Christmas Eve Service 12/23/2007

"Joseph's Lullaby" ~ MercyMe

Go to sleep my Son

This manger for your bed

You have a long road before You

Rest Your little head

Can You feel the weight of Your glory?

Do You understand the price?

Does the Father guard Your heart for now

So You can sleep tonight?

Go to sleep my Son

Go and chase Your dreams

This world can wait for one more moment

Go and sleep in peace

I believe the glory of Heaven

Is lying in my arms tonight

Lord, I ask that He for just this moment

Simply be my child

Go to sleep my Son

Baby, close Your eyes

Soon enough You'll save the day

But for now, dear Child of mine

Oh my Jesus, Sleep tight

Deck the Halls with Dirty Diapers


Frah Ra Ra Ra Ra... ra ra ra ra


Merry Christmas from the Maier's


Frah Ra Ra Ra Ra... ra ra ra ra

1 Month Old

You Lookin' At Me?

A Baby's Hug

~ A Baby's Hug ~ We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughterand his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?' Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.' Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.

Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.' Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-rowbum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. A s I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man. Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked hisback.

No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.' Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he werein pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.' I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.

With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.' I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willingto share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children. '
~ Author Unknown

Family Portraits

So, here's the official 1st Family Portrait. Left to Right: (back row) Ashley, J. (front row) Cooper, Adon, Bo ~ (in absentia: Sammi "the cat"). Photo taken by: UNCLE NATE

Wow, four weeks this Thursday (12/13) ... that has gone really fast which is shocking since we've been awake most of that time. Don't get me wrong because according to all the horror stories that people like to tell... Adon is an amazingly good baby. He sleeps great for 3 hours at a time it's just that getting back to sleep is really hard for Dad... Mom is getting the hang of it! By the way, 4 AM is NOT a good time to balance the check book no matter how awake you may seem!

The kid has serious issues with gas, flatulence, InSaNe MeThAnE... you get the picture and I can tell you who he gets it from = Grandma H. & the early AM tooting comes from GrandPops Maier (who "passed" the skill on to me as well)! Oooohhhh, I'm going to get in trouble for that but it's true! He's more aware of his surroundings and loves to recline in his Boppy pillow. Now he's just counting down the days until Christmas... I'm sure we all know whose going to have the biggest pile of presents this year!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ~ James 1:17

First Days / Hausman Family

CLICK on Picture for LARGER View

Adon John Maier Nov. 15, 2007

HE's HERE! Adon John Maier made a speedy entrance (7 hours from the start of contractions! Natural birth... on accident!) November 15, 2007 @ 3:48 PM weighing 7 lbs 4 oz. at a lengthy 21.5 inches. He's got BIG hands and feet! Mom and Baby are doing great and his first OSU game was a BUCKEYE WIN over Michigan!!!

I had a dream!

So, I had a dream Saturday night October 27th, 2007… a metaphorical dream. My studies in psychology have led to a rather amusing muse with dreams. Albeit my own or that of others. I rarely believe in the hokey pokey interpretations and settle for the common explanation that dreams are a way in which our subconscious creatively reveals itself. Oddly though, often in a blended and mixed match kind of way.

I found myself responsible for backing a large piece of earth moving equipment out of a very tight parking space in an even more ridiculously tight parking lot. If you live in Warren I liken this to the absurd engineering that is the Bi-Lo parking lot. Anyway, I was neither afraid or hesitant as it was clear in my mind that this had to be done. There were a few others waiting on me and one assuring me. He seemed to know what needed done yet was reluctant to trade me places… happy to guide from behind and let me know that he trusted me. Strange though… I had a Kwik-Fill coffee cup in my hand? Feel free to chime in with your thoughts but it may just be that I love coffee! So with coffee (a large) in hand I put the machine, of which I was completely foreign too yet somehow knew how to shift gears, into reverse and began the journey. Destination unknown, sitting behind the wheel of a HUGE responsibility, others watching on while one sat behind assured that I could, I should, and I would while providing the grace to do so! (2 Cor. 1:12) ~ J.

The 11th Hour!

WUAH!!! Mere weeks to go (due date Nov. 22)! Here's Ash in all her bellylicious glory! The other pics are from the baby shower thrown by the church. BLANKETS seem to be the in thing to give... we've got TONS! Also, you'll note our "Babymaids". We thought... why not? Brides have bridesmaids! Introducing: Katie "Adon's Personal Stylist", Chelsea "Adon's Karaoke Coach", and Meghan "Adon's Karate Instructor"!

Sorry it took so long to get these up from the Maier Family Baby Shower held August 25th. What a suprisingly exhausting experience. Thanks for all the thoughtful gifts and to Mombo Maier and Richel for all the hardwork... and Pops for making about a million crescent sandwiches!!! Just click on the pix for larger versions.

Arrested Development!

Approx. 6.5 months! Due date is Nov. 22nd (Thanksgiving)

The fu-manchu and cowboy duds are because the church held its Vacation Bible School this past week and the theme was western! I was Sheriff Andy in the Tumbleweed Gulch drama all week. Plus, I think Ash liked the badge ; )

We're headed to OH-IO this week for a short vacation of fishing, quality time with the Maier fam, and a baby shower! Upon our return the doctor appt.'s begin on a 2 week schedule as the third trimester is upon us. NOPE, the nursery still isn't done... or even close! We don't have any baby furniture yet... EXPENSIVE! Cooper has a big comfy bed but I just can't seem to get Ash cool with the thought of sharing. Coop gets really warm at night which would be good! Anyway, Ashley has FINALLY had some pregnancy issues happen after over 6 months of pretty smooth sailing. Back pain has developed from time to time but she's doing really well despite some rough nights of not sleeping which everyone reminds us "to get used to"! Check back in a week or so for some baby shower pics!!! Love ~ J.

22/20

Ash 22 weeks / Baby 20 As you can see the physical attributes are strikingly common to the father. Bald! We had a chance of getting one of them thar new fangled 3D sonograms but were advised that at this stage of development the little dude would look pretty alien-like. That takes me back to the current shape of my own bald head... it's not round... like abnormally not round. What's up with that mom? We're hoping for a combination of our best attributes. Unfortunately, as in the Maier and Hausman men... this little guy has no chance at ever having a butt!

It's a...

It's a... BOY! We had our sonogram on July 18th and they found a winky!!! The week count is 20/22 (baby/Ash) right now. I'll put the sonogram pic up as soon as I can scan it in. Things went very well as they did a 20 minute anatomical survey. At first the gender thing was a little sketchy because he likes to move A LOT! He's been an active little bugger for about 2.5 weeks now and was all over the place during the sonogram. At the end she went back looking for the "bits-n-pieces" which came in much clearer. (Yes, there is a third grade level satisfaction in finding silly ways to say penis! Sorry mom!) We were pretty much emotionally neutral when told it was a boy. Honestly, we would've been just as happy either way. It's nice now to be one-track minded and thinking boy thoughts. NAME? Yeah, we're kicking some around. The middle name will be John (Ash's dad's first and my dad's middle). "Cale" has been a consideration along with "Jadon" but another has launched to the top. While at NYC (youth convention in St. Louis, MO) there was a worship song playing as the names for God flashed across the screen. While spelling out Adonai (Hebrew for Lord/Yahweh) each letter faded in before the next. When I saw "ADONai" it just popped... Adon (pronounced Aiden) John Maier. That could change of course but we both really like it and like how it was inspired.

17/19 36 1/2... hut hut hike!

So here's the latest:

Baby = 17 weeks / Mommy = 19 weeks

Circumference of the "baby belly" is 36 1/2 inches

So far... still very good! The baby is starting to move now a wee bit which is kinda cool (at least so I'm told). We are heading to St. Louis, MO July 8-16th for a youth conference with 15 of our students to join over 5,000 teens for a week of spiritual renewal and ministry. Hopefully upon return we will have an "anatomical survey" done to check all the wee bits and pieces ; ) YES, we want to know the sex of the baby and that will be posted as well at some point!

Reflection ~ Jesus referred to God as "Father". He also said that we are to come to him "as children". What does that say to us? What does that mean to you? I'm speechlessly overwhelmed at how reaching out to God with the same blind trust and unknowing faith that a small child reaches out to a parent has so radically changed my life. He has restored my innocence, revived my imagination, unveiled mysteries, imparted wisdom, and shaped my passion! Seek First! ~ J.

The current family (minus the cat)

So, our friends John and Christi just sent out a massive e-mail and I took advantage of a good ol' "Reply All" to catch anyone on there who may know us! This is for you. It's what the family looks like (pre-baby Fall of 06). Just so you know how bald I've gotten since you last saw me 6-8 years ago! The dogs are Cooper and Bo and the pic is minus our cat, Sammi. We are in Warren, PA where I am the Youth Pastor at the Warren 1st Church of the Nazarene, and Ashley is a Veterinary Assistant at a local clinic.

We would like to thank Carole Shaw (aka ~ Missy's mom) from the great state of O-H-I-O for the super cool OSU Buckeye Baby Basket!!! Thanks to all who have already donated maternity clothes and baby items. They are all greatly appreciated... this was just SUPER COOL! Go Bucks! Also, we are Steelers fans, Yankee fans, and Cleveland Cavalier fans... if you were wondering what gear to force upon the child!

WELCOME to the Grand Opening of the Maier Family BLOG! Basically, it's a hassle to e-mail pictures so we're making you come to us. I can't guarantee how often this will be updated but do stay tuned for the progress of baby Maier (or as some have come to call ~ Fetus)!

This is Ash at 3 mos. + 1 week. Due date is 11/22/07 THANKSGIVING! Did you know that the actual medical count is based on 40 weeks? Do the math... that doesn't equal 9 mos. It's messed up but since the world thinks 9 mos. I will continue to annoy Ashley by going off of the 9 mos. calendar. She would tell you differently and to add 2 weeks = 15! So yeah, we will try and update about anything involving us, the baby, the dogs and cat... and whatever. Lots of love until we post again ~ J.