Februrary Family Celebration

This month we celebrate Jamin, Nolan, Alex, Josi and Livie's birthdays. We also celebrate BreZaak's 10th anniversary and our 40th anniversary.  AND because Arielle is due in March - we added in a Baby Shower for Elleira.  I kept it simple and picked up two party-size lasagnas, had fresh baked sourdough and made a salad. I picked up a baby shower cake and Michael made an ice cream cake for birthdays. 

The girls helped me decorate, run errands, set up games, pick up the cake... Allie blew up a lot of balloons, and we had a helium tank for even more ballons.  

The boys promptly put a "baby" in their tummies and did their sumo wrestling impersonation. 

We started with a few baby shower games. We played the ever-popular clothespin on the clothes and don't say "baby" game, we cut up pieces of yarn to guess Arielle's waist size and we played a game where you guess the prices of items in a basket.  I can't remember who won any of the games. 

Charles takes this game seriously. 

Jenni has a lot of pins! 

Arielle was a good sport. We checked beforehand to be sure she was o.k. with this game. 

So sweet! 

As the games went on everyone showed up.  We were all so happy Carrie, and the girls could make it. 

Josi is 10 days old

I believe this was the day CoRielle, Nolan, Alex, and BreZaak met Josi. 

Bella is happy for another girl cousin

Papa and Josi 

Annie needs a closer look. 

We ate our mystery dinner...and visited...we sang to Jamin, Nolan, Alex, Josi and Livie. This was the moment a couple of us teared up...because really Josiah should be in this picture, right behind Livie. 

Annie

Part of the room 

Bre and Gideon

Jared, Noah, Jamin and Jenni

And then were gifts...lots of fun GIRL gifts for Cory and Arielle. 

Jojo meets Josi - both named after Josiah

Carrie got Elleira a mermaid dress LOL 

Trudy and Nolan

Part of the gang

Noah - "Here I am!" 

Stacia made this lovely flannel quilt for the baby. 

It was a fun day...KrUke and the kids were here, Nolan and Alex both made it...I think only Izaak was out - more homework!  

Note - many of the photos are from Larissa and Carrie. Thanks, girls! 

Remembering Josiah on His Birthday

You may have noted we are a largish size family. If we were to gather for each and every birthday, anniversary, and accomplishment we would meet often.  While this would be fine with Michael and I - it WOULD fill up most free time and not allow each individual family group to create their own traditions, visit other people, or go on adventures of their choice. In other words, we'd be having potlucks and cake every spare moment. There are 32 of us - guess it's not sooo bad. ANYWAY, we have moved to monthly gatherings on the 3rd Saturday so everyone can plan ahead....and it works for us. 

This February was different. We had lots of birthday and anniversaries and a birth...but we also had Josiah's first birthday away from us. We debated what to do.  We were hoping Carrie and girls could join the family gathering on the 17th...but two days after Josi's arrival they wouldn't be doing anything extra. Michael and I eventually decided for US - we simply couldn't let the day go without marking it. 

We let family know we would be having a dinner at our home on Feb 9th, Josiah's birthday. They were welcome to join us. We planned to have Josiah's favorite meal and dessert. We told them we would leave time to share memories and thoughts with each other. If they felt it was too much and they didn't want to join us, they had the freedom not to come. Some wanted to be with the family but weren't ready for the stories and sharing. Others wanted to be at all but not share. Whatever.  Our goal was not to pressure anyone...but for US we simply couldn't let the day pass without marking it in some way.  Several mentioned they were glad we were doing something as it felt wrong to simply ignore his birthday to them as well.  

OF COURSE the roof calved big time the night and morning of the dinner. Michael got up "early" and began the job of clearing the entryway and driveway. 

THIS has happened often this winter - our entry 

CoRielle are so good to us.  They arrived a couple of hours early and the boys and Cory helped Michael clear the snow. How much snow DID we have...well this is the 2nd story window...and the boys are right outside of it. Unless they've learned how to levitate that's a whole lot of snow!!!!

Can we come in from the out yet? 

Cory & Charles

Benny declares there's too much snow

Danny is on it

Charles

JaRissa and Noah showed up next. Jared was happy to jump into the snow fray. Note the snow blowing over on Michael. LOL 

Jared mans the snow blower

Meanwhile we stayed inside, visited, set the table, worked on lunch and watched the snow warriors.  I started the Chicken Divan. We hadn't made it since October. It was Josiah's favorite - it seems to be a favorite for many of us. Stacia took over making it and agreed it was emotionally hard. 

Arielle - about 35 weeks 

Noah 

Bachan & Noah doing laps

With the snow cleared everyone moved inside. We were all happy to help Jared put bands on the door hangars he and Jamin were going to put out in district neighborhoods. I've not blogged about that yet, have I? Jared is running for State Senate. 

Krista was in Guam, Alex and Carrie and Liv didn't make it. Other than that...we GATHERED. LOL 

Annie assists GG with his puzzle

Larissa, Noah and Jojo

Nolan, Jojo, Jamin & Trudy

Cousin Chase - with Bop It...any game is chase

Jamin & Trudy

Cousins

The table isn't big enough for all of us...the 3 tables...we are resigned to doing some standing around when we're all together. LOL 

OH! This was Jenni's introduction to Family Gatherings
Well - with the bigger group

We enjoyed dinner.  Izaak and Cory took the kids down to the family room when we began to share around the family table. I've debated what to share and what to protect. In the end these are not all my stories to tell. I have journaled memories and emotions and much of this day will stay safe in my journal. We shared childhood stories, parenting thoughts, younger sibs shared how much Josiah's affirmation meant in their lives... We laughed and we cried. We honored who Josiah was among us, and we honored our grief. It was sweet to slow down, stop, remember and reflect. I come away from these times encouraged to continue the fight to love God wholeheartedly, to love others deeply....to love courageously. As parents it is important to us people REMEMBER Josiah. 

As I reflect on the day I wonder if "communion" didn't have some of this element for the disciples. Yes, I know, "It's a sacrament." But as we sat and remembered and felt the presence of both joy and grief...I can't help but think they, like us, were driven to gather and remember and mark a life no longer with them. They were sure to have felt all the emotions as well - because after all Biblical characters ARE human. Like we remember Josiah, I'm sure they remembered Jesus 100's of times a day...and yet there is something good, right and comforting in gathering to remember corporately, in community.  I'm quite sure "communion" wasn't simply a sacrament observed but had the very human dimension of relationship missed.  

I have no idea what we will do in future years...but this was good. 

Meeting Josi Faith

I was at Walmart in Eagle River BRIGHT and EARLY. I picked up a new phone and brought it back to Jared and Larissa's to charge while we all went into Anchorage for them to meet Josi.  I do believe Carrie had more folks in and out of her room than I have EVER seen in a hospital room. Friends, nurses, her family, our family...it was a lot...even with all trying to be super considerate and not come without invitations.  She was gracious to allow us all to share in her exciting day. I was glad Livie had been able to stay at the hospital and that Carrie didn't have any complications. 

Carrie, Liv and Josi

I am trying to find the words to describe this day. It was a day of incredible joy. Josi arrived SAFELY. Carrie did so good to walk through the 4 months of pregnancy with the events of Oct 23rd, the absence of Josiah and all the things that leads to. We had all prayed fervently for the pregnancy, for Josi's safety and Carrie's health. This was a day of answered prayer. It was a day of gratitude and great rejoicing. 

Jared, Noah, Livie, Carrie, Larissa and Josi

It was also a difficult day. Josiah's presence was so real in that room. I could sense his excitement and joy and love for Carrie, Livie and Josi. I knew how very proud he would be of Carrie and how much he longed and prayed for the child she was carrying.  He was so present and yet so absent.  Dallas Willard has said words to the effect heaven and earth are separated by a curtain. That God simply pulls back the curtain and we walk from earth to heaven when we die. Being in this room - I sensed how very thin the curtain is between here and heaven...and yet it IS a separation... Even now I cry when thinking how much Josiah looked forward to raising Livie and Josi and how much we have all lost by his death. We've been robbed. Our hope is in a God who restores and redeems the brokenness of this world. All the feels in one small space and place.  

A big shout out to Providence, who cared for us so well. When we arrived the lady at the door recognized us and wrote out tags for us with cheery and compassionate words. The nurses took such great care of our gals. And when one or more of us had to bounce into the hall to release emotions, they were compassionate and kind. 

God was so very good to us to shepherd little Josi safely into our arms. I've never been so aware of how a child contains the life of a parent. A little slice of Josiah's life, his DNA, is still alive and well on earth with us through Josi.  It's really impossible to describe the day...but I've tried. 

Jamin and Josi

Josi Faith is such a beautiful gift of God to so many people! 

I actually think this is from the first night. 

A Happy Bachan with two sweet girls! 

Jared and Josi

Noah was not sure WHAT he thought of Mommy and Daddy holding a little baby! It was amazing to us how much Noah seemed to grow overnight when compared to Josi. 

Jared & Larissa with Josi and Noah

We have thought and commented on how thankful we are that Jared and Larissa had moved back from Juneau and had the last 2 1/2 - 3 years to live in the same neighborhood with Josiah, Carrie and Liv. What a blessing it is to have them living so nearby to Carrie and the girls! Jamin has also moved back to Eagle River. Carrie's neighbors are amazing too. It's always a race to see who will shovel her drive first. 

Such gifts to our hearts - Larissa and Josi

Ah! Noah bear wants to be sure we all know THIS is HIS Mommy! 

We all left, and hoped Carrie would get some rest. I headed back to the Valley and drove back in the afternoon, with the girls, Michael and GG. GG decided not to hold Josi, he said she was too small. But we all got to meet her. 

Pastor Brian asked a couple of months ago where we were finding joy in this season. I didn't have a ready answer...but we are finding joy right here! Look at that doll! 

So blessed. 

Allie and Josi

Livie with the Aunts

I really don't know who Josi will end up looking like. I know her dark head of hair comes from Carrie! She has her Daddy's dimples, his long toes and fingers and Carrie reports she has his laid-back personality. It will be fun to get to know her as she grows into her personality. 

Josi and Stacia

Papa and Josi

Krista was out of the country when Josi was born. She was quick to go meet Josi when she got home. The emotions hit like a freight train...such joy and grief...together. It truly is o.k. God made us human.

We are so thankful, blessed and relieved for Josi's safe arrival. I think it is fitting to insert this screenshot here. This is part of the prayer prayed for our family shortly after Josi's arrival.