Laurel Wreath’s Reflections

template by Tracy Drane

This is my niece who I just had the wonderful opportunity to watch while her Mom and Dad were a away (see post here). My Sister in law’s Photography blog can be found here...

Oh that is right I said double blessings….guess what my niece found out just before her birthday?

SHE IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!! Can you see this Aunt jumping up and down??? You bet I am, my Dad said “well we know when Laurel is going to visit again” heheeh. (hear that Iris, possibly Feb)

CONGRATS SWEETIE ON BEING ONE, and let me tell you being the OLDER sister does have its blessings.

Love you and Happy Birthday.

Side note: this new baby is due right around my brother’s birthday. I was born on my Dad’s birthday. How cool would that be for Father and Son both to have a child born on their birthdays.

I don’t know who the heck the guy to the left is, but the one below is my cousin (could you please tell him for me that he looks TONS better without the grizzly adams look, hehhehe) He is still single and I guess he needs some girl cousins (since he does not have a sister) telling him the truth.

Anyways, that is not the purpose of this post. I got the great pleasure of seeing my cousin while I was in Phx. I don’t know how long it will be until I see him again face to face. He will soon be heading on over to Latvia. He has been doing well to raise his needed support, and beginning to get excited for moving over. This is not a missionary “trip” this is a MOVE. Right now (please correct me if I misstate anything ‘cuz) he is looking at two year chunks. So when he moves he knows at LEAST he will be there for two year, but more likely more. You can read his support letter here. My dream is to someday travel over there to visit him, but I know that won’t be for awhile (maybe when my oldest is a Senior).

He promises to update his blog more when he gets over there, or he will have an upset cousin and Mom!! This picture below was taken when I was in Phx, sorry the photo is a bit grainy I don’t have the best camera. Cousin, I am sending you a copy of the picture below because I don’t want you to do something silly like forget about me, hehehe….

You can click on his picture below, or even take it so you can remember to pray for him. Pray the Lord prepares him for his move, pray things go smoothly, and pray he recieves the remaining amount needed for his support.

I need a break.

I am going on vacation Tuesday, I am going back home (Phoenix) to get some R&R. I am going to love on my nieces, visit with Mom and Dad, and see my sister and meet one of my favorite bloggers. I am going to forget about cleaning my house each and everyday because it is on the market, I am going to forget about the tons of errands I do each day, I am going to forget about everyday stresses. I am going to put my feet up, laugh, get some one on one time with my sister and my Mom (my two favorite gals in the world), and enjoy spoiling my middle son who is traveling with me.

I need to take a mental break. I most likely won’t be posting until I return May 8th. I hope to have stored up many stories and posts. And to tell you all about my wonderful visit with Iris. Feel free to email me and check in, I would love that, but I just won’t be blogging =)

I have done my Laced With Grace devotionals ahead of time, so you can visit me on Saturday’s there. And then on Saturday the 5th I will be at the Internet Cafe.

I’m outta here until then…(love you guys and behave while I am away)

How do you find words for the most important, best friend, loving, caring, giving Mom in the world. Sorry Mom, I can’t. I can write paragraphs about my brother or sister but when it comes to you I am speechless. I am so honored you are my Mother. I can not imagine my life with out you. You are the first person I share my greatest joys with, and you are the one that is there when life breaks my heart. When I have news you are the first I think of, and when I have a story to share I call you first.

Mom I wish I was there to take you out, but I will be there in May. I think I hear the mall calling our name. Your card is in the mail, I have a little something for you but Dad has the bigger something for you (but you don’t get that until Tuesday).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. xoxoxoxoxo

UPDATED TO LET YOU KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO SUPPORT HIM IN ANYWAY (and I only post this because we both were asked for this information)

YOU CAN DO A ONE TIME THING OR WHATEVER CLICK HERE OR THE ADDRESS IS BELOW.

https://secure.josiahventure.com/people.php?id=62060

(OH AND MY COUSIN DID NOT ASK ME TO POST THE UPDATE, JUST A PROUD COUSIN DOING SO =)

He says he reads my blog, well we will see This is my cousin Michael, who I am so proud of, my buttons are bursting. Michael’s daddy (my Uncle) is one of my Uncles I grew up with. I was the little “tag along” niece to my college age Uncle. As awesome as my Uncle is, he has raised two awesome boys. And Michael is his oldest.

Let me tell you a little bit about Michael, he has had a passion for missions for as long as I can remember (at least end of high school). While going to college he volunteered with the youth, Michael has a gift with electronics so he was able to help his church out with all the tech stuff. During college Michael took many mission trips, and God lit a fire in his belly for missions. Now he is ready for the ride of his life, he is moving over there. Currently he is finishing up his graduate level missions degree in Seminary. After he has raised his needed support he is moving to Latvia.

Michael says, “My role in Lativia will be working with youth and training youth leaders. I will work in local church youth groups, host summer camps, mentor Latvian youth workers, and work for a Latvian youth organization run by J.V. missionaries there.”

My reason for mentioning this:

1. To let Micheal know how proud I am of what he is doing. I worry about him being in another country but I also know he is going to do a mighty work for the Lord.

2. Please pray for him. Pray he raises his needed support.

Also could you do me one more favor, he is pretty lonely in blog world, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE IT if I could get tons of people go to his blog and tell him how much we support what he is doing and that you are praying for him. (www.jvru.com)

Feel free to do a post (you can use the picture of him) and send people to his blog. I would love to overwhelm him with well wishes before he leaves at the end of the school year.

Love you ‘cuz.

In case you may have missed my cousin’s comment in this post:

So I just got a new laptop today as part of the stuff i need
to head over to Latvia. I am a tech guy and needless to say, I am quite excited. Laptops rank over food sometimes in my book. I go and check my blog today, all of that other excitement fades away, and tears start coming to my eyes! WOW! I couldn’t believe it! I never cry THANKS SO MUCH! This weekend I was getting quite discouraged about this whole process of getting over there. This morning that was all changed. Thanks again. I can’t say thanks enough. Love you
cousin. Isn’t the internet cool stuff. And yes I do read your blog!! Haha

YOU GUYS BLEW ME AWAY. I can not begin to tell you how much of an encouragement you were to me, let alone my cousin. Thank you so much. I am going to be putting his picture on my side bar to remind me and remind you to pray. I will let you know when he does head on over to Latvia so we can keep track of his blog.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

This photo is copywrited by Erin McFarland Photography.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BROTHER. I guess you are not a baby anymore. The big 30, do you know how old you make me feel. I can not look at the picture above without tears coming to my eyes because of how proud I am to be your sister.

I was your older, protective, bossy sister who loves you very much. I think you were my real life “doll” to play with, maybe that is why I did not care for the pretend dolls. I would talk for you, act for you, get the toys for you, you were born being waited on hand and foot (sorry sister in law).

I know I was away at college during most of your high school years, I do feel like I missed a lot. But what I did see, I was proud. I saw you grow in your love for Christ, I saw your desire to go and preach His word, I know being a missionary will always be in the back of your mind. And I love to pick your brain in what you learned in seminary.

I saw you walk down the isle with the most beautiful, awesome woman who has the same desires for missions as you do. J and I were very picky when it came to who we would release you to. But when E entered your life, I knew before I even laid eyes on her she was the one for you. They say a Mother senses that kind of stuff, well I know for a fact a sister does to. J and I could not have picked a better person.

I will never forget the phone call of you telling me you are becoming a police officer. I went straight to my knees. I knew this sister could not protect you out there and the thought of you putting your life in danger was more than I could take. But the Lord opened so many doors for you and made it VERY evident to me this was His will, and I knew if it was His will then who am I to stand in the way. (and yes I am crying right now, don’t roll your eyes at me young man =) I can not begin to tell you how proud I am to see you become a well liked, and successful police officer. Yes, the boys and I pray for you every night. I cringe at any news report involving a police officer, but I know you are wrapped heavily in prayer and you are in Gods will. I could not be prouder.

And this year blew me away to see you become a Father. My baby brother a daddy. I see you with your daughter and you remind me of Dad. And you know that is a high compliment. You are going to be a wonderful Father.

I wish I could be there on your big day, and yes my present is late (sorry). But I want you to know how much this sister loves you, is proud of you, and just down right thinks you are the greatest.

I will end now because I am getting my keyboard wet with my tears. Yes I know I am the emotional sister, but you just wait bucko when your daughter grows you too will be emotional.I love you.

Return from trip - check

Unpack - half check

Food in the house - check

Have all three boys back - not yet.

I have been going around my house with a vengeance throwing things away. I even cleaned all my kitchen drawers. Does anyones else get grossed out about the drawer they place their clean silverware in? How does it get so dirty. Ok, so it might have been this time last year when it was cleaned last time. But still.

I packed up the tree. Put away all the Christmas decorations. Unpacked and put away most of the clothes. But I have too much “stuff”. I have certain relatives that like to buy a lot for my boys and for us, but then I have to find a place to put all this “stuff”. And I just don’t have room. I have been cleaning for three days, but if you walked into my house you would not believe me. I even had to go purchase more hangers today, so I could hang up “more stuff”.

I have a bad attitude about this “stuff”. I wish I could tell certain relatives, just buy each of us one nice present and call it a day.

So because I have to find room for “stuff” I am throwing away, reorganizing, and trying to make my house feel like it is in some sort of order.

My youngest son is not home yet, he is traveling back with Grandma and Grandpa. They were suppose to be home today, but it seems the day we left (to drive home) is the day the rest of the household got sick. There was toilet hugging all around. They are driving back tonight, but my poor father in law is not doing the best. They are making a lot of stops on the way home. I don’t know why it affected some people but not the rest of us. I guess this is one way to lose the weight you put on during the holidays, but it is not the method I would chose.

Anyways, I guess I better go back to organizing my “stuff”.

But I am getting excited about this:

It is your personality that I love most. You are such a blessing in my life, and I look forward to many years ahead.

Eat an extra piece of cake for me, tell Mommy Aunt Laurel said so!

I love you.

Kind of, but this post says everything I am feeling right now. I know when I read it for the first time it really struck me, and then somethings that I am struggling with right now….this post says it all. And the Lord kept bringing this post to my mind all day because it says everything right now.

Please go here to read: Days To Come ’s post titled Some Things

Thanks Jeana.