We just returned from our first trip back to California since we moved to Illinois in July… It was exhausting, but we really enjoyed spending time with family and friends!

Ryder's First Airplane Ride

Ryder was an awesome traveler… he was great on the airplane, and even slept through the crazy trek across LAX during our 30-minute layover.  He enjoyed watching the “important safety video,” staring at the overhead reading lights, and “talking” to the people behind us.  All that activity was pretty tiring, so he slept most of the time, and even discovered how to suck his thumb.

The day before Thanksgiving, we made a whirlwind trip through three Gallo buildings, and the schools my parents teach in to introduce Ryder to all our friends.  Then we stayed in Modesto and had dinner with my parents, brother, and sister-in-law who’s carrying Ryder’s first cousin (due in May).

A Thanksgiving Day Bath

Thanksgiving day was very relaxing… Ryder got a bath in the sink, and we spent the day just kinda hanging out and enjoying the company of the Shafar family, and Ryan’s sisters and brother-in-law.  Dinner was wonderful, as always!

Unfortunately, Ryan ended up in Urgent Care on Friday (all the doctors’ offices were closed!) and was diagnosed with accute bronchitis.  Ryder and I also came down with pretty nasty coughs.  So the rest of the week, we laid pretty low.  The one exception to that was one last trip to Modesto so Ryder could meet my Great Aunt Bev.

On Monday, we headed to the airport extra early (better safe than sorry) and had a relaxing time in the Red Carpet Club before going to our departure gate.  But it was then that we realized that our flight had been delayed more than two hours… we were definitely not going to make our 30-minute layover in LA!  So our flight had to be switched, and because of that our bags didn’t make it home until the following day… grrr!  When we landed in Chicago, we were greeted by 4 inches of snow and ice caked in the car.  Luckily we had an ice scraper already!  We’ll keep that experience in mind when we head out to CA again for Christmas… when we come back home, we may be in for a “treat!”

Playtime is SO much FUN!

Can’t wait to see everyone again in a couple of weeks!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…”  Jeremiah 29:11

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last three years, it’s that God’s plans are not our own.  So all we can do is buckle our seatbelts, hang on tight, and follow where He leads.

This year, God led us to Chicagoland.  Ryan was accepted into the MBA program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business, so In July, we packed up all our earthly belongings and moved east.  After a three-day drive with my mom & dad and our two dogs, we arrived in Aurora, Illinois (a small suburb about an hour from downtown Chicago).  We’re finally feeling a little more settled (thanks to the help of our parents!) and are beginning to explore all this “village” and the surrounding areas have to offer.  The dogs are really enjoying the size of their new backyard… but we’ll see how long that lasts once the snow starts piling up!

Ryan is almost finished with his first quarter, and has enjoyed the process thus far.  While he’s still connected to Gallo’s International Forecasting team through weekly phone meetings, he is also working in the regional sales office near our home.

I sold my Stroller Strides franchise and ended my short stint as a teacher at the Sylvan Learning Center, and have become thoroughly entrenched in my new career as a stay-at-home mommy (more on that later!).

The Lord also led us to a new home church.  After attending a couple of other churches, we decided to call Community Christian Church our home.  We wasted no time getting plugged in… Ryan is playing drums with the band, we’re involved in a small group Bible study, and soon I’ll become a teacher in the Kids’ City children’s ministry, and audition for the worship team.

This year wasn’t all about work though.  God led us on some fun outings as well.  In May, Ryan’s sister Heather and her then-fiancé Jacob joined us for a relaxing week at an all-inclusive resort in Cabo.  We toured a glass factory, went shopping, played cards, lounged by the pool, and ate… a LOT!  Then in June, we got to celebrate with Heather and Jake as they said “I do” in Seattle.

And finally, our Faith ful Father led us into parenthood! Ryder Harrison Barr was born at 10:03pm on Friday, September 12th, which also happens to be his Great-Grandpa Barr’s birthday!  He weighed 8lbs, 3oz. and was 19 ½ inches long.  He was welcomed by Grandma and Grandpa Barr, and Grammy and Poppa Jackson who were able to be here to celebrate his life.  After experiencing three heartbreaking losses, we truly understand what a miracle children are, and feel incredibly blessed to have this sweet boy here with us.  We’re also grateful that he was born so healthy… Between a stressful move (at 32 weeks pregnant), and Mommy contracting West Nile Virus (at 33 weeks pregnant), the odds were against him.  But God is good all the time, and He carried Ryder through it all.

So as we prepare for wherever the Lord may lead us in 2009, we wish each of you the peace and joy that only He can bring.

All our love,
Ryan, Megan, and Ryder Barr…
and Nikki & Toby too!

In case you’ve already thrown your envelope away, our new address is
528 Ryegrass Court, Aurora, IL 60504.
And you can keep up with what’s happening with our family on our website: www.ryanbarr.com