update about Community. I am finding as time progresses, my definition and concept of community is ever changing. I find that community for Jiryis and I
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comes in a variety of ways, from a variety of people. And still, we are always trying new ways to figure out how to better reach out and be apart of our community. It’s taken us nearly a year, but we have finally started to get to know our neighbors. When we first moved into our house the feature I hated the most was that there wasn’t a solid privacy fence wrapping around the entirety of the yard. We have chain link fences on either side, and for me, that was just not going to cut it for privacy. However, we’ve spent a lot of time in our backyard lately getting our garden ready, which happens to sit against one of the fences, and thus...we’ve attracted the attention of our neighbors. Jiryis will often be out working, and soon be accompanied by the gentlemen next door, chit chatting away about the latest neighborhood news, gardening tips, or the weather. I had mixed feelings about this first at first, but the I realized that I was forgetting the most OBVIOUS community...the one I live in and next to. Our neighbor doesn’t
seem to have a personal relationship with Christ, and so it’s been a great opportunity to simply be US, and invite him into our world. He has asked and wondered what so many people do at our house on Sunday afternoons. We told him it’s called Spaghetti Sunday and he is always welcome. He was so appreciative of the offer, and we hope that soon our Spaghetti Sunday community will indeed extend to our community next door.
March 2011
our Spaghetti Sunday afternoon adventures...
5.3 Mile Hike on the Lewis and Clark Trail!
Picasso’s Coffee House ...out on the trail
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March 2011
HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY JIRYIS Lighting Candles on jiryis’ birthday cake masterpiece :) Opening gifts with friends!
My dear friend Celiscia and I celebrating our matching (somewhat) Baby Bumps! Celiscia is Due April 5th!
What’s to come... ‐ We’re heading to Israel June 11th! We’ll be there for two weeks visi;ng family, and traveling with Harvester Chris;an Church on the Holy Land Tour. ‐ April 9th‐ Amanda will be heading up to Illinois to celebrate Sarah and Dave at one of their wedding showers! ‐ June 4th‐ Dave and Sarah are geKng married!
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Prayer Requests.. - Continued health and growth of our baby! The second trimester is in full swing! - Our friends Thomas and Celiscia are expecting their baby girl ANY moment! - planning our summer schedule, and figuring out the schedule once baby arrives. - continued fruitfulness of Spaghetti Sunday - continued growth as we end our first year of LifeGroups - our ministry with VIVE.
Don’t forget to check out Jiryis’ website: www.worldaccordingto.tumblr.com