Happy 13th Birthday Katrina
I Love You
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Much!
Katrina Joy feels like such a part of our little family. She has a spot at the table, a bed in Zeke's room, and her chirpy voice and joyful spirit fill the house at all hours. My youngest sister (12yrs) spent two summers earning and saving up money to come and see Andrew and I in New Zealand for a three month visit. It is so special having her here close to share life with. Katrina has changed so much since I left home a few years ago and yet she is still her loving, cheerful self; always eager to serve and easy to talk to and spend time with.
It hasn't been exactly a holiday with school work, Tazara's birth, and a one year old to care for but Katrina has filled many ordinary days with happy memorable moments and helped to keep things running smoothly. Trina and I found a nearby park where we've driven on quite a few sunny afternoons for some fresh air and monkeying around with Zeke. Many evenings the three of us; Andrew, me, Trina (and now sometimes Tazara too!) pile on the couch to watch a movie on the laptop. Katrina and I have played lots of card games together, especially Skip-bo and Phase 10. The last weeks before Tazara was born we started to make a habit on Saturday evenings of going down to the Gordonton fish and chip shop for dinner. My wonderful husband was having compassion on my pregnant, tired state and gave me some much enjoyed breaks from cooking. :) We've also managed to slip away a few times.
Before Tazara's arrival we spent a weekend at Andrew's and my favorite 'Waihi Beach.' The weekend of Manly and my second anniversary we spent over at Papamoa, a beach running on south from Mount Maunganui. It had been a wee while since Andrew and I delighted in God's beautiful ocean. It was so fun with Katrina to taste the salty ocean air, be hugged by the breeze, swim in the chilly refreshing water with wet suits, enjoy a few walks and talks on the beach, as well as a couple small hikes.
We walked the 40min trail from the north headland of Waihi Beach to the smaller beach of Orakawa Bay. With chocolate, apples and Zeke in the back-pack we trudged around, hoping and praying the rain would hold off. When we reached the beach we sat for a while and experimented with a far reaching rope swing hanging from a beautifully large Pohutokawa tree. If you could manage to jump on the stick in time it carried it's rider out over the sand. Andrew and Katrina got plenty of rides out of it. It looked thrilling but my one ride wasn't all that I hoped as my protective pregnant hormones left me terrified for the flight. It was a rainy day with lots of mud on the trail. Dodging and jumping muddles we managed to all stay upright until near the end when Katrina had a bonding moment with a puddle leaving her jeans and shoes marked by New Zealand earth. At Papamoa we walked around Mount Maunganui. On our right boats sailed and waves spoke loudly to one another. On the left lots of beautiful trees and wildlife played.
Today we celebrated Katrina's 13th birthday and Tazara Dawn's baptism. |
I'm sure Katrina is looking forward to seeing and being embraced by all of our wonderful Loved-Ones on the other end of her flight in 10 days. She will be very missed here and held close in our hearts with all the fun memories she's helped us make in the last joyous three months!
oh this is so precious eden! it means a lot to hear of some of the memories you all made together!
ReplyDeleteits heidi:)