The BIG 2-7!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

26 years ago... man life was good!

Yes, it's true. I turned 27 last week. I can't believe I've officially crossed over to being in my late 20's. Randy, my co-worker and the girls surprised me with a cinnamon roll breakfast and Birthday balloon which was awfully sweet. That night I made myself and the girls Funfetti Brownies... they are now my absolute favorite brownies EVER!

I was reminded by the girls that I had an "odd Birthday". I guess they think if I don't get the day off of work and go "party" my Birthday is offically lame. Can't say I didn't think the same thing when I was their age.

So for the past couple weeks Randy has been leaving me little notes to celebrate my Birthday. Such as, "Your Birthday is in 13 days and your Birthday suprise is in 15 days. I bet you wish you knew what it was, right? Just make sure you pack an over night bag". So needless to say my mind has been wondering for the past couple weeks, "What could Randy be planning?"

Well Randy had planned for a two day get away to Starved Rock State Park Lodge.

So we arrived around lunch time and enjoyed a nice lunch in the resturant at the lodge. Took a nice hour walk around the state park grounds and then Randy had scheduled a prenatal message for me that afternoon. I had the most amazing hour and a half prenatal massage that was heaven sent! I only wish Randy could have experienced it with me. After a nice relaxing massage we went for a dip in the pool and ended the night with a nice dinner.

The next day we ventured out for a 2 hour hike which ended up kicking my butt the next day. I never understood what pregnant woman were saying when they talked about being short of breath and exhausted after a walk at the mall. Well, NOW i get it. I was pooped by the end of the day, but it was so worth it to be in the beautiful 70 degree weather enjoying the outdoors with my husband.

Here are some pictures from my Birthday get away. Thank you again babe for taking time to think of me and create a wonderful 27th Birthday for me. I love you!

March Madness

Oregon Home Girls, Military Ball 2009

Well, March has proved itself to be a busy time here at Moosehart. The Senior activities on campus have started up, our girls just had Military Ball last weekend, girls track starts today which Randy is coaching, Spring Break picks up next week, Prom is a month away and graduation will be here before we know it in May. We are so happy the Lord appears to be blessing us with Spring weather. This time last year Randy & I were being chased out of Mooseheart by a snow storm, so needless to say we are so happy Spring is here. Bellow are some pictures of our girls from Military Ball last weekend. This Ball counts towards their grade in JROTC. We were honored to see one of our freshman crowned Barroness for her effort displayed this year in the JROTC program.

-This is one of our freshman and her younger brother who also lives on campus-

-These two are two of our higher achieving girls in the home, sophmore & junior-

-This is one of our freshman and her date-

-This is our one senior and her Military date-

As some of you know we have been taking our girls off campus for Church once a month to Trinity Church in Naperville. Randy & I have been blessed to become friends with Trinity's Youth Pastor and his wife, Matt & Cara. They are also expecting, due a couple months after us with their third child. This Church has taken great interest in not only our Oregon Home girls but of all youth here at Mooseheart. Matt & his wife Cara are the one's who put together a New Year's Eve party here on campus with our kids and their youth group kids.

They have just recently announced to us that along with the help of another carring memeber in their church, Sally Trinity's youth group girls have raised money to take our girls rock climbing at an indoor facility this weekend. We are so excited as well as our girls. We praise the Lord for this outside interest, care, love and support for our ministry here at Mooseheart. If you would pray with Randy & I that this activity allows for an oppurtnity for our girls to connect with these youth group girls.

We also have a spiritual update on our girls to share with you all and ask prayer for. After visiting Trinity Church this past Sunday and witnessing a baptism a couple of our girls voiced interest in being baptised. As you can imagine this excited Randy & I as we see a clear opening to see where these girls are exactly, in a spiritual sense. Pray that these two girls will continue to open up to us and learn more about the Lords love and grace through us and Trinity Church.

Blessings from the Riggs + baby

22 Weeks

We Continue To Grow

So I'm 22 weeks now (19 weeks in this photo) and I wonder where all the time has gone. Last week, Thursday I was scheduled for my 21 week ultrasound. We couldn't have been more excited, this is the ultrasound that allows us to see what gender our baby bean is! Well, here we are at 22 weeks and we still don't know what we're having. After a wonderful 20 minute ultrasound the babies legs weren't spread apart enough to give our Doctor the confidence to say whether we were having a boy or girl.


Due to the lack of seeing boy parts she's going with a guess that it's a girl at this point. As she said," If I were to guess I would say with only 70% accuracy it's a girl. So if you buy girl clothes don't take the tags off!" So at this rate I can't say we're too settled saying it's a girl. Thankfully we have another ultrasound scheduled in about 9 weeks. We pray little baby bean will be more cooperative then.



Even though we didn't find out with certainty what we're having it was so very fun to watch our little one moving around. We could see baby trying to suck it's fingers, we watched it opening and closing it's mouth, saw how it's little face has developed since our 10 week ultrasound. I must say it brought me to tears to see how much our little one is growing.


I felt the baby move for the first time at 17 weeks. It felt like little bubbles popping inside my belly. It was very settle but I loved it. Now I feel it every day and Randy can actually feel the baby move! That was great, I love that Randy can now be more a part of this experience.

Baby 70%

Colorado Trip

So Randy & I were lucky enough to get some time off work last week to go out and visit some of my family. My brother, Peter and his family live in Pueblo, CO and his wife was due to have their 4th baby last week. So Randy & I made the 16 hour drive and got to spend 5 days or so out there with them. We enjoyed being able to play with our niece and nephews, visit with Peter & Kristin, enjoy some hiking and spend time with our dog, Winston.

Uncle Randy, Solomon, Zeke & Mary Jane

Peter & Kristin

Randy & Winston

Randy & I just had a nice time visiting with each other and taking time looking forward to the excitement this next year has in store for us. We are excited to be in town in the next couple weeks which will probably be our last visit to Indy till June. Randy & I hope to save extra time to take off when the baby is born. Remember July 3rd... that means you all should have some Holiday time to get out of town and visit us and our new addition over the 4th of July -come see us!

So exactly a week after our arrival to Colorado to visit our family my sister in-law gave birth to baby #4, Eliana Joy Nevins on February 5th. Ella is just as beautiful as all her other siblings. I can't wait to see her this spring. So join me in welcoming Ella to this world.

Christmas & New Years

So let me catch you all up on our Christmas here at Mooseheart with the girls and New Years. We were blessed to have a donation of Bible's, The Message translation, given to us by my parents. We looked up scripture to designate to the girls and wrapped the Bible's up for the girls as Christmas gifts. Although some girls use them as door stops others read them daily which is very exciting!

It was confirmed to us just how much the Moose Lodges give to Mooseheart. These youth truly don't need for anything, nor should they really want for much. The Moose Lodges truly pour out their pockets to provide for these youth all that they are shorted from by natural families. These kids are blessed to have what Mooseheart offers!

Randy & I, when able, have been taking our girls to church off campus to Trinity Church in Naperville, IL. Through the friendship we've struck up with their youth Pastor, Matt, Trinity approached Mooseheart about hosting a New Years Eve party for the campus. This kids had a fun night of games, food, more games & more food. It was so great to have our kids meet and create friendships with youth group kids. That is one thing we desire for our girls is for them to make stable connections outside of Mooseheart so when they graduate they have another place to turn to for help, direction and guidance.

We hope you all have a blessed New Year!

"Labor of Love"

This is my Christmas wish to each and everyone of you. That this song and scene would replay over and over again in our hearts this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas!

Before Christmas Get's Here...

So I realized we are way too close to Christmas and I haven't even let you all know how our Thanksgiving was. As some of you may know Randy & I have every Thursday & Friday off, those are our two days a week in which we don't work. Well as you all know Thanksgiving fell on a Thursday a couple weeks ago. We requested to work Thanksgiving so that we could spend the day with our girls. We were so blessed to have this time with them.




We had a writer from the International Moose Lodge request to spend the day at our home. He wanted to write an article in next months Moose magazine as to what Thanksgiving meant to us and what traditions we had. I would encourage you all to read about it on Moosehearts web site, http://www.mooseheart.org/news/2008-Oregon.asp.








One of our girls building a tower of cheese before it melts away in our home made Mac 'n Cheese.

The girls suggested we create a chain of links. We wrote on each link things that we are thankful for. A few things listed were.... Make up, Family, Hot Water, Friends, Mooseheart, Food, TV, Beds, Thanksgiving Meal and on.

Sara & Randy getting ready to cut Tom the Turkey.










Another one of our girls cuddling up for an afternoon nap after a full tummy of Thanksgiving food. Oh let me mentioned she crocheted this blanket all herself, it's so pretty!












This past Tuesday, December 8th Randy & I had our first ultrasound. It was such a beautiful miracle to see, it was hard to hold back the tears. Here is baby Riggs debut.



10 weeks and 4 days











Baby Riggs due date has been changed to July 3rd. After they measured the baby out it was measuring smaller then 11 weeks. So it looks like we'll be having a July 4th ish baby! Good news is you all should have time off work around then to come up and see us and our new little one. *smile* We expect and hope for visitors.

Merry Christmas to you all!