Baby Judah is 5 Weeks Old Today June 18th, 2009
Judah is 5 weeks already. It is just unreal how the time flies. We are trying with all our might to cherish these years and spend as much time with the family as possible. God is so good to us.
Ronnie
Your 5-week-old
How your baby’s growing:
Smiling is universal. A baby’s first smile happens at about the same time in all cultures, so get ready for your baby to reward all your loving care with a beaming, toothless, just-for-you grin. This will probably make your heart melt, even if you’ve just had your worst night yet.
• Learn more fascinating facts about your 5-week-old’s development
www.babycenter.com
Celebrating Ministry and Our Son Mike
I am celebrating the fact that God called me into ministry but He didn’t stop there. Our oldest son Mike is feeling and sensing the Call of God on his life as well. Tonight in my absence at 1st Hillsville Donna G., Mike, and Sussie S. took part in the service by telling the story of the Ark of The Covenant. I just hate that I was not there to see Mike on his first ministry experience. I am very proud of Mike and not just for this new endeavor. I am proud of Mike for the fine young man that he is. He really does love God and his family. I can’t wait to see how God puts him to work for the Kingdom and we desire your prayers.
Ronnie
Christopher’s 3rd Birthday Party
Today we celebrated our grandson Christopher’s 3rd birthday. We met at Lambsburg Baptist Church and there is a creek that runs behind the church. Needless to say we all ended up in the creek and at first it was just wet feet. then someone broke out the water guns and it was on. My dad even got involved. He was pretty smart and didn’t get too wet. We had a blast, the food was great but the fun and fellowship was even better.
I will never forget the day I saw Christopher for the first time. I was the first to get to hold him because I had to be at Annual Conference. I feel I am the most blessed man in the Universe. I only wish I could see him every day and hold him more while he is little because they grow up so fast.
Christopher, Pupa loves you with all my heart.
Kyle has been with us 1 year today, June 13th 2009
Kyle has been with us a year June Saturday 13th. It is hard to believe it has been a year and at the same time it seems like forever. Kyle has come a million miles and he has several to go in catching up. He certainly feels at home here with us and the family has taken him right on in. Misty and I still have good and bad days with him. It is typical to take two steps forward and 3 steps back. It is hard work but we believe that any child of God is worth the effort.
There are so many kids like Kyle out there who need a forever home. I can only imagine where Kyle would be if it were not for us taking him in and giving him a home. It is amazing the things that have changed in a year.
When he first came and didn’t get his way about something he would scream to the point he would throw up. Finally we told him that he could scream as loud and long as he wanted only he had to do it in the back yard where it wouldn’t bother us. It was like turning the water off, if it doesn’t work to get them what they want, it quickly changes.
We have been through lots of bed wetting but that is so much better now. However every time we think it is over it comes back. He eats really great and has grown so much. He occasionally try’s to wear something he had when he came to live with us and it is so funny how he has grown.
His mental capacity has not grown as fast as his physical body but we have seen marked improvements in both areas. He wants so bad to please and that is what causes him a lot of problems. He will jump in to do things that you don’t need or want him to do. His speech has improved greatly. When he came it was hard to understand anything he said but now every word is understandable. He will at times use a wrong word that is baffling but speech is so much better.
I believe that he is a boy who will grow into a fine young man. He desires so much to make us proud.
Misty and I have had to learn that even though he has the body of a 10 year old, his mind has not developled anywhere near that age. It is so hard to get that into our minds. Kyle has missed most of what a typical child would experience in his first 8 years of life but we are making up for that now. He is coming to appreciate being clean and taking care of himself. He never mentions wanting to hurt himself anymore and he doesn’t pick fights at school anymore. He really has come a long way. When he came he couldn’t write his name and could hardly read on a preschool lever. he is now reading on a 2nd grade level and he is so proud of that.
We desire your prayers as it is the hardest thing that Misty and I have ever done but again, we wouldn’t change anything that has taken place. He is here for a reason and he is a child created by the same God that created the rest of us.
Ronnie
Judah Wayne Collins @ 38 weeks
Your pregnancy: 38 weeks
How your baby’s growing:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she’s over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you’ll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
Wondering what color your baby’s eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she’s born with brown eyes, they’ll likely stay brown. If she’s born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she’s 9 months old. That’s because a child’s irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she’s born, but they usually won’t get “lighter” or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)
Judah Wayne Collins is due to make his first appearance On or Before May 30th
Your pregnancy: 37 weeks
How your baby’s growing:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.
Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don’t be surprised if your baby’s hair isn’t the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.
See what your baby looks like this week.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.
www.babycenter.com
All we want for Christmas is a Mule
Wow, what a day! We started out this morning with a trip to the Dr. with Kyle and he ended up with a prescription for an allergy medication. We went from there to Winston Salem to try and find a suit for me (I seldom wear one) and some shorts for Kyle. First stop was Burlington Coat Factory. We looked for about 45 minutes and when we went to the van we discovered the keys were locked in the van. I called the Kia dealership where we purchased the van and was informed that we have roadside assistance up to $75 per occurrence and that they would get someone right out. That was a great surprise, it took about 45 minutes more but they came and got us right in. We went for there to Chick-Fil-A and had a great lunch, those folks at University Parkway do such a great job. Then to Sam’s where I discovered that I didn’t have my membership card. It did turn out to be a great day overall.
Samuel and Kyle loved this Mule in Sam’s. I told Misty we sould get it for them but she didn’t concur.
Ronnie
Baby Collins @ 36 Weeks
Your pregnancy: 36 weeks
How your baby’s growing:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she’s in a head-down position. But if she isn’t, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an “external cephalic version,” which is a fancy way of saying she’ll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.
Kevin and Dustin’s Birthday Celebration April 21st
My two nephews were both born on the same day, three years apart. Kevin and Dustin just turned 26 and 29 years old. Their mother, my sister Judy was killed in March of 1989 and the boys lived with me and my mom and dad until they decided to move out on their own several years later.
Dustin is married to Yolanda and they have 3 terrific boys, Alex, Seth, and Ethan. I love it whenever we have an occasion to all get together as a family and if there isn’t an occasion we just get together. Family is the most important thing after God.
Ronnie
Baby Collins (Judah Wayne) @ 35 Weeks
Your pregnancy: 35 weeks
How your baby’s growing:
Your baby doesn’t have much room to maneuver now that he’s over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it’s so snug in your womb, he isn’t likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he’ll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
See what your baby looks like this week.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.
My first Grandbaby is growing up so fast…
I will never forget the day that Christopher was born. It was the first day of Annual Conference. I came home early from Seminary class on Saturday and he didn’t come. I remember leaving the hospital that night and being so frustrated and Mike said, “dad, you always tell me to pray and God will work things out” and He did.
I went back to the hospital first thing Sunday morning and just before I had to leave for Lake Junaluska Christopher was born. I will never forget the nurse who looked at me and said Grandpa needs to hold this little fella before he leaves and I was able to hold him first. That is one of the greatest moments of my life. It is awesome watching him grow, that is what he is supposed to do and at the same time I am missing the baby Christopher.
He was begging all the way home from Rocky Mount, go to pupa’s, ride tractor, splash in the water, and we did!
Ronnie
Can you say Cantankerous?
Samuel finally enjoyed his dinner tonight. I have said several times that when you have a 3 year old (Christopher) and 2 two year old (Samuel & Victoria), most of your restaurant outings are over for a few years.
Misty, Kyle, Alex and I went to see Monsters vs. Aliens tonight and mom and dad met us for dinner with Samuel and he had napped for about 5 minutes. He woke up in a great mood and quickly turned cantankerous. He did eat but only after a lot of loud crying. He just wanted to go outside.
Ronnie
Baby Collins @ Week 34 (Judah Wayne Collins)
Your pregnancy: 34 weeks
How your baby’s growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she’s born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you’ve been nervous about preterm labor, you’ll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
See what your baby looks like this week.
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.
Samuel Turned 9 Months Old May 3rd
Wow, where does the time go? It seems like yesterday that Misty and I were married and on the honeymoon. Now we have a son 9 months old. I have wanted to write a book for some time now called, “Raising Children is spelled T.I.M.E”
When I think about the changes that have taken place in Samuel, he started smiling, then he said dada, then mama and I am pretty sure he has said Pupa a few times. The next thing we knew he was crawling and now he is walking behind a toy that rolls. It is just a matter of days until he will be walking without assistance and running all over the place. We will blink our eyes and he will be driving and then graduating. I know that is a little fast but it really seems that fast.
I wish there was more time but I am reminded that in Eternity we will have all the time of the world.
I had Samuel and Christopher on Thursday and we did all kinds of man things. Christopher would run through the house and Samuel was hot on his trail, he was crawling but he kept up pretty good. Then we went for a ride in Christopher’s red wagon, it is amazing, two weeks ago I had to put Samuel in the wagon in his car seat but now he can sit up and ride like the rest, wow.
Christopher loves to ride the Lawn Mower so we went for a ride on that but before we did; Christopher had to kick the tires, man stuff. After that we crushed some pop cans, man stuff.
After about 3 hours of all the man stuff everybody was ready for a nap, however Christopher and Samuel were the only ones that got to actually do that.
It was a great day, I just long to have that time with all my boys, Kevin, Dustin, Michael, Alex and Seth. And of course my girl Victoria. Misty and I try every week to do things with the family and we usually get to be with everybody but it is never enough.
Parents, go hug your children. Children go hug your parents. T.I.M.E. here is short but in Heaven it will be Eternal, Never Ending, Always with Jesus Christ and the ones we love.
Ronnie
They Grow Up So Fast Part 2
On April 21st Kevin and Dustin turned 25 and 28 years old. I am amazed at how the time flies. For those who don’t know Kevin and Dustin, they are my nephews. My sister Judy was murdered on March 20th 1989 and Kevin and Dustin were only 4 and 7 years old.
At my sisters death the boys moved in with my mom and dad and I soon moved back home as well. I eventually bought a house of my own and the boys stayed with me most of the time. Kevin and Dustin are like my first two children and they are still my children in my heart.
I was only 15 when Kevin was born and I was his babysitter during the first couple of summers. I wanted to make the extra money but I also wanted to be close to him. I remember I bought a child seat to go on the back of my bicycle and I would ride Kevin through the neighborhood. Most of the time he was asleep before I could ever get out of the driveway.
When Dustin came along, 3 years later to the very day that Kevin was born, I was 18 years old. I would have to say that I did stupid things when I was growing up but there were a lot of things that I didn’t do because I wanted to be a good example for Kevin and Dustin.
We have been through a lot together as a family the past 28 years; it is still hard to believe that they are that old. We lost my sister, their mother in March of 1989 and my grandmother Collins in June of that same year. That was a very hard year for all of us.
The next 20 years were filled with lots of fun times like camping with the church that we were a part of, the boys always went to church with me. We had several great friends that also had kids their age and we would go camping every chance we got. I was the youth leader at our church and a lot of the reason was that I wanted to be with them. We were close and we are still close today.
Kevin had a really bad car wreck in November 2001, he had a severe head trauma, a broken pelvis, broken leg and his left foot was in really bad shape. Mike had just come to live with me in October of that year and he and I stayed almost around the clock in the ICU Waiting room at Baptist Hospital. Kevin was unconscious for several days and they continued to use the term if Kevin lives, they didn’t want to give us any false hope. I remember that I would go every time there were visiting hours and I would just hold Kevin’s hand and tell him that I loved him. I will never forget that morning when dad called to tell me that a State Trooper had just come to the door and he got the message that Kevin was in really bad shape. I just put my clothes on and got to the hospital as fast as I could. I wasn’t ready at all for what I was about to see. Kevin of course didn’t look like himself, he was swollen and wires were everywhere. Again, they didn’t give us very much hope.
It was a really hard time because that was at a time when we were between church homes. I had felt that God was calling me to be in a church closer to home and we had left where I was serving as Youth Pastor on very god terms and we were visiting different churches so it was like we really didn’t have a pastor of our own. However, there were lots of friends and several pastors’ that came to visit. Ron Fredricks in Galax was really great and I will never forget how he came that first day and prayed and told Kevin that he was going to be OK.
It was a few days later and I went into the ICU at 5am. At that point there had been no response from Kevin at all. I took his hand as usual and told him that I loved him and I felt him squeeze my hand. There was a nurse working with his chart and she said, did he just squeeze your hand? I said, well I think so but I don’t know if it was just a nerve response. The nurse instructed me to ask Kevin to squeeze my hand, I did and I had to pry his hand off of mine because I had my class ring on and he squeezed so hard that the ring was cutting into my hand. She said ask him to do something specific. The first thing I thought of was that in our house when things were good I would give a thumbs up so I asked Kevin to move his left thumb and he game me a thumbs up. I have told many people that I am not charismatic but I almost went through the roof of that hospital that morning. The nurse got the doctors and they went to work and I started calling all the family members to let them know there had been a break through. It was several days but Kevin eventually got to come home and he is doing great today. He still has some concerns with all the metal that is in his foot and leg and he has pain from the injuries but he is alive and well, it really was a miracle.
There are so many stories to tell, great memories and hard memories that we would all rather be able to forget but all families have those memories. I believe with all of my heart that we are who we are because of the things we are allowed to go through. Situations can either make us bitter or better and we have chosen to be better.
Dustin now has 2 boys who are like grandson’s to me and a third one due to be born in late May. Dustin is running with me, that is something that I prayed for years he would do. As a matter of fact he is much faster now than I am but he is 18 years younger than I am. Dustin is married to Yolanda and she is like a daughter.
God is so good to me and I truly feel that I am the most wealthy man in the world. I have an awesome family and we are all close and do lots of things together and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
We are celebrating with a cookout this evening. Happy Birthday Kevin and Dustin, I love you with all of my heart.
Ronnie
They Grow Up So Fast
Misty and I were sitting in the den reading a couple of nights ago and Samuel woke up and started to cry. When I went in to check on him it was the weirdest thing, he was sitting up in the bed. Now I know that shouldn’t seem so weird but it was just a few days ago that he couldn’t sit up on his own. Just a few days ago he couldn’t crawl and now you have to be quick to keep up with him. He is into everything that he can get his hands on. He is pulling up on things and it will just be a matter of days and he will be walking. I have always said that my favorite time is when they start to walk and talk. Wow, they grow up so fast.
Speaking of walking and talking, we grilled hamburgers at home last night and the family was over. Christopher has been walking for a long time now but he also talking a lot, it just sounds a lot like Chinese. You can make out many of his words but then he will go into a long sentence and it is great, you can’t understand a word of it. I usually just say yes or that is great and he laughs and keeps going.
Christopher calls me Pupa, which is a term or endearment that I wouldn’t take anything for. Pupa is what Mike called me and actually still calls me and there is a great story about that, now all the kids in the family call me by Pupa.
Last night I was carrying Christopher through the house and he looked at me and said, “Pupa kiss me”, he turned my face to his cheek and just laughed. Wow, they grow us so fast.
Alex, Seth and Victoria were also here, we are so blessed with the little ones in the family. They are all getting big enough to play together as well as argue and push and all the things that children and adults will do. We don’t have to teach them to do bad things, rather we have to teach them to share and be kind to each other.
My favorite thing in the world is to be with my family and we are blessed to live close together and we share meals together every week. Nothing can take the place of the laughter and joy that comes from being with those we love and just having fellowship together.
As I was reflecting on this my thoughts turned to all the children in the world who need a loving family where they can be part of a family that cares for them. There are so many. There are hundreds of thousands of children just in the United States who need a family to call their own.
Check out this web site: www.adoptuskids.org
What if the church decided that we would join together and provide families for these children. There are so many that have the love and the means to give a child a home.
April is “Prevent Child Abuse Virginia” month, check out this site: http://www.preventchildabuseva.org/
James 1: 27 says,
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Ronnie
Jump, I will Catch You!
This morning we got a scare when I got a text message that my grandson Christopher was being taken to the hospital. Christopher has had some breathing difficulties since he was very young, he is almost 2 years old now. It is very hard to see anyone sick but especially a little one and especially when they are having trouble breathing. I know how it makes you feel to have a hard time getting your breath and I can’t imagine what it does to one so little.
Anyway, Misty and I went and waited at the hospital and the Doctor said it was an Asthma attack; they gave him a prescription and told them to take him to his family doctor in the morning. This is the first time they have said it is asthma. We were relieved, Christopher was feeling better and we went to Wendy’s to get lunch before I had to leave for Tennessee. Christopher ate the best he has in a while in a restaurant. He usually just wants me to get him things form the gumball machine. But today he ate really well.
After we ate I carried him through the parking lot and I sat him down on the trunk of the car and I told him to jump. He didn’t do it. I said, come on Christopher jump, I will catch you. He wouldn’t do it. So I sat him down and said jump again and I picked him up and turned in a circle and he laughed and laughed and laughed. I sat him down again and I said “jump Christopher and I will catch you” and he jumped. It was little jumps but each time he would jump into my arms I would catch him and swing him around and he would laugh. When Christopher laughs, everybody laughs. He has one of those genuine laughs, you just can’t contain yourself, every tooth is showing and he is so happy. He learned that when I said I would catch him that I meant it.
As I was driving to Tennessee I started thinking. God says to us, jump, not off the back of the car but jump or stand up for me, you can trust me and I will catch you.
Stand up for me when someone is being picked on…..
Stand up for me when someone is being mistreated…..
Stand up for me when others are laughing at me……..
Stand up for me when you are at school……..
Stand up for me when you are at work……
God says, Jump, I will catch you and you can trust me.
There is a story from a book called “Dare to believe” written by Bob Mumford. In the book God asks the guy a question, do you trust me? The guy answers, “Of course I trust you God” so the Lord asks the man to go to the top of a 5 story building. Standing at the top, looking over the edge, the Lord says again, “Do you really trust me?” The man says “YES, I really trust you!”
So, of course, God says, “I will catch you, but I need you to jump now”! The man says, “Ok God, I really trust you, you’re going to catch me, so I’ll jump”! God says, “I will catch you, but I need you to jump now”!
The man leaps off the 5 story building and as he is passing the 5th floor he says, “Man God, I really trust you, go ahead and catch me now”! As he is passing the 4th floor the man rings out, “Wow God, you are really testing my faith, I am so glad I trust you, go ahead and catch me now”! The 3rd floor quickly is upon him and as he is passing it he begins to get very upset. “God, you said you would catch me, now you asked me to jump, I need you to hold your end of the bargain, time to catch me Lord”! He passed the 2nd floor and then the 1st floor and as he is getting ready to crash onto the side walk just a few inches below, he cries out, “GOD, YOU TOLD ME TO JUMP, YOU TOLD ME I COULD TRUST YOU AND THAT YOU WOULD SAVE ME, DID YOU LIE TO ME GOD?!”
Just a few inches from the side walk, God reaches out His hand and catches the man. As He places the man on the side walk and says, “What does it matter if I would have caught you at the 4th floor or down here just a few inches from the walk? If I say I will catch you, I will catch you”.
You know, the water didn’t part for Moses until he stepped out in it, what waters do you need God to part for you today? Take the leap; does it matter where He catches you?
Ronnie
About Ronnie G. Collins
I am the Planting Pastor of Out of the Box Worship Center and I also serve as the Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Hillsville Virginia. We are a Multi Site Church, one church in multiple locations. Our 1st campus is located at 225 Fulcher Street in Hillsville Virginia. Our 2nd location is on Main Street in Hillsville, FUMC Downtown, Out of the Box Worship Center, and our 3rd location is 522 North Main Street in Hillsville and this is our Youth Ministry Center, FUMC Downtown “Out of the Box”, Youth Ministry. The most recent ministry we have is “Out Of The Box Worship Center” and we are located at 516 North Main Street Hillsville. This site is now my main focus, along with the Youth Ministry.
I have a Passion to see hurting people come to know Jesus Christ. I believe that we as Christians have to demonstrate God’s Love to the world, rather than just telling them they are loved. I am married and have 3 sons two very special nephews that are like sons, 2 grandchildren, 5 great nephews, and one great niece that are like grandchildren. I am a blessed man.
I attended school at Carroll County High School, Wytheville Community College, Liberty University, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
My passions are as follows:
God
Family
Others
Reading
Running
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/ronnie24317
Twitter http://twitter.com/ronnie24317
Three Minute Thursday’s http://www.facebook.com/threeminutethursdays
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