November 25, 2006- the first day that my beautiful cousin, Baby Kate, spent with Jesus in glory. You may remember back in October when I told just a bit of her story (see this link).
Kate spent 6 weeks on this earth. 6 weeks where she was fighting for her life. 6 weeks of agonizing waiting. 6 weeks that we dreaded hearing the phone ring for fear it would be bad news. 6 weeks of crying ourselves to sleep. 6 weeks that changed our lives for forever. 6 weeks that we spent praying, hoping. 6 weeks that we would never take back, because those 6 weeks were her life. 6 weeks where God blessed us with Baby Kate before He took her home to Heaven. 6 weeks of life for a little cousin whom I never met, but whom I'm so very thankful for.
Showing posts with label babies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label babies. Show all posts
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Pencil-vein-ya
Beautiful country, lots of family-this past weekend was a great one! My family traveled to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to attend my dad's family reunion. Now, this isn't just any family reunion with a few cousins, aunts, and uncles; this is like 4 generations of family.
I'm not sure how long ago it started, but as far back as I can remember, when my great-grandparents (Grammy and Pappy) were alive, we would all get together around Christmas. My grandparents, my uncles and their families, and my family are the largest portion of the over-all McMichael family that live out of state.
The rest of my Grandpa's siblings and most of their family still live in the Lancaster area. So our family and the few others who lived out of state would travel to PA every year and join the rest of the gang for a weekend reunion.
On Saturday night we would all gather in a rented-out portion of the basement at the retirement home where Grammy and Pappy lived and spend the evening laughing, talking, eating, sharing photos and memories, and just catching up with one another. The main event for us kids was carpet-ball (if you haven't played it, you should!). We would line up and eagerly await our turns and as soon as that turn was over we would jump to the back of the line, only to start the waiting all over again. Every year at the reunion my great-grandparents would call each one of their children, grandchildren, and great-granchildren by name and give us each a gift of money and a choice of candy. It really was amazing to see the generations there. Almost 8 Christmas' ago Pappy passed away. The funeral was held on Christmas eve, and I'm so glad that we got to spend one last reunion with him only the week before. Grammy held on another year, but died the folowing Christmas. Just 2 weeks before she died, Grammy's very first great-great-grandchild was born. I'll never forget those two special people, and some of my most treasured memories of them are those reunions.
On Sunday morning my dad and I got up and went to church (the rest of the family was exhausted). AS I sort of mentioned on a previous post, our church installed a new pastor a few weeks ago (:D :D :D). The really neat thing is that he and his wife attended a church in Lancaster for the past few years. Dad and I went and visited, and I loved it! The church was HUGE (well, huge for a PCA church, that is). The really cool thing about this church was that as big as it was, it still managed to look like a church...and an old church at that. It kinda looked like something from the 1800's. The floors in the sanctuary were cobblestone, the pulpit had a staircase that led up to it, there were white pews throughout...can you tell that I liked it? :P
Anyways, after church we went to visit more family, but on our way, we drove down the street where everyone in the family used to live. The first farm on the road is an Amish farm. But the one after that is the farm where my dad and one of my uncle's was born. Every year when we head back there, I hear my dad's stories about that street, but I never tire of hearing them again. The houses after that first farm-house were where all of his aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents lived. He tells stories of how he and his cousins would run through the corn fields to each other's houses and how they would get scared that the old bridge would fall when they ran across it. Ya know, that "good old days" kind of stories. I love hearing them...
Well, enough of my rambling...but just in case you didn't notice from the pictures, I LOVE babies/little kiddos!!!! ;)
I'm not sure how long ago it started, but as far back as I can remember, when my great-grandparents (Grammy and Pappy) were alive, we would all get together around Christmas. My grandparents, my uncles and their families, and my family are the largest portion of the over-all McMichael family that live out of state.
The rest of my Grandpa's siblings and most of their family still live in the Lancaster area. So our family and the few others who lived out of state would travel to PA every year and join the rest of the gang for a weekend reunion.
On Saturday night we would all gather in a rented-out portion of the basement at the retirement home where Grammy and Pappy lived and spend the evening laughing, talking, eating, sharing photos and memories, and just catching up with one another. The main event for us kids was carpet-ball (if you haven't played it, you should!). We would line up and eagerly await our turns and as soon as that turn was over we would jump to the back of the line, only to start the waiting all over again. Every year at the reunion my great-grandparents would call each one of their children, grandchildren, and great-granchildren by name and give us each a gift of money and a choice of candy. It really was amazing to see the generations there. Almost 8 Christmas' ago Pappy passed away. The funeral was held on Christmas eve, and I'm so glad that we got to spend one last reunion with him only the week before. Grammy held on another year, but died the folowing Christmas. Just 2 weeks before she died, Grammy's very first great-great-grandchild was born. I'll never forget those two special people, and some of my most treasured memories of them are those reunions. Although they're gone, the reunions continue on. They're different than they used to be- we've moved them to the summer, more and more of those in my generation have gotten married and we don't see them as much anymore. Many more little ones have joined our group. I don't know what the tally is right now, but Pappy and Grammy's legacy has certainly carried down through many generations. This year's reunion was a blast...here are some pictures, and further description of the trip is below :)
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| We played lots of games....ladder ball |
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| ...frisbee |
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and, of course, no McMichael family reunion would be complete without a game of Rook-every good McMichael child over the age of 10 knows how to play ;) |
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| We visited... |
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| and we laughed... |
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| and we laughed some more... |
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| AH, and the little kids were good at just being adorable! |
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| <3 |
On Sunday morning my dad and I got up and went to church (the rest of the family was exhausted). AS I sort of mentioned on a previous post, our church installed a new pastor a few weeks ago (:D :D :D). The really neat thing is that he and his wife attended a church in Lancaster for the past few years. Dad and I went and visited, and I loved it! The church was HUGE (well, huge for a PCA church, that is). The really cool thing about this church was that as big as it was, it still managed to look like a church...and an old church at that. It kinda looked like something from the 1800's. The floors in the sanctuary were cobblestone, the pulpit had a staircase that led up to it, there were white pews throughout...can you tell that I liked it? :P
Anyways, after church we went to visit more family, but on our way, we drove down the street where everyone in the family used to live. The first farm on the road is an Amish farm. But the one after that is the farm where my dad and one of my uncle's was born. Every year when we head back there, I hear my dad's stories about that street, but I never tire of hearing them again. The houses after that first farm-house were where all of his aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents lived. He tells stories of how he and his cousins would run through the corn fields to each other's houses and how they would get scared that the old bridge would fall when they ran across it. Ya know, that "good old days" kind of stories. I love hearing them...
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Christmas In July
It was Christmas morning of 2000. Two messy-haired, wide-eyed youngsters bounced out of their beds and bounded down the stairs to wake Daddy and Mom. The sleepy parents rolled out of bed, and hurried the kiddos back up to their rooms, with instructions to wait there until the stockings were filled. When the call came to come down again, the children hurriedly opened their doors, but came to a halt as they surveyed the scene in the living room. Not two, but three stockings hung from their places. Daddy grinned, and Mom encouraged them to open up the smallest stocking. With puzzled looks on their faces, both of the youngsters removed a small wrapped package from the stocking and slowly took the wrapping off them. Their noses wrinkled and their brows furrowed as they looked down at the objects in their hands. A baby rattle and a tiny pair of socks; whatever would they need these for? They looked to their parents for help. Huge smiles were on the faces of Mom and Dad- they explained that there would be a new baby coming to this family. Tears flowed down the little girl's face- the tiny baby that she had prayed for ever since she could remember was finally coming! She'd dreamed of holding a new baby brother or sister- O, what a wonderful Christmas present! Daddy said that the baby was going to be a girl- no, there had been no ultrasound, somehow he just knew. He said that her name was going to be Grace, because God had been so gracious in giving them a baby, when they had almost lost hope that it would ever happen.
The rest of the day was filled with phone calls to family, telling them the wonderful news- Grandpa told the little girl that she must be pulling his leg; in fact, most of the family thought it was a joke. But when it was explained that they were really, truly having a new baby there were many hugs, congratulations, and O such joy!
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That day was such a happy one! I remember it like it was yesterday...and it's such fun to tell people that I got a baby sister for Christmas :D
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The next 6 months were spent planning for the baby's arrival. Our whole family went together to the ultrasound and found out that Daddy was right- the newest addition was, in fact, a girl! Aunt Mindy, Uncle Raymond, and family came to visit in the spring, and Aunt Mindy threw Mom a surprise baby shower, which I, at 8 1/2 kept a treasured secret right up until the day of! Our family was showered with gifts and support...because it had almost been 9 years since the last baby entered our house, we had very few infant things. We had so many friends, and friends of friends who brought over clothes, toys, carseats, and other things for us to use. What a blessing!
Our Christmas package finally arrived on July 6th. She weighed 7 lbs, 13 ounces, and was 20 inches long. When Jacob and I arrived at the hospital with our grandparents, it was almost like a dream. I held our little bundle of Grace in my arms as tears of joy streamed down my face. Our sweet baby was perfect from head to toe. The day that we had longed for, hoped for, and prayed for had finally arrived!
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It's been 9 wonderful years since that day, and we praise God for giving us Grace. Sometimes I still marvel at the way that it happened- so much heartbreak and longing, and then so much joy! So here's to God's Grace; I love you so much, little sister, and I pray that you grow in your knowledge of Him every day! Have a wonderful birthday!
The rest of the day was filled with phone calls to family, telling them the wonderful news- Grandpa told the little girl that she must be pulling his leg; in fact, most of the family thought it was a joke. But when it was explained that they were really, truly having a new baby there were many hugs, congratulations, and O such joy!
******************************************************************************
That day was such a happy one! I remember it like it was yesterday...and it's such fun to tell people that I got a baby sister for Christmas :D
******************************************************************************
The next 6 months were spent planning for the baby's arrival. Our whole family went together to the ultrasound and found out that Daddy was right- the newest addition was, in fact, a girl! Aunt Mindy, Uncle Raymond, and family came to visit in the spring, and Aunt Mindy threw Mom a surprise baby shower, which I, at 8 1/2 kept a treasured secret right up until the day of! Our family was showered with gifts and support...because it had almost been 9 years since the last baby entered our house, we had very few infant things. We had so many friends, and friends of friends who brought over clothes, toys, carseats, and other things for us to use. What a blessing!
Our Christmas package finally arrived on July 6th. She weighed 7 lbs, 13 ounces, and was 20 inches long. When Jacob and I arrived at the hospital with our grandparents, it was almost like a dream. I held our little bundle of Grace in my arms as tears of joy streamed down my face. Our sweet baby was perfect from head to toe. The day that we had longed for, hoped for, and prayed for had finally arrived!
****************************************************************************
It's been 9 wonderful years since that day, and we praise God for giving us Grace. Sometimes I still marvel at the way that it happened- so much heartbreak and longing, and then so much joy! So here's to God's Grace; I love you so much, little sister, and I pray that you grow in your knowledge of Him every day! Have a wonderful birthday!
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