I am scheduled to have the baby on Monday, August 6. Haven't had much time for posting, but will put something up once I am home from the hospital. Happy belated anniversary to Cindi and David and our very best wishes to Ninha, Andy, Shawnna and Drew.

Jeff, you're quote on your blog was nice, but I much prefer your statement a few lines up...

"The truth is, soccer is nothing if you have no one to pass to."

I really like that one.
Jocelyn

Happy Anniversary A.C. and David!

Soccer starts up next week for the college kids. It should be a great fall for IWCC soccer, we have high expectations and are very excited about our recruits. Nothing specialgoing on...just soccer stuff...oh our singles ward that was 30 miles away got split up in to two wards and one branch...yup, a YSA branch in Council Bluffs. For the most part, our branch consists of 15 IWCC Soccer players and a 12 other local singles that are going to be heading to byu or byu-i in a week. So HEY, everyone gets three callings...Hooray. The branch president was pretty bummed when he found out that I was out of there in 8 months. It is crazy...I'm not a fan of the situation, but such is life.

Only other thing I will share with you, is that I wrote another Blog on our newly developed blog site for the soccer club (we are trying to mimic the USsoccer Blog site). I currently have two blogs up (that I have written, and am anticipating more from other members of the CBFC board later this week. Click here to read the blogs.

Lastly, if you want to see the fitness schedule for the first week of IWCC soccer click here.

Love and miss you all...will be fasting on Sunday for Ninha :)

Gina, Stacia, Milena, Bobby, and Landon

Summer of 2007

Amanda and Camree Zoll with Gina and Milena on the swing.

Happy Fourth Anniversary
With love and admiration
Mom and Dad Ginn

HI ALL! I was checking things out on my outlook calender and it popped up that today is Cindi and David's Anniversary - so...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY / CINDI AND DAVID

Love you all - Till next time!

Cassy

I guess sooner would be better than later so why don't we fast Thursday? If you can't make it Thursday, why don't you just make Ninha the purpose for your fast this coming Sunday, as it will be the first Sunday of the month. Thank you so much for you willingness to help.

By the way Marion, when exactly is your baby due? I know it's in August sometime but I can't remember an exact date. Let us know.

Jocelyn

I think it´s a great idea Joc. Tell me when and we´ll do it! Please give Ninha a hug for me. I love her very much. Cindi

I just wrote a nice entry and lost it before posting it. I hate to say but I'm too tired to write it again. I'll try tomorrow. But the main purpose was to see if all of you would be willing to fast for Ninha either Thursday or Friday. We want to fast for a miracle. Maybe if we put our faith together (and it's the will of the Lord) we can work a miracle in Ninha's life. She had such a good day today that it's hard not to get your hopes up and think that she could slowly recover. We'll see how tomorrow goes and please let us know about fasting.
Jocelyn

Looking through pictures with Ninha and came across this one of Gramma. I really liked it and wanted to share it.

I've been having a nice visit with Ninha, Andy and the kids. Andy has been able to work yesterday and today. Ninha has had two very good days but last evening was kind of hard. She didn't eat anything yesterday but has been making up for it today. I thought I'd attach a few pictures of lunch - leftover enchiladas.

We've been doing little videos - I only have my digital camera so I do little 2 minute clips. Like Mom said, the kids are very helpful and obedient. They really are really good kids.

I need to get back to the kids. Shawnna wants to play and they need some attention.

Jocelyn

HI ALL! Well, as Ed said, we made it home from LAX late Sunday night. I handed off the care-taking duties to Jocelyn. We were actually on the ground at Dulles Airport at the same time; she taxing into her gate, me waiting on the tarmack to lift off - was a good feeling, knowing that Andy, Ninha and the children are in good hands for the next few days! Just as we were getting ready to drive to the airport, the thunder roared, the lightening crashed and the skies opened up and the rain poured down in buckets. I love that kind of weather, made me think of years passed living in that area and experiencing the exciting, clashing, crashing weather changes only the rest of the states get to experience. I thought, gee, would be so wonderful if we could just bottle all that water and get to CA because we are in such a drought here. Of course, I enjoy that kind of weather when you can stay inside, bake cookies or snuggle up and watch TV - not to be driving in or having to fly!! Got to the airport and many flights had been re-routed and delayed. My original flight was scheduled to take off at 4:47pm - finally lifted off the ground at 8:10pm - so my nerves were a 'BIT FRAZZLED' to say the least, considerng flying in my absolutely 'least favorite' thing to do. What with having to give a good bye hug to Ninha, the kids and Andy and then, the added stress of the weather - I was a wreck!! Fortunately, I sat by a stewardess making a turn around back to LAX - she was such a 'hoot'. Always saying she would tell me when to really 'worry.' So, I was able to calm down and 'almost' enjoy the flight. Saw a good movie 'Premonition' with Sandra Bullock. I had wanted to see it, so was fun to watch something new, even though I wasn't too happy with the ending. One of those weird ones that wasn't very clear cut - I guess it let's you make it what you want!! On the other side of me, had a nice English lady who was traveling back to her home in Brisbane, Australia. Loved her accent and sense of humor. So, all in all, was a good flight home! Was so nice to be back to my home. If travel does any thing at all for me, it makes me appreciate my little 'cracker box' home and the wonderfu, beautiful area I live in. Yes, I know there are all kinds of other wonderful, beautiful areas to live and work but I'm just happy to be home, here!! I had a wonderful time with the kids - Shawnna is growing up so much, she is so smart and willing to help. She did the dishes for me every night. Little Drew is just a cutie pie, with his 'smooze me' and 'again, again'. He is smart too and speaks so good that he made Grandma TaTa's job helping them so much easier. They are both wonderful children, thanks to the great love and care and teaching that Ninha has given them in just these few years! I love them all!
Love you all - Till' next time!
Grandma TaTa

It is 1 am Monday morning and we have just returned from getting Cassy at LAX. She is home and tired and so are we. She has a lot to tell later.
Love DAD

HI ALL! This is a 'Ninha Update." I got here early Monday morning and the situation was 'GRAVE.' Monday and Tuesday did not fair very good either; in the wee hours of Tuesday, there was a moment I was sure we were losing her. The next day we had company, Andy's cousin's wife, Mary and her daughter, Liz came from Nanty-Glo, PA to visit with Ninha. They were a big help, comforting Ninha and playing with the kids. Also, had a Brasilian friend, Andre bring by some good Brasilian food, hoping to entice Ninha to eat. She did, but so often, it comes back up pretty quickly - yuk!! Thursday came a little brighter and she had a good day. Was able to take a bath and get cleaned up. She came upstairs and visited with the kids and watched TV. The RS President and Compassionate Service Leader came by in the evening and they had a great couple of hours 'girl chatting.' It was so wonderful to see her up, smiling and animated - My heart soared!! She had good morning today, but seemed to fade during the afternoon. It's been difficult to get her to eat or drink, so I'm sure she is dehydrated. A policeman came by around dinner time asking about a 911 call from this address. We hadn't called, but Andy said his wife was ill, so the Policeman came downstairs to check on her. Soon, we had the police, fire engine and ambulance at the house. Of course, scared the kids but the EMT's did an evalutation - she was pale, erratic heart beat with a sugar level of 67. They said if it had been at 65, she would have been taking a ride to the ER. Even through it all she kept her querky, sense of humor; was making jokes with the EMT guys, even through all the pain. After that event, I got to the store and picked up some Ensure, hoping it would help - give her some 'good stuff' to bring her energy level up! She got it down and so far, it's stayed down. I am praying for the best. We have had a difficult time getting pain medication for her, but finally was able to get some Vicadin and Liquid Morphine - she is in extreme, constant pain in her stomach and her bones too. She was very happy to speak to you all and to visit - she loves you all and talks about you all - makes me promise to let you all know how much she loves you!! She's sitting here on the couch, eating Oreo's with Andy - it's almost like a 'normal' picture, there are moments it doesn't seem like she so terminally ill! Please keep her in your prayers.
It's late now - got to get some sleep!
Love you all - Till' next time!
Cassy

Not to change the subject, only lighten the mood...

I took the kids downtown this afternoon to some summer activities they have going on this week. (This is only the second week Alienor is out of school. Summer vacation here is July 15-Sept 15) The main theme was the circus so most of the activities were to let the children try out circus-type things.

Guillaume and Alienor were pretty good on the tight rope.

Alienor was actually very good at walking on the ball. It's a hard ball that weighs about 5 lbs. or so. She could walk/roll on it forward and backward.

Can't forget face painting. Although considering how difficult it was to wash off, I think we'll skip it next time!

Not too circus-like, but great none the less - the kids loved the rockclimbing wall. There goes Margot in the red pants and Perceval right behind her.

There were other activities that didn't get photographed like the trampoline, all sorts of juggling, poi balls, etc. That was our afternoon in a nutshell. The kids had a great time and I enjoyed chatting with a sister from the ward - mothers with primary-aged children were invited to meet and have the children play but we were the only two that showed up. Oh, and a bonus - the weather held out and it didn't rain on us. We even had sunshine with only occasional clouds. It's been raining the whole month of July.

703 339 2070
I made sure they turned up the ringer for the next few days so they wouldn't miss our phone calls.

Jocy would you please list the land line to your dads home. Cassy is probably so busy she
forgot to call me last night and I can't get a response from Andy's cell. If you don't want to put it on the blog please send it to my email address aginnjr@sbcglobal.net.
Thank you
Uncle Ed

Ninha,

In case you get an opportunity to have someone read this to you...

...you have always been angelic and Christlike. You have been a wonderful example to us all, as you are compassionate, giving, loving and adorable. Your family loves you dearly and wants you to know that you are in our prayers and in our hearts. I can't put in to words how I feel right now. It is one of the most heart breaking moments in my life. You have always expressed love to the Ginn family and you have always allowed us to enjoy your upbeat and heavenly spirit. Your laugh is unforgettable and your genuine smile is irreplaceable. We love you dearly, we pray for you to be happy and trust in the Lord that He has a plan for you, your husband and your precious children. Thank you for being graceful and loving. The minimal time I have been able to spend with you has always been precious and enjoyable. Thank you for being such a beautiful example to us all, be strong and know that we all cherish you and your life.

I love you dearly and will always hold you dear in my heart.

-Jeffery Jon

cut and pasted from my journal to save time (and energy!)-

July 23, 2007 - I spoke with Ninha today at 6pm Luxembourg time (12 EST). I wanted to call to have the kids say hello to her and say we loved her. I was overcome by emotion because her voice was so weak. I said hello and I love you and that the kids wanted to say hello. The tears were just streaming down my face. I passed the phone from child to child and they each said hello and that they loved her. She sounded so weak that I didn’t want them to tire her out any more than that. When I took the phone back I told her that I wanted her to know that if there was anything I could do to help Andy raise Shawnna and Drew I would do it. She broke down too and said that she wanted her children raised in the church. I said I would do everything I could to help them be raised in the church. I asked her to bear me her testimony so I could pass it on to her children. She spent about 5 minutes sharing her testimony with me.

We love you Ninha!