A Short Holiday

We just got back from a nice little visit to the coast. The main reason for our visit was my niece's baptism. I had to work Saturday night so we left right when I got off shift on Sunday morning (gross!) and made it just in time for the opening song at church. Hailey Jade is so cute! She is even cuter in person than in pictures, which is saying a lot because she is adorable in pictures.

 Hailey was, as you can guess, the center of attention the entire day. We crowded around her wherever she was vying for her attention hoping to be rewarded with smiles. And smile she did!

It's amazing to hold a little person and to think about what their life will be like. I wonder who Hailey will be. I wonder what our relationship will be like. I wonder about how she will be blessed and how she will bless the rest of us. It's mostly exciting, but also a little bit overwhelming. This little, dependent baby will one day be a grown woman. We each have so many hopes for her, but she will one day dream her own dreams and make her own decisions.

My nephews are especially smitten. They have been waiting for a little Jansen cousin for a long time. I love watching them interact with her as they are so gentle. The day when she can actually play with them can't come soon enough!

Speaking of nephews... Erik and I were going to take them and my niece, Kaitlyn, to the reptile refuge, but we learned upon arrival that it was closed. We adjusted our plans and made a pit stop at Walmart where we purchased everything we needed for a picnic at Redwood Park. It was so much fun! We played on the playground and went on a walk that turned into more of a hike.

My nephews are just getting to the age where they can have thoughtful conversations and it is fun to be able to engage with them and get to know them.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love forests? Especially forests with deciduous trees!! Lovely.

And we got to see this little girl one last time on our way out of town.