Responses to Announcement of

Arrival of Grand kid #12!

 

A little background:

 

May 26, 2004, 3:30 PM.  (Starbucks in a shopping mall in Fresno, California – it has WiFi and I can post to the web from here.)

 

Dear . . All -

 

    Jan and I have taken a break and given one to Liesl 'n Scott, after the arrival of their 1st child, BENJAMIN COOPER GARNER, who arrived at 12:25 PM, today.  He weighed in at 8 lbs, 13 oz.  His birth was induced, because the doctor knew that Scott's first two children were something like 10 lbs & 11 or so.  Technical due date was June 7th, but Liesl didn't mind this early delivery.

 

    Jan and I drove down (to Fresno, California) last night after receiving a semi-teary message from Liesl at lunch time, "They're going to induce labor tomorrow."  I asked if she was all right, and she said, "Yes!  I'm just eager to see my baby!"  Tears of joy.

 

    We decided that we could adjust a few appointments and be with her at this time.

 

    Scott, Liesl’s husband, called Joey, 11 years old, who was charged with telling his older brother Michael (16).  We may pick up the boys and take them to the hospital tonight.  So, in addition to becoming Mrs. Scott Garner last August 6, Liesl immediately became a step-mom to a couple of delightful young men who now have very little brother.

 

    Because of the inducement, they're keeping Benjamin overnight, and I think Liesl as well.  In my thinking, I'm for whatever it takes to preclude the "drive-by deliveries" which seem so prevalent today.

   

    It was good to pray with them, committing little Benjamin to the Lord and his parents to so walking with Him, that should Benjamin chose to follow in their footsteps, he'll grow up to know and love Jesus.

 

        Rejoicing In Christ,

 

            tim 'n jan

 

Tim & Jan Arensmeier

126 Tuscany Place

Sonoma, CA 95476

707/933-3011 v.

800/478-6766 f.

http://www.tjameier.com

 

 

 

May 27, 2004

 

Woo hoo!

Blessings and peace to all.

Elizabeth (Pipes . . .)

 

 

Congratulations! I'm excited for you and your family.

:O)

 

Blessing to you all!

-Rachel (Wiley, whose parents have ministered in Kazakhstan for 15 or so years.)

 

 

Tim,

Congratulations to the Arensmeier and Garner families.  What a wonderful gift of joy!

Lord Bless all.

Jose (a fellow board member from Warner Pacific College, Portland – he lives in LA)

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS TIM AND JAN, LIESL AND SCOTT!!!

 

PICTURES WHEN YOU HAVE THEM WOULD BE ENJOYED.  THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW.

 

GRACE, RORY, AND KEVIN (McHugh . . .)

 

 

Wow...I didnt know that Liesl was in a relationship...or interested in having a family...that's wonderful ... congratulations grandparents...  (Vivian Murphy . . . formerly Harris.)

 

 

Thanks for sharing your good news.  I know how Liesl feels about now -- they are precious memories and moments.  It's so wonderful that everyone is healthy!

 

Love, Pam  (Another board member from Warner Pacific, living in LA and running an investment business which she calls Warner Pacific Financial.)

 

 

From Steve & Cheryl Walker:  (Minister in the Church of God, Porterville.)

Dear Tim, Jan and family,

Congratulations on the arrival of Benjamin. May the Lord Bless your home and family with health, joy, peace and a good nights sleep.

 

 

Congrats.  We have good news also.  Angela got married on March 29th to a nice man from Buffalo, NY.  The announcement was in the tribune today so you can view online tomorrow at www.maderatribune.comAlthough we have not met Eric (since he is in Korea), I have met the family and the family is wonderful.  She is coming home for a visit on July 20th.  She is bringing her new mother-in-law with her. Here is a picture of my new son-in law. Her name is now Angela Tobolski.  They are very happy and are expected to be at Ft. Lewis in December.  Our families seem to be growing.  What an exciting time for us all.   Love Sally

(Bomprezzi of Madera)

 

 

How good to hear from you!

 

I didn't even know I was pregnant!  So funny to see my name in that context :)

 

Met a couple last week, teachers at SOnoma Valley Christian School......can't remember their names.........they knew you.  I may attend a Saturday night home church in their friend’s home, they said you have attended from time to time.

 

Just read "The Emerging Church" and "Emergent Worship" by Dan Kimball.  Finally someone else in thinking like I do!  I may take a part time worship leader position at Open DOor in Petaluma, they need to read these books and let me know if they are into alternative worship and such.

 

May love prevail!

 

Liesl (a lady whom we met because of her name, in Santa Rosa, and who has visited our church.)

 

 

Congratulations to you, Leisl, Jan and Scott.  What a happy, happy, joyous, blessed time!  Praise be to God.

 

Big hugs!

Janet (From Marin Covenant . . .)

 

 

Congratulations!

His

KT (Kathy from Madera days )

 

 

Hi, Tim -    That is wonderful to hear....praise God the child and Liesl are well.   I'll pass the word on to Pat.   I know you and Jan are very thankful.   How can it be that a young whipper-snapper like Tim A is a grandfather?   Indeed, time does pass!

 

Don't know if you heard.....Amy Diefenthaler Glass and her husband Steve welcomed their first child into the world on December 30, 03.   Zoe and her mom are fine, I'm thankful to say.

 

Love to you and yours...

Roy Diefenthaller (Frank Fearon’s inlaws.  Remember Frank ‘n Debbie?)

 

 

Liesel & Scott,

"Congratulation on your new arrival and may the Lord bless your family and the new one."

Tim,

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date  on your family.  

With Love in Christ

Joseph, Gwendolyn and James Hobbs 
Phone: 770-879-0023 

 

 

Congratulations Tim & Jan.  (Tim B., the former pastor of the church we’re attending.)

 

 

so thrilled for you......................and liesl!  (Lynn, formerly Gordon of Marin Covenant, now Moquette.)

 

 

Congratulations, Grandma and Grandpa!!

 

We, too, will be grandparents again.  Jenn and Rich are due in January! :-)

 

Jacki  (‘n Terri . . . with whom we were in a care group at MCC!)

 

 

Congratulations!  You are fortunate to live near your grandchildren.  Ours are far away in more way than one.  Our best to all of you and thanks again for all that you did for John.

Grace and Jim Seitz  (Relatives of one of our senior citizens in our church, who just died.  We’ll meet them in June.  They live in Florida.)

 

 

Margarita and Peadar send you and your family all the blessings of the miracle of new life. Enjoy your weekend.

 

all the best.   (A dear couple in Sonoma.  He a former priest in the RC church, and she a former Nazarene . . .   We love ‘em!)

 

 

Congratulations!!!---Tal (Brooke – author, lecturer and head of Spiritual Counterfeits Project in Berkeley.)

 

 

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S  (John Sprenger)

 

 

Congratulations Tim and Jan!!! 

 

Even though he wasn't 10 or 11 lbs, he was a good size.

 

Enjoy Benjamin while you can.  They grow up so fast. 

 

I can visualize the proud smile on your faces!!

Praise God,

 

jay

 

p.s.  Lynn and I have 6 grandkids, from 9 yrs to 1 yr old.  Two of them have their own Email address and send us email.  (Jay was the former president of the Classis of the Reformed Church in America, of which our church is a part.)

 

 

 

What a wonderful gift for your family...all your girls married and all with families now.  I'm very happy for you and Jan and especially for Leisl and praying for the very best life ahead of her as a mom.  (Shelly G. of Madera.  Mom to Shashi.)

 

 

wonderful news Tim & Jan! Congrats for sure!  (Stan ‘n Theresa Howard.  Formerly, Theresa Lasher.)

 

 

Well you little stinker I didn't even know we were pregnant and now you tell me she had a baby.  This is blessing news.  All is well and happy with the little guy and his parents and I know the grandma and grandpa are popping their buttons too.  I sure did need more kids so I could have had more grand children that is for sure. We send you our very best to all and we are so happy for you and Jan and the parents.  Love the name they called him and now our world is a little richer with another child of God in it.  Loya and Nick (Weaver.  You met Loya with me in Roseburg.)

 

 

Congratulations Tim & Jan!

 

John Conti

 

 

Congratulations, Tim n Jan.

When will you'll be great grand parents?  (Mieke von Rensburg . . . Anthony Cermak’s girl friend.)

 

 

Tim,

I don't think I ever responded to this e-mail, but first, congrats on the new grandchild!!  Aren't they fun!!!!!  We only have 3 and the birth of our last was in some ways the first birth for me.  Sadly, our son had twins out of wed-lock and we knew nothing about it until they were a little over 2.  So, surprise, shock, dread, uncertainty and questions galore filled our minds.  We have had to consider them "missionary projects" over the years due to the life style they are being raised in by their mother.

 

Our last grandchild, a girl, was and has been a very special joy.  I held her w/in the first hour of her birth ... a new experience for me.  Our son was adopted and we did not get him until he was 5 days old so we missed that birth.  Our daughter was born at a time when dads weren't allowed to be close to mother or baby; I had to go to the maternity ward window, hold up the name on a piece of paper and the nurse held up the child so daddy could see her.  I had always felt cheated, so this last grandchild gave me tears and a wow that I can't describe.  So again, congratulations!!

 

I finally went to the site in your e-mail regarding minutes of the academic affairs committee.  By reading the latest first and working back it gave a very special perspective.  Thank you and the others for all your good work.  Again, wow.  I don't know what else to say.

 

As for your "degree" from the school of practical experience, it seems superior than formal class room work.  Your writing, speaking, thinking, etc., apparently never got screwed up with a lot of academic "stuff."  :>)

 

Enuf for now.  Blessings!!

--gale (and his wife, Marilyn, are special friends from within the Church of God in the Portland area.)

 

 

 

congrats and God bless y'all.

the Davis family (From here in Sonoma . . . )

 

 

Tim,

 

My deepest congratulations.

 

Bill Tidwell (from days in Clarksville, Tennessee)

 

Hi Guys,

         Thanks for sending this news!  Very precious times, eh?  It’s so hard to believe all your little girls are so grown, and that YOU are so old!!  (as are WE!)  Still, we are not grandparents yet…it must be so awesome.  God is good.  Looks like we are headed back to Regent in January, but will continue to do the interim position in Hong Kong through the Fall, as they’ve requested. (extended by 4 months)  It’s been an absolutely fantastic experience, and we have been so blessed.  Look forward to seeing you one of these days – if not on this side, then the OTHER…grace and peace, Amy (and Bob Jones)

 

 

Congratulations Grampa and Grandma. How wonderful that Liesl was able to have her baby a little early to avoid the "Howard Deanlike Primal Scream". May God bless all of you and may he especially bless Benjamin. By the way, our Michele has a Benjamin as well..........  (Anna & John Paraskos, also parents of 4 daughters and friends from Marin Covenant Days.)

 

 

We rejoice with you and Jan, as well as your daughter and son in law on the safe arrival of Benjamin Cooper Garner--what a great name.

Praise the Lord.  And blessings on all of you.   Margaret (Duffy – an Irish lady who is a member of our church in Sonoma.)

 

 

Dear Tim and Jan:  Congratulations! It sounds like all has gone swimmingly! Give our best to Liesl and little Benjamin. Also to Scott who we look forward to eventually getting to know.  Love to you all, Clark and Vicki (Summers, whom I think you recall from Novato days.  He’s an attorney and very good friends of ours through the Christian Conciliation Service ministry.)

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Tim and Jan.  I have a feeling that even though this isn't your first grandchild, the miracle and blessing of a new baby is as special as always. What a blessing for Liesl and how wonderful for her that you both were able to be there. Enjoy this special time.

Love and prayers,

Caroline  (Talbot, of Marin Covenant time – Michelle Parsley’s Mom.)

 

 

congratulations!!

 

benjamin == son of the right hand - a good, strong name.  our ben has blessed us mightily.

 

barbara (And Tripp Curtis, the guy who was and owned “Mr. Trees” in Marin/Sonoma.  Parents of . . . 12 or so and adopters of I think 3 more.)

 

 

Congrats!  This is good news on a dreary Oregon day! 

Blessings,
dan (
York.  Son of Ron & Betty York, whom we lived with in Korea in 1963 & 4.)

 

Congratulations, Tim & Jan, on the newest arrival.  How many grandchildren now?  And mostly boys!

It's great that all went well and our prayers are with Liesl, Scott and Benjamin.  (Howard & Barbara Roseen, right there in Fresno.  Friends from Madera days.  Barbara was my secretary for . . . 6 years.)

 

 

Congratulations and thanks be to God.

Assad (Mora, more commonly known to you as Fred Mora, the guy who sold us our home on
Midway Court in Novato.)

 

 

DEAR TIM AND JAN, WE ARE HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS . I CAN'T RELATE BECAUSE I'M STILL AWAITING THESE TWO MEN OF MINE TO DO THE RIGHT THING(SMILE). CONGRAD. AND YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS.

                      LOVE SIMEON AND GEORGIE GEENE (Simeon is on the Board of Trustees with me at
Warner Pacific College.  A retired DEA/FBI/LAPD guy who seriously knows his stuff.)

 

 

Praise the Lord for medical assistance.  10 or 11 pounds.  Ouch!!  (Randy & Madolyn Longfield, from Marin Covenant days, and current board member of the Bay Area Christian Conciliation Service, Inc.)

 

 

Exciting news!  Especially happy to receive it in Mexico.  Sharing in your joy and anticipation - from a world away.  XXOO Dena (Carter.  She and husband Doug are special friends of ours in Bakersfield.  We know them through the National Prayer Breakfast.)

 

 

Congratulations to you both!!  I am sure you will continue to be wonderful grandparents to the new little one as you have been to the others. 

See you soon.  Love, Ginny and Joe (The couple who came to me to do their divorce papers over a year ago, whose ceremony of rededication of their marriage vows your mom and I attended and participated in at Oakland, at the Covenant Church.)

 

 

Tim & Jan;

Thanks for including me in the sharing of your joy......how many grandchildren now?

Hope all is well and look forward to seeing you sometime soon.

God bless and I rejoice with you.

Sandi Seamas (Whom I know that you know.  I don’t know what her married name is, but she remarried on April 25th . . . )

 

 

Congrats Granma and Granpa!!  Once again!   We're so happy for Liesl and her hubby too!

Love,

Chris and Janet    (Quartly, whom you know from Marin Covenant days . . . )

p.s.  Steve's Natalie will give birth to their second in January.  That will bring us to 3 grandchildren...mere novices!

 

 

May 31, 2004

Thanks for the news and CONGRATULATIONS!     Love - Chris and Roger (Lindh – Chris Dessimoz, lived with us in Germany, and Lee Schindler and I “papered” her and Margaret Kofod into their room the night we were papering the hallway.)

 

June 1, 2004

 

Congrats!  We just celebrated our twin grandson's 1st birthdays on May 6.  They are such a joy.  JoAnn (Hallum, from Madera, who is the lady with MS and the two beautiful daughters . . . )

 

 

Congratulations to you and your loved ones!

Jerry (a Church of God minister in Seattle area.)

 

 

Give Jan our best and congratulations to both of you on the birth of you new grandson!  Jeanette and I picked up a gift for him yesterday.  We may mail it to you to pass it on instead of waiting for July.  (John & Jeannette – friends of ours from our time in Oakland at the Oakland Covenant Church.)

 

 

Congratulations!!!      I'm jealous..       Larry (Moore, and his wife Becky are minister friends of ours here in Sonoma.)

 

 

 

Dear Tim & Jan,

 

We are so thrilled to hear of the arrival of Benjamin.  Glad the dr. did not wait until he was 10 lbs.  I hope you had a wonderful time with her and that all is well.  We are in Hawaii with Ash and return to Singapore on Thursday.

 

Love, Gennelle (of David ‘n Gennelle Pipes)

 

June 2, 2004

 

 

Tim & Jan congratulations!!! And the Arensmeier clan continues to grow. Cheryl & I celebrate with you.

 

Love,

 

Himself & herself (Mike & Cheryl Ryan, now in Kansas, but friends from the National Prayer Breakfast)

 

 

Tim and Jan,

 

how wonderful for you to enjoy the birth of a new and apparently healthy grandchild.  How blessed he is to be welcomed into a loving family.  Congratulations.

 

Lisa Bernard (new friends in Rohnert Park).

 

 

Dear Tim and Jan,
What a wonderfully happy ocasion!!!!
May God bless all of you.
Javier and Gerry (From Marin Covenant days, but we’re still close.)

 

 

Congratulations!!  You are doubly blessed!  Actually, more than doubly...a new son-in-law, two new grandsons and now another one...this one came very small though. ha.

Have fun!  Love,  Barbara & Bob C. (Christiansen – a delightful couple whom we know from within the Church of God.)

 

June 4, 2004

 

Dear Tim and Jan,

     Thanks for the exciting news about Benjamin. Where do they live?  It's really wonderful that you make yourselves available to family for these unique times.  For those same reasons we are planning, D.V., to be with Bethany and Tony on their wedding day in April.  It's also a good excuse to see all of our grands as well....we have five now....and you?  Trust all are doing well now.

     I had a new experience yesterday....biking in a flood!!   It started to

pour just as I was getting ready to bike to class.  I could have taken a taxi, but I still would have gotten soaked walking from the parking lot across campus to my classroom,so I decided to wait awhile.  Rains are often short lived and I thought I should see if it would calm down a bit. In about 15 minutes it was less stormy so I ventured out, draped in my plastic rain coat.  About half way down the street I realized that the road was flooded.  I should have turned around at that point and taken an alternate route.....but didn't.  Just when I thought I'd surely drown, it would be okay for a few hundred feet and then flooded again.  When I arrived at class about 15 minutes late only three students were there and they decided I looked too bedraggled (they said "tired") to have class and we were so few....  By the time I left it wasn't even raining, but I took the main street route and found drier asphalt to pedal on.  Whew!  My skirt was totally wet up to my knees.  I came home to find that our house was also flooded.....the landlord said, "Oh, that happens all the time.

The storm sewers aren't big enough."  Fortunately the main entrance of the water is the drain pipe for the washing machine.  It is in the kitchen which is connected to the dining area and then to the "inside parking garage" which leads immediately to the front door and out to the street.

So the water drains itself out slowly.  The bedroom and living room are a 5 inch step up and so far it hasn't gotten that high.  We just removed our luggage from the "garage" area to the second story and put all electrical connections higher up instead of letting them lie on the floor.  The table legs are plastic, the chair legs are metal and the bike tires are rubber.....such a deal! 

     Speaking of strange incidences, Thursday night at a restaurant we were served  pig uterus and pig's feet, two separate delicacies.  We had a hard time getting those down, but we gave it a valiant effort!  We had been invited out by the head financial officer of the hospital.  Several of our other friends from the hospital were also invited.  It was a nice gesture and he gave a short speech thanking us for coming, for doing a good job, for caring about the Vietnamese people, and for helping to supply the hospital with needed surgical equipment.  The one funny thing was that two girls who worked as waitresses seemed to have one sole responsibility...to make sure no one's glass ever got less than three quarters full.  As soon as you took a sip out of your glass, one of them would put a new piece of ice in your glass, pick up your bottle (Sprite or Coke for Bob and me, but beer for all the others) and fill it to the brim. As soon as the bottle was empty they'd open a new one and plunk it down on the table.  Toward the end of the evening Bob and I determined not to drink anything out of our glasses until we were ready to leave, lest she open a new bottle of drink.  It was kind of comical!  But we are thankful for the friendships the Lord is developing for us.

     Last week in my advanced class Bob was the guest speaker!  This class is a group of docs and they expressed an interest in having more medical content.  So, this was his third lecture and he spoke about HIV/AIDS, a huge potential problem in SE ASIA.  I precede his lectures with discussion of relevant vocabulary and possible sentence structure, semantics, or syntax, as needed.  Then after the lecture the students ask questions and then I ask them questions about the content.  I try to give them a group activity about implications or impressions or reactions so that they can practice the vocabulary. They seem to appreciate this style so far.  In the beginning, they were very unaccustomed to group work and thinking of ideas not explicitly expressed in an oral reading or a short story.  But they have gradually gotten used to the idea and with my prodding actually seem to have fun doing it.  At least I know it has improved their English!

      On Saturday morning Bob was called in for an emergency tibia fracture, probably a motorbike accident.  In the afternoon we got together with another American couple who share our purposes here.  We usually listen to a tape from someone’s home fellowship and share concerns.  It’s very good for all of us and gives us food and encouragement. In the evening we biked over to an outdoor cafe next to the river where they serve a delicious flan.  It was relatively cool by 8pm and we enjoyed sitting outdoors.

Two ELI young ladies joined us.

     Guess that’s all the news for now.  Would love to hear from you…email’s great!  Trust you are doing well. 

Love, Elaine for Bob, too.  (Bob ‘n Elaine Greene, are doc ‘n wife buddies of Jan’s ‘n mine.  I’ve known Bob for 58 years!  His folks and mine were in The Gideons together and met during WWII.)

 

 

Hi Tim 'n Jan,

 Congratulations on that new grandson!!  Sounds like a wonderful family--

those big brothers will love having a baby in the house...

I thought you might enjoy this picture of Keleigh-- she is our great great

niece--lives in Napa.

Love,

Nick and Pat (Retired minister ‘n wife from within the Church of God.)

 

 

thats great!!  It sounds like you are keeping busy.

Its good to here that all are trusting God and looking

to Him for growth and Joy.

Well back to work for me.

In Christ with Love

John J Hart (Marvin Stallsmith . . .)

 

 

June 21, 2004

 

Congratulations to everyone!  What great news...hope all is going well with baby, parents and grandparents.  So glad to hear Liesl is doing well.  Hope she is enjoying motherhood immensely.
        We're fine.  Miss you guys and think of you often.  sorry I hardly ever get on this computer since I use the one at work so much.  We have 2 granddaughters Macy 2 and Morgan 10 months.  Just found out that Michelle and Scott are expecting in February their first one.  We are elated!!
        How are you, Jan and Tim doing?  Enjoying your location and all that it offers you at this time in your life?  Stell said hi!  God bless you,  Patty (Manfredi, an ol’ sidekick of yours in Madera.)

 

 

Web posted:  May 26, 2004

Updated:  July 1, 2004

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