Today is the two days before my niece’s 9th birthday, one day before the actual day for her. They are in the Philippines, they are 16 hours ahead of us. This time of year I tend to have an aching heart – out of their family of 5, 4 have birthdays in the next two months. My brother’s birthday isn’t until March.

We sent dear sweet Avery’s birthday gifts in ‘the box’ six weeks ago. They got word yesterday it is in the country, but now we don’t know how long before they get it. She won’t have gifts from us on her day – this makes my heart ache. I miss them so much and really want some little people hugs. Like really, really bad. I’m needing them. I do have friend’s with littles about the same age. I do get hugs from them often enough to keep the ache at bay. {It always amazes me how little kids know when an adult needs a hug. Have you ever noticed that?} For the most part, until it is birthday time. Then I have to do LOTS more praying to get through. My kids have gotten used to me having ‘leaky eyes’ this time of year. 😀

Tov’s 8th birthday is on the 4th, my sister-in-law’s birthday is the 14th, and my other sweet niece’s birthday is the 10th of December. This year they turn 8, 9, & 11. I have Tov’s birthday gift here waiting to go in the mail, we have to take it to a Post Office to fill out declaration paperwork. I’m horrible at going to the Post Office. I’m hoping because it is letter-size it will get there in three weeks. I did stick a small treat for him into the first box because I didn’t know what the box schedule would be.

Earlier this week we sent a second box. No birthday presents from me made it into that box, but we’ll be sending another next week. I’m sad, I don’t know if Miah (oldest) won’t get anything in time for her birthday. I am still hoping the last box (the one going next week) will make it there in time, but it’ll be squeaking in if it does. Mom and dad get to go visit, they won’t get there until mid-December though. It seems like ages since we’ve seen them. Okay, so enough of my pity party.

Here is a picture of Tov & I, he was not quite 4 and a whole group of us were hiking. He was tired – we knew they were leaving in a matter of time to finish their missions training in Arizona. I took (and still take) every opportunity to snuggle my Tovie I can get – even if it comes at the cost of carrying him UPhill/mountain! I can hear his sweet little 4 year old voice as he talked to me all the way. To help me with balance & not killing my back,  he needed to put his head on my shoulder so his body weight was in the right place. I loved every minute of it! 😀 {When he was home at Christmas last year – he still let me snuggle him!}

So I have been working on birthday & Christmas gifts. What do you get for Alaskan kids in the Philippines? I live by a self-imposed ____ {don’t know what to call it – motto/rule/standard?}: I don’t buy gifts for the sake of buying gifts. Usually, I don’t spend more than $5 (now sometimes $10) on a gift. I just can’t. Unless it is something someone really needs, then it’s a totally different ball game. Otherwise, I believe most of us in America don’t need half of what we have, even those of us with not much.

I strongly believe a gift should be from the heart, not an obligation.

This is something I established with my kids from the beginning, so we are really into making gifts. {Interesting note: making a gift often costs more than buying one :-D, but has so much more value.} Anyway, in the Philippines there are basic things not as easily for them to come by – like batteries. So we have to be selective with what we do. Last year for Christmas I started Tovie on Hex bugs, with a back up stash of batteries. He loved them while here, then he was concerned about using up the batteries….  I asked Vince if we should get him some more for his birthday or Christmas. {Remember: Vince went to the Philippines in April} He replied that Tov doesn’t use the Hex bugs – “why would he play with those when there are so many real bugs…why play with a fake cockroach when you can play with a real one?” GROSSS! He thought he was funny…unfortunately, I also know it was true.  Oh well, good idea gone bad.

:-D…..so, all of these memories {& yes, tears} are to say – this is a mandated sewing weekend. No more chances. I have to have everything done by early-mid week. I am making Alaska themed blankets for each of them. I’m sure they need new blankets 🙂 {I’m a blanket addict, as far as I’m concerned you can’t ever have too many blankets – even if their average temp is 80*…}; besides, I found awesome Alaska material this summer. AND besides that, they can wrap the blanket around them and imagine it has a hug from auntie April.

I absolutely LOVE being an auntie. I love the fact my family is close in heart and it hurts for us to be separated, as I’ve said before; “it’s because we care it hurts so much”. There was a time I never would have believed I would care if I didn’t see my brothers. For those of you with teenage children who are driving you nuts, there is hope :-D….my senior year in high school, my youngest brother & I didn’t ride to church together (he was a 6th grade boy, I do understand this better now).

Now: I love my brothers, I love my brothers’ wives, I love my brothers’ children. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for any one of them. I am blessed. I do know that, and do work to not take that for granted.

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Guess what! The real new member of the family I wanted to talk about has arrived!  I’m an auntie again!!!!  

New life is precious. Always. ~~~ New life is beautiful. Always.

New life is amazing. Always. ~~~ New life is awe’ing, mind blowing. Always.

Only by the grace of an amazing Creator God do we get to experience new life, are we allowed to value and appreciate new life.

Baby is a girl. A sweet, beautiful, amazingly cute newborn baby girl.

I now have 4 nieces (2 sharing a birthday) & 1 nephew. I am blessed.

For being a week overdue, it was a FAST process. Less than an hour from knowing something might be happening to baby being born. After we all saw baby & mom and knew all was well, we just kind of sat there stunned, comparing notes. Checking texts and phone call logs to even try to piece it all together.

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To learn more about or link up with Five Minute Friday, go to Lisa-Jo’s blog.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

Roots…

Go: My first thoughts on roots are heritage. I have a rich, rich heritage. I am blessed and I know that. I am so very thankful for my roots. I immediately thought of this picture of my Grandma smelling the roses Grandpa gave her for her 81st birthday. Her birthday was on Christmas Eve. My mom’s mom was born on October 31st.

Funny how both Grandma’s had unforgettable birthdays, and had amazing artistic talent, and both Grandpa’s were pastors. My roots are in a Christian heritage as far back as anyone has ever checked. My mom’s parents were married in Paris and missionaries in Africa when my mom was born. When mom was 1 they moved back to the states because my Grandpa got sick. My mom was the youngest of three. When they came back to the states he pastored in several places. My dad’s parents pastored in the same town in northern Wisconsin for over 40 years. :Stop

These are my dad’s parents in December 2003. {I got my extreme love of flowers from Grandma.} They were the last flowers he gave her while she was alive; she passed away less than a month later. My kids and I were there to help take care of Grandma & Grandpa while mom & dad were in session. A week after getting there my Grandma had a 2nd stroke (1st was year prior, while mom & dad were in session); two weeks later she passed away. My kids and I stayed with Grandpa to help him with starting kidney dialysis and adjustment to life without Grandma. They had been married 6 months short of 60 years – 59 1/2 years! We stayed with him a total of 7 1/2 months. It was amazing, my kids were 6 1/2 and 3 1/2, I’ve never regretted a day of that time. They are still fond memories and none of us will ever forget it. If you ever have the opportunity to take care your grandparents – take it, you won’t forget it. Ever.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Today I am giving thanks for: Family. Heritage. Roots.

Family: I have family I miss and love. As I’ve said before – I’m glad it hurts they are gone because it means we love each other.

Heritage: I have a rich heritage of family and togetherness. I realize this is not everyone’s norm and I don’t ever want to take it for granted.

Roots: I grew up not knowing anything but a Christian family with roots very, very deep. Most of my dad’s family is still in the midwest. There are other pastors, missionaries, and Christian college staff in my family. Even with all of these roots, I know I am only saved because of the Grace of God.

{I will work on getting my mom’s parents’ wedding pictures scanned and into the computer.[I have one of my dad’s parents, but I’m saving it for a post with both] It is so cool – with the Eiffel Tower in the background! I have other cool mementos of my grandparents – but they aren’t digital. I’ll have to work on remedying this.}

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Five Minute Friday: Change

Start

Wow!  Change is the word for this week.  I can actually really relate to this word – this is a week of huge CHANGE for us.  I have been managing a political campaign this summer.  It has sucked the summer away.  I don’t particularly enjoy politics, but it was for my dad.  Of course, when I agreed to be the Campaign Manager we thought he’d be unopposed.  We weren’t.  24 hours from the cut off someone signed up. on the same ticket.  This meant we had an opponent and it was all or nothing, to be over on the 28th of this month.  Phew!  So many changes & lessons learned.  Primary is over. We won.  Campaign is essentially done.  Now the real change starts.  I have started Twitter, Instagram, and Google + in the last month.  I have left everyone hanging.  I actually hate change.  Even though our schedule has been insane, it became comfortable.  Now we start school. Start my business for real.  Continue the 2 new jobs I started on top of the managing in the last month.  Yes, change is on my horizon.  Not in the distance any longer, but now.

Stop

Yea, it’s time for Five Minute Friday and I get to participate!!  I get to participate because of all the CHANGE happening in our lives right now. It is poorly written & I’m sure doesn’t make much sense, but I’m getting to participate – because of CHANGE.  I did it though, I left all my editing mistakes – {man is that hard!}  However, I want to go back & highlight a couple things I wrote…

I hate change.                                                                                                                                {you have no idea how much this is a struggle for me}

Campaign for the Primary Election is over!                                                                {this is such a relief, as in mind numbing thankfulness to not be 150% focused on what had to be done yesterday! There were a few times I tried to make a list of all accomplished tasks for the day, it depressed/distracted me so much about half way through, I had to quit.  I couldn’t stomach seeing it all written in one place.}

We won said Primary!!!                                                                                                             {we did it [squeal!!!]  We were to the point we were all individually content with whatever God’s best plan was for our family.  We knew win or lose He is in control, we were mightily relieved by this fact.  But, we are soooo relieved it is over!}

We are going to start homeschooling soon.                                                                       {but I just ordered the kids’ math today.  I have most everything else already, just need to get the paperwork portion down. and learn My Well Planned Day. and get everything input into it.}

I have two new jobs                                                                                                                {one proofreading, one design related – totally excited about them both}

Life has been insanely busy & I’m ready for the change of slowing down.     {I’m so excited to start doing more here with the blog & designing, getting homeschool & our “real” schedule under way, sewing, reading, and going to bed before 1:30AM!}

I am linking up to Five Minute Friday at Lisa-Jo Baker, tales from a Gypsy Mama, come join the fun!

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