Time for the girl to have her own show

Meet my cousin Kate, seen here at my 13th birthday party, stealing my show.

I was happy to let her, however, because Kate and I--from her earliest moments--had a very special connection.

10 years old when she was born, I babysat her, fed her, changed her diapers.

And then, I watched her grow up into this lovely, thoughtful, sweetly wise woman,

with a laugh that is infectious.

This past week we got to spend some quality time together, which was special for many reasons. 

The first is that I just like her, so being with her is good.

The second is that being with her very rarely happens these days.

The third is that there is nothing like the relationship of a cousin you've known from the beginning, because you're just comfortable with each other's way of being, without any drama.

The fourth is that our quality time occurred when there were others around us who could take our picture, because clearly we are not very good at taking it ourselves.

But, the fifth?

The fifth is that as of Saturday she will be married to this nice boy, who--despite the fact that I didn't meet him until 9 brief days before the wedding will occur (ahem!)--has won my approval, because he's won her heart.

And her heart is a lovely one.  

(As will be--I'm sure--that upcoming show.  Stay tuned!)

Open, so God can Fill

Yesterday morning I opened my new bedroom door to find this:

Streamers and flowers and celebratory posters filling my new home, graciously placed there by my new roommate Sara.

It was a symbol of the day to come.

Soon after, I opened my door to these lovely ladies

bringing me goodies,

bringing me themselves.

My home was filled,

and so were our hearts.

There is a Psalm that says 

For it was I, the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

There is ample evidence that opening my mouth is not a problem (see above if you missed it...), but the question I have been faced with recently is:

Are you willing to open your home, your heart, your life?

And the answer I have stepped out in faith to say is:
"You are the Lord my God.  You have brought me out of my Egypt. So, yes.  I trust you to fill my home, my heart, my life--my mouth--with good things.  I trust you so completely that I will open them in expectation." 

That would be why I re-traced my steps in the latter part of my celebratory day, back to Harrisburg, back to friends old and dear who have walked through some of that Egypt with me--back to friends who are proof that God redeems even the years that appear to be built of darkness and oppression.

First, there was Marina, who shares my birthday and who made for us a delectable dinner.

Then, we headed over to Amanda's,

where many giggles ensued,

and where there were more goodies to fill my wide open mouth,

my wide open heart.  

A birthday marks the end of one year, the beginning of the next.

This particular birthday--in my new home and in my old home, with new friends and old friends--marks the end of Egypt still full of its redemption:

My mouth is open wide.

I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.  I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good.  I will praise you in the presence of your saints. 

[Psalm 52:8-9]

Bring on the babies

Imagine that you are a family that rarely sees each other, but has two brand(ish) new babies within your ranks.

Imagine that those babies make a family reunion awfully fun.

Our two,

born a day apart from each other:

Willow

and Daniela.

I'm here to tell you that these two had a great time.

How could they not after all?

There are so many fun things that can happen:

Willow had her diaper changed on a boat;

Daniela, in a camp chair.

You can sleep whenever you want,

pretty much anywhere.

And, you're never more wanted than when you're a scrumptious bundle of baby:

Now, there does seem to be a bit of competition between these two:

If Willow's glare means that she is worried that Daniela will steal away her standing as the angelic first great-grandchild, I don't think she has to worry.

Despite that innocent little face,

 our precious Daniela engaged in a massively explosive poop, all over great-grandma during this peaceful family photo.  

It. was. bad.  

It will NEVER be forgotten. 

Her sudden proclivity for projectile poop didn't stop me, however, from getting as much Daniela time as I could:

An Auntie Lauren has to.

Our time together also allowed us to ascertain whether or not these new arrivals really had the Kooistra stuff inside of them, and I'd like to suggest that the following pictures say--according to the Kooistra face test--they do:

Welcome to the Kooistras girls--

we're so delighted to have you!

It's all food and games

 There are certain things that are inevitable in a Kooistra reunion: 

Food, and a plethora of games.

Our first priority upon our arrival to the campground, then, was Wal-Mart--to pick up some necessary fooding items.

Throughout the week we ate in a mass huddle, 

either by our cabins

or

grilling-

slash-cookstoving

at this nearby picnic-tabled pavilion.

The pavilion was a lovely spot, since--once the eating was accomplished--those picnic tables erupted into little kingdoms of game players:

And, for those not inclined toward picnic tables, there was a conveniently placed field surrounding us, available for all sorts of interesting things:

Now, do not think that our gaming was limited to the pavilion after dinner.

Any picnic table 

at any time of day

was an invitation for any game to begin.

And,

for the night owls,

the lodge became a meeting place for late-night activity

(and Kooistra hilarity) to ensue.

Once again, no matter where or with who?

Always good.