October 2009

Before the update, let us thank you all for reading and keeping up with us. We love putting the blog together each month and thinking of our friends and family as we do so.

The last few weeks have been marked by lots of leaves and acorns. Andy and Virginia love romping in the leaves and throwing, chewing (V), and collecting the acorns. Andy is quite the helper when it comes to yard work. He loves to carry the rake around and help daddy use the leaf blower.

A big highlight of the month (for Andy) was the construction of speed humps on our street. Marshall took some videos of the asphalt paver, roller, dump truck and skid-steer so that Andy can re-live the experience over and over. And over.

It's so fun to watch Andy learn new things every day. He's a smart cookie, and even knows that the best way to get daddy out of bed on Saturday is to bring daddy's slippers and "ears" (hearing aids), then tug on his hand.

Marshall and I celebrated our 6th anniversary together. We've seen lots of wonder in the past few years. Thanks to each of you for walking this journey with us.

September 2009

Wow, we (Marshall here) really don’t have much to share about the month of September. Fall definitely arrived, and we celebrated Aimee’s 29th birthday. Aimee also went on a 3-day business trip leaving Marshall to survive his first multi-day stint taking care of Andy alone. The last time we tried this it was for less than 24 hours but Andy awoke in the middle of the night puking all over everything. That was good times that I will never forget. But alas, Andy and I escaped unscathed this time. But, we only have 2 photos and a couple of videos to share this month. Sorry!

August 2009

We had a pretty slow month, other than a visit from Marshall's aunt and uncle--Brook and Pete. It was great to see them on our turf and show them our house. Aimee's Great Aunt, Sister Rita (she's a nun) also came for a visit. Four of the 10 great-aunts are still living and a few of them came to lunch at Nana's. Andy enjoyed showing off for all the guests and we enjoyed catching up.

Andy continues to amaze in cuteness (ok, I might be a little biased, but he's pretty cute). Still not much for talking in English, but he definitely understands what we're saying. Sometimes too much. He stepped on a flower and said, "Darn!" Guess Mama better watch her language. And the other day Marshall said his shoulder hurt. Andy looked very concerned and started rubbing Marshall's shoulder. Marshall said, "Oh, thanks Buddy, but it's the other shoulder." So Andy switched to rubbing the other shoulder.

Andy wants to write something this month. hn nn/ m0/ sss s[';sjkdzszmm n hh bnb nhb V 2555nn n n99+65- That translates to: "I love you guys. Talk to you later."

July 2009

We began the month with Fourth of July fireworks and family fun. Andy got to stay up late and we had the best view in town of a great fireworks display. Uncle Darrin took us up to his offices on the top floor of the closest building to the display. They were awesome. Watch the videos and you can hear Andy saying, "Whoa!".

We also had tons of fun playing with our friends the Harrows at their block party. A real, live fire truck came and sprayed water all over the street. Andy was courageous enough to run in and out of the huge stream spray. He laughed and laughed.

Speaking of laughing...Marshall ran into a tree while playing catch with his friend Paul. Paul said, "Back up, Marshall. Let's see how far 60 feet is." Then Paul threw the ball over Marshall's head and while running backward and spinning to catch the ball, Marshall ran into a tree. It was really funny for about 1/2 a second, until I realized that Marshall was seriously hurt. He was dazed and bleeding profusely and I knew immediately that he needed lots of stitches. Being a good wife I said, "Don't look at it. Just go to the hospital and they'll probably put in one or two stitches." An hour and ten stitches later, Marshall emerged from the ER bruised and in pain.

And speaking of stitches, our dog had her share too. We grew concerned about a couple of bumps on her skin, so the vet removed them (lab result: no cancer). But Virginia wasn't too happy to have these big holes on her back, so she promptly chewed out the stitches. The vet then added super-glue, but that only lasted about 4 hours. We lost count of how many stitches and re-stitches and re-gluings we had, but we finally got her on the mend. For two weeks we had to endure Virginia bumping into everything with the upside down lamp-shade on her head.

Other than that, it's been a pretty normal month.

For you devoted fans, I'll turn to the cute Andy stories. The rest of you can stop reading now, while I brag about my adorable, smart son. He loves to pray before meals--sometimes three or four times until we declare it's time to eat. He grabs our hands, bows his head, and says "blah, blah, adabah, God."

Andy also loves to talk on the phone, but doesn't always talk out loud. He waves at the phone when we tell him to say "Hi". So if you get a blank message on your machine, you'll know who it's from.

June 2009

As anticipated, the month of June was low-key for us. As a result, we don’t have many photos to share with you, but I (Marshall here) couldn’t resist posting this video front and center for all the world to see. As it was a little past his bedtime, Andy was giddy and temporarily forgot that he was only 18 months old (notice after he pulls a superb fake on Momma he then runs it in for a touchdown). Yes, I’m a proud papa, but given his genes I’m probably not going to encourage him into football.

May 2009

(Marshall here) Before we had recovered from April's trip to California, it was time to head the other direction for Eric and Valarie's wedding in Maryland. My friendship with Eric traces back to our UVa days and is a redemptive work of God that largely took root in just the last 6 weeks of our time there. Eric and Val's wedding was beautiful. Set in Saint Michael's at the Inn at Perry Cabin, it was a truly memorable occasion.

And the timing of the occasion was remarkable for us. My grandfather had passed away the week before (see previous post), so we were able to be with my mom in the midst of her grieving. We stayed with her in Lancaster and she joined us on the trip down to Maryland for the wedding. Andy had some quality time with his Mommom, and all of us enjoyed a cruise on a catamaran the day before the wedding. After the wedding, we returned to Lancaster and spent the next day with the Degler cousins and Pawpaw and Kristen and Aunt Brooke and Uncle Pete at Minnich Farm. Be sure to check out this month's photos and videos on the sidebar.

Andy was a real trooper through all of this. I think he has endured more flight time and more jet lag already than I did in my first 10 years of life. Also in the last month, he learned to climb up on the couch, teethed the last of his baby teeth, decided he would spend all of his time outdoors if possible, and developed a love for books, especially those with tractors and boats like the ones he saw back east.

We are happy to be back home for a stretch and are looking forward to summer in Kansas City.

May 12, 2009

Robert Matlack Trimble
Oct. 5, 1919 - May 12, 2009

(Marshall here) My grandfather "Poppop" went to be with Jesus this morning. He went peacefully, holding my mother's hand as she hummed to him. He even smiled a bit.

Robert Trimble lived a good life and gave his family and his country ample reason to be proud. He piloted 30+ missions for the Army Air Force in WWII. Later in the war, as an OSS officer, he tracked the German retreat on the Eastern front and worked for the release of POW's, as many of the camps were being abandoned and even destroyed by our allies. In one instance, he won the release of several hundred French women who had been captured by the Germans and put to work for their war effort. For this particular endeavor, he received a medal from Charles de Gaulle. His wife Eleanor never liked him telling this story about all those French women, and he (usually) obeyed! After the war, my grandfather came home and raised his two sons and one daughter with wife Eleanor and worked quietly for the Pennsylvania Railroad till retirement.

But the one thing for which I am most grateful is that my grandfather came to recognize his need for a Savior and invited Jesus into his life. And this didn't even occur until later in his life. But since then, he and Eleanor grew in their new lives as believers and prayed faithfully for me and others. Eleanor went home to Jesus a couple years ago, and now with Poppop passing I am left to reflect on the earthly loss of such a strong link in my faith lineage. Whenever I witness, I am sure to share about them.

Join me today in praising God for the joy and the gift that was Robert Matlack Trimble's life.

-R. Marshall Minnich

P.S. You can view my grandfather's obituary here.