Dawson is Here!

Welcome Dawson Henry

Little did Katie and I know that while I was updating our blog on Saturday, August 2 that Dawson was about to join our family. Around noon on Saturday, Katie was having what she thought were Braxton-Hicks contractions and by 4:00 pm she was having strong regular contractions. The Van Slooten's sprang into action calling on our new friends to take care of Ella and others to take care of Double Stuff and Oreo. Katie checked into the hospital at 5:00 pm and at 7:21 pm Dawson Henry was born weighing 7 lbs 12 oz and 20 1/2 inches in length.

What's In A Name?

Dawson was the name of Katie's maternal grandfather and Henry was the name of Chris' maternal grandfather, but more than family namesakes Dawson Henry means beloved home ruler.

What Does Ella Think?

To write that Ella is going through dramatic changes would be an understatement, but she takes great pride in being the big sister. She loves to hold Dawson and share her blanket, lovie, and bunny with Dawson. Katie and I keep our ears tuned into what she is saying so that we can better understand what she is processing. Here are some recent conversations with Ella:

"Daddy please ask God to turn the heat down."

"I am sorry Sweetheart it is hot in Texas. Here in Texas it is hot, but in Virginia there is snow."

"I don't like snow Daddy. I like Texas"

"Daddy, please don't let the sun hit our car."

"The sun is warming our car Sweetheart..."
"No, Daddy the sun is going down and I don't want it to hit the car or the buildings."

"Ella, who made the sun?"

"God made the sun. It will be ok Daddy"

"Daddy, God is making me and Dawson a castle."

Dawson's first pictures:

About 7:30pm, new to the world.


Yes, those are chubby cheaks.


Ella finally gets to meet her little brother.

Helping mommy.

Two days old.

Dear Friends,

In our last posting we gave you a summary of what the V's have been up to and now we will fill in some of the details.

First, thank you for your prayers - prayers when we were prayerfully seeking His councel for wisdom and clarity; prayers during the packing phase, while we were traveling, and now as we begin this new chapter in our family. We also want to thank all of you who helped us pack up our moving truck. As you can see, Ella had fun in the packing paper.

The actual packing of our moving truck only took three hours and while 95% of the packing was easy we were faced with a few challenges. The first challenge was safely moving and securing a pre-Civil War hutch which proved to be a bonding experience from the securing of the piece to physically moving it (taking 6 men to move it). We finally moved it onto the truck and secured it. I am happy to write that it arrived safely.


We set out on Sunday, July 13 after many tearful goodbyes and traveled to Roanoke to spend the night with Katie's mom and dad. The entire caravan (me and my father-in-law in the moving truck and Katie, Ella, my mother-in-law, Double Stuff, and Oreo in our minivan) left Monday morning on July 14. I must write that I have a deep appreciation for truck divers since we were cut-off, not allowed to merge, and even stopped on the interstate because one driver misinterpreted a Yield sign for a Stop sign.

Throughout our journey we clung to the promise in Psalm 91:11-12 "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." We serve a Creator who is so good and we were reminded each day of His love for us. I am reminded of Isaiah 40:11 "He tends to his flock like a shepherd:" Each day providing us with safety, health, wisdom, and moments when we were tired to look into the eyes of a child and remember that He is with us. One night we were very tired and we could not find a hotel that would take pets (one would take goldfish. Who travels with goldfish?) and we had to drive an extra hour to a hotel. After dinner Katie and I drove the minivan with Ella and the dogs; we were exhausted and a little short with one another when I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Ella sticking her crayons in her shoe! This is exactly what Katie and I needed afterall here we are as adults with sour hearts and Ella still has a sense of humor! Oh how our Shepherd tends to EVERY need. "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." I am so thankful that I am
carried close to His heart and not at a distance like I sometimes do when Ella has a really stinky pull-up! No matter how "stinky" our hearts are He promises to carry us close to His heart and tend our needs.

Well on Wednesday, July 16 we arrived in San Antonio and took some time to rest and be together. Ella finally has her big-girl bed and I admit that sometimes it is hard for me to blink my eyes because when I do it she is more grown up and I don't want to miss one nanosecond.



Friends, we miss you and are looking forward to seeing you again - either in Heaven or here on earth.

One final note, I don't know how many of you know Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christain Ministries, but last week his 32 year-old son went Home. I encourage you to visit the website at Harvest and watch the video from July 28.

SDG,
The V's