Yo soy una tia!!!

For those of us who do not speak the glorious language of Spanish, I am an aunt!!

On October 20, 2010 my brother Jim and his beautiful wife, Krissa had a little baby girl! (totally called that by the way!) She was a healthy 7 lbs 5 oz. 20 inches long. (be assured that this little girl is gonna be one tall kid!) Her name is...

Karlina Jean


(This picture was taken day 1. Not bad, eh?)



This is the uber-adorable little family. SO crazy to think of my big brother as a daddy!




And I will admit that I might be totally biased, and all babies are supposedly cute... but this is one exceptionally beautiful baby for being 3 days old! (its a good thing too, cuz now i'm totally proud to claim her as my lil sobrina!)

My parents were in India at the time of her birth and so I got to tell them about it over skype! It was so fun to see the grandma and grandpa transformation take place overseas! I think Karlina even has an authentic Indian outfit which Grandma bought for her!

Ok I can't keep referring to my mom as Grandma... just doesn't jive. i mean, she'll be awesome, but she's just not old enough for that. *sigh* oh life changes.

Anyways, I cannot tell you how agonizing it is to be here in California with that little baby girl 2,000 miles away! I want to hold her, inhale her new-baby smell and cuddle her swaddled, pink little self. I've spent years holding other people's kids and nieces. But now she's mine (not exclusively of course...) I have auntie rights. i love it. i can't wait for her to grow up and call me Auntie Suzy.

Our family seemed perfect with four kids. Then as the sisters-in-law joined, that felt right too. couldn't imagine life and family get togethers without them. And now with Karlina...there's no looking back. She's gonna be one loved baby. Our family is growing...and it couldn't be more right. I realize that probably didn't make much sense. But its hard to put into words what this is like. Normally I hate change. God knows how to transform those patterns in me. Just pop in a new niece. works every time =)

hunger

You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has ^C)">led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, ^D)">testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that ^E)">man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.

(deutoronomy 8:2-3)

He allows hunger in my life. to test and know what is in my heart.

am i trusting him?

do i depend on him for all my physical, spiritual and emotional needs?

what areas in my life are experiencing the biting pain of hunger?

when he searches my heart will he find faithfulness and full dependence on him?

God, please search me and know me. give me grace to understand where you are allowing hunger in my life. I want to be fully reliant on you. Every time i lean on my own understanding and strength, it is a lack of faith in you. When you have shown yourself time and time again...how could i NOT trust you? Thank you for your patience as I bumble about like the children of Israel in the wilderness...asking for signs and miracles.
you have proven yourself over and above.

You are:
good, when there's nothing good in me
love, on display for all to see
light, when the darkness closes in
hope, you have covered all my sins

peace, when my fear is crippling
truth, even in my wandering
joy, you're the reason that I sing
life, in you death has lost its sting

more, than my words will ever sing
Lord, all creation will proclaim
here, in your presence i'm made whole
God, of all else i'm letting go.

my heart will sing no other name...
Jesus