I woke up early this morning to get ready for work and
happened to check Facebook before crawling out of bed. (oh the joys of an
iPhone) As I checked I came across a new album that my Uncle created, filled
with pictures of my sweet cousin. As I looked at each picture, my eyes filled
up with tears as I remembered Ryan and then also remembered how this day 15
years ago changed my life.
15 years ago today I was in Guatemala, on my 1st
mission trip. I was 16 and my parents were trusting enough to send me down there
alone with the intent of meeting up with another group that would already be
down there. That 1st trip to Guatemala changed my life in many ways.
It was on that trip that I learned to love like I had never loved before. It
was there that I felt my heart come alive in ways that I had never before
experienced. It was in that place that God called me to serve Him through
missions. It was also in that place that my heart was broken and I learned to
lean on others and to trust in His plan for my life.
Rewind about 2 weeks prior to this day 15 years ago…it was
Mother’s Day. I remember being at church, in our youth room, when my Mom showed
up. She had gotten a call saying that my cousin was in the hospital and that he
was very sick. She was planning on leaving from church to go down to San Diego
to see him. I asked her to go with and her and I left.
Walking into Ryan’s room I remember being overwhelmed with
the number of tubes and machines and wires. It seemed as though he was attached
to everything and there were medical devices everywhere. His skin had turned
purple in some places and his body was so swollen. I had never seen anyone so
sick in my entire life. I don’t really remember what came next or what else
went on over the course of that day, but I remember that first impression.
Over the next week my Mom would spent a lot of time at that
hospital while my Dad helped me get ready for my trip. I was supposed to leave
for Guatemala in less than a week. I’m pretty sure we visited the hospital a
few more times that week, but I can’t remember the details.
Before I knew it I was off to Guatemala, on the
trip/experience of a lifetime. I was a part of a medical team that trip and I
was so excited to assist in rural clinics and to observe surgeries and give injections
in the capital city. 15 years ago today, after our morning was spent doing
medical work, we were taken to a local hospital where there was a ward for
small children and babies who needed medical care. There were probably 10
little ones in there and we were able to hold them and rock them and love on
them. I think this may have been our 1st day there. I held 2 sweet
babies that day, Luis Miguel and Maria, both babies with a clef lip/palate and
both were in that place to gain weight so they could be big enough for surgery.
I think they were both around 6 months but were nowhere near the 10lbs that was
required for surgery. Holding those sweet babies changed me, they captured my
heart.
When we got back to where we were staying that afternoon I
was told that my Dad had called and would call back later. In my heart I knew
that something wasn’t right but I had no idea exactly why he called. That
evening someone from the staff came and told me my Dad was on the phone and
they stayed in the room with me while I took the call. They must have known
what he was about to tell me. I will never forget sitting in that office,
hearing that my sweet cousin had died, and then feeling the embrace of the
sweetest 2 people. George and his wife Kathy just sat with me once I hung up
the phone. They let me cry. They held me and hugged me and reassured me of
God’s promises. I don’t know how long we were in there but I remembered that
eventually I walked out of that office and joined my team in the meeting room.
They were singing a song that I can still remember to this day. My heart was
hurting and yet I knew that God was there. I learned that evening to let others
near, to let them in, to allow them to share in my grief.
To be honest, I don’t really remember the rest of that trip
other than that we kept getting to go back to hold those babies. I was given
the choice of coming home early to attend the memorial/funeral or finishing out
my trip. I chose to finish my trip. By the time I left to return home I had
already promised the staff that I’d be back that summer for 4 weeks and I knew
in my heart that someday I’d be back to stay.
I have decided that I love little kid birthday parties because they involve a lot of playing and very little planning! The plan was that her friends would come over, they would jump and play, we'd eat some cupcakes, and open gifts...simple and easy and just perfect for a 3 year old girl!
Hope's favorite friends came: Caleb, Collin, and Ryan and we got to invite a new friend, Autumn, from our church. The kids all had fun playing together and I think Hope was thrilled to have each one of them there, along with their parents!
Both sets of Hope's Grandparents came and even Great Grandma was there! 
She almost convince Great Grandma to jump...but Great Grandma won that discussion!
We spent the day at Disneyland, just the 3 of us. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite traditions! Hope's to-do list for the day included:
2. Riding the big train all the way around
3. Minnie's house
4. Goofy's Kitchen
5. Finding a special treat
6. Story-boat Ride
In August our dear friends moved to Arizona and boy have we missed them! Violet was Hope's only girl-friend and Violet's Mommy ended up becoming one of my closest friends as well. We have been fortunate enough to see them every few months, but this visit was my favorite! We had a play date at our house on morning before I headed to work and it was so fun to watch the girls play together. For the first time they actually played TOGETHER, sat TOGETHER, talked TOGETHER, and just had a whole lot of fun! At that playdate I also go the honor of snuggling with their newest addition, sweet Evie! There is nothing better than snuggling a sweet baby!
We spent Wednesday at Disneyland together and we had a blast! Since Jaye wasn't working at that time he got to join us so it was a really great family day for all of us! Rather than buy more toys for the girls for their birthdays, we opted for matching shirts and bows...they looked so cute!
I got yet another opportunity to hold sweet Evie while her parents took Violet on a ride. Loved it!
Several people asked us if the girls were twins...nope, just matchy and super cute! Catharina took most of the pictures that day, but I snuck in a few! Couldn't let the day go by without some pictures of these two!
As wonderful as the visit was, we all said "goodbye" and left missing the others more than ever before! It's not every day you meet another family that clicks so well with your own and with whom you feel so free to be yourself. Conversation comes naturally, laughter flows freely, and fun is had by all! I am so thankful for the time we all got to spent together those few days!
At the end of March my brother, my friend Amie, and I all ran the Coaster Race 2012 10k (6.2 miles). I wasn't sure how I would do as the farthest I had run up til then was almost 5 miles. I have discovered that I am not yet to the point where I can or want to run the whole race, but I have figured out a really good rhythm of running/walking. I didn't really have a goal time going into the race, I just wanted to finish well. We started off the race all together, even though I gave my brother (who is fast and way more in shape than I) permission to run ahead, and ended it fairly close to one another as well. My brother was a good guy and stayed with me during the race and I was grateful for his company. Towards the end he made comment that I walked fast...made me feel good! He was winded at the end as well so I didn't feel so bad! (o:
We finished our 6.4 miles (according to my GPS/running app) in 1:11:15 (1 hour, 11 minutes), which put us at a 11:15 pace...not too bad. I felt pretty good for most of the race, with the exception of a really dumb back alley we had to run at mile 4-5. The race was not scenic or pretty in the least bit and really had nothing to do with Knott's Berry Farm, other than the fact that Snoopy was on the shirts and medals and we started from their parking lot. The picture above is post-race...I think we look pretty good for having just run 6.4 miles!
This is the 2nd race Amie and I have run together and I am so grateful for a running buddy! We both started this process of learning to run together and its so nice to have someone at the same phase as me...we're already looking for the next race we can run together!
Not only did Aaron and I run our 1st race together, Hope got to run a race too! I had seen online that they had a Snoopy Kids Race and I thought it'd be fun for Hope to feel like she was a part of my new hobby as well! I didn't get back in time to "run" with her, but Jaye took her and he said she ran most of it, holding on to his finger for dear-life the whole time! (o:
When asked about her race she said she had fun, but when I asked her if she would run another race with me, she replied, "no Mom, that's enough." We shall see!
