Admiring Anne

Admiring Anne is one way to describe how I feel about my wonderful niece. Annelise Joyce was born February 3, 1996 and I celebrated becoming an aunt for the third time. Janneke and Henry welcomed her with incredible love and attention, as only toddlers can. It did not take long for us to notice that Anne was designed and created by God to be wonderfully different than her outgoing sister and not even so much like her adventurous brother. Anne was full of life but more mysterious about how and when she would share that life with you. Anneleise learned and absorbed much from Janneke and Henry but has mastered living it out in her own fashion.

Anne has been an animal lover from the days she was less than 36 months old and was so proud when a Minnesota family named one of their calf's after her. Even today, Anna's wish lists contain almost only pet related requests. She has educated herself on animals of all sorts and has learned about the types, care, needs and risks of many animals. I have seen Anne's big heart as she has learned and shared about rescue programs for horses and dogs. I have seen her selfless spirit when her birthday list requested contributions for a local shelter which rescues animals. I have delighted in watching and experiencing my niece continue to grow and live in comfort with God's incredible design of her.

Anneliese is loyal, compassionate, caring and a fighter for those who do not have a voice. I smile when I see Anne enter into a family gathering and ever so quietly greets the adults and then often will pick up one of her younger cousins, with little fanfare or excitement, but with much interest and love. I smile when I see her eyes sparkle when she has a story to share or is scheming to surprise someone with a joke or bit of her teasing. She loves to join in on something which brings another a sense of joy or purpose and has shown over the years to be a very hard worker.

Anne has been one of two peas in a pod with her cousin Olivia and at any family event where one is the other is most often found. These two girls are as different as can be and yet understand one another as if they were twins separated at birth. Olivia and Anne are known to laugh with one another, share most if not all of life's happenings and have great plans for their future and sharing much, if not all of it together.

Anneliese Joyce, I love spending time with you, hearing of your dreams and desires to own and care for animals. I enjoy even more how you live in relationship to others. You have managed well as a middle child of five children and are honest about the good and the struggles of each relationship with your brother and sisters. I have seen you give your all and succeed in many things. You are gifted in soccer and I marvel at how when you decide to give your all to something, most often you do well. I love your quiet, stubborn, passionate spirit and I am eager to see how God's plan for you will unfold in your coming years.

I love you Anne ~ continue to dream big and believe!

Honoring Henry John

Henry John was my first nephew. I was fortunate enough to be in California right after Henry's birth and loved those first days with him and his 15 month old sister Janneke. Henry has always been all boy and it has been such an adventure to watch him grow and change and develop into the stunning young man he is today.

When I see my other nephews at their 2, 4, and 8 year old ages, I see glimpses of Henry. Henry lived life with a reckless sense of adventure as a toddler and young boy. He did most everything with an unawareness of his own strength. He loved the outdoors, had a great imagination and would often live out a day as a character from a most recent Bible Story or video. In a busy family with young children, Henry played most days with Janneke and Anneliese and as he grew in stature and awareness, he became sensitive to the needs of his sisters and my nephews tender heart caught up with his incredible strength and before my eyes, I loved the gentle man he was morphing into.

Now life in a home with four sisters can not always be easy as it looks in pictures. Perhaps that is why God gifted Henry as a leader and favorite amongst his boy cousins. I have seen year after year Henry's cousins admire him for his creative play and leadership in all types of games. From Power Rangers to Nerf battles, there is hardly a time I remember the boys arguing about the rules, the play or the outcome. Henry is a great older cousin to Andrew, Ryan, Noah and now Peter, Jean Marc and Isaiah as well. Peter knows and Henry reminds him that soon (in a few years) Henry will take Peter on a fishing trip. Henry knows how to make moments special with a kind word, a hug, or a shared dream to anticipate and look forward to.

Henry is a natural athlete and is fun to watch as he now is able to lead his teams in performance and sportsmanship. Henry has learned about his ability to ensure his friends have a good memory on the field/court if he is an encourager of them. He can often be seen "coaching" in a very respectful fashion or ensuring that no one person feels the burden of an error or loss alone. I marvel at his sensitivity as a teen boy to be aware of how another boy is feeling and have the confidence to enter into those feelings of another.

Henry has assured me that a visit to his Aunt's home is just perfect if it is filled with a cable sports channel, some pizza rolls and nothing to fancy planned. He knows of my commitment to ensure his visits are a mini vacation for him and I do delight in his delight of hanging out and talking about sports players and recent scores.

Henry is kind, sensitive, thoughtful, and contemplative. He strives to live in line with God's commandments and is willing to "own up" if he has erred in some fashion. I am in awe of this 13 year old boy and his ability to balance his activity and his like to be home. He works hard at his paper route, enjoys spending some of his earnings and has mastered an ability to have one Ipod headphone in one ear and be fully attentive to a conversation with his other. Or at least he appears fully attentive!

Henry John, I used to watch you walk around in your jeans and jean jacket, hands in your pockets, rounded face and was sure you would be a farmer some day. Today, I do not have a clear sense as to what your future holds, but I am assured that in the days and weeks ahead, in the months and years ahead, you will make decisions that continue to stretch and grow you into the man God had designed you to be. You are an only grandson on your Dad's side...you are an only son in your family, you are a favorite cousin amongst the Borgdorff crew, and you are loved

And in closing Henry, I want to thank you for continuing to hang out at your Aunt's house. For your kind words and polite ways. For your willingness to golf with a four year old cousin and an almost forty year old aunt. For your invitation to go to the park which makes great memories for many and for being you...for God gave me a real gift the day He brought you to your family. I welcome any opportunity I have to Honor you Henry.... I love you Henry John

Introducing Janneke to you!

Sometimes I wonder what to write about on my blog. How to decide from my days that are busy and my experiences that are full of so much. Today I am excited about an idea. I want to introduce each of my nieces and nephews to you. So often they are one of a sibling group, a family unit, the Borgdorff grandchildren and in some way, in each of these they are celebrated...but let me take some time to share with each of you!

Introducing Janneke Ruth....Janneke is almost 15 years old. I remember the night of her birth. My sister Suzi, my parents and I were all "sleeping" until the phone rang somewhere around midnight. It was the first grandchild and our excitement was evident. Suzi and I met up in the hallway as my parents were sitting up in bed talking to Arlene and Dan. We learned of the details, of her length, her weight, her health and her name. I remember the gasp in my mom's voice when she learned of her first granddaughters name...Janneke...named after my Mom's dutch name and I remember, oh what a wonderful idea...what a beautiful name!

It was not long after that and Arlene and Dan traveled to Grand Rapids from California and we were able to meet Janneke. Her smile, her big brown eyes and the feeling in my heart are what I remember most of those days many years ago. I learned the thrill of being an aunt. The joy of thinking this child will always be special to me in a way that no other child has been. I remember wanting to introduce her to my friends and share my delight in this little one.

Over the years my delight in Janneke has not changed. She is full of life and quickly shares a smile, a comment and a laugh with whomever she is with. She is wonderfully able to sing and her confidence has allowed her to bring joy to many in song. She is gifted athletically and has enjoyed the fun of sports. At the end of the game though, she is often more concerned about being a good sport to her team and the opposing team than what the final score is.

The last 15 years have gone quickly. I remember the night of her birth like it was yesterday. She is no longer my only niece, now she is my oldest niece, but she is none the less an incredible person in my life. She is busier now and High School, babysitting and life fills her calendar quickly. She is more aware now of my life and my business and has learned to show interest in my day to day with fun questions. She is a child I can envision taking a road trip with and filling the entire time with good conversation, silly laughter, remembering and reflecting, singing, wondering and marveling at the mystery of God and his goodness.

Janneke is the oldest of five children. She is a leader in her family, amongst her friends, in her classroom and on stage. Most recently I enjoyed watching her perform as Maisie in The Boyfriend. She has a good mind which allowed her lines to come easily, she has good rhythm which allowed her to do "The Charleston" even though she wondered if she could and she has life in her eyes and her spirit which allowed her to enjoy the adventure of performing. I am so proud of her and her willingness to risk, to live honestly in the pain and struggles of friendships, to find comfort in knowing that God has a plan for her life, and to stand up and share about what she believes in. I love how she can feel deep joy and live in a free spirited fashion. I want so much for Jannie in her day to day. I long for her to believe deeply that she is loved, celebrated and delighted in when she succeeds and when she does not. I look forward to many more years with my wonderful, happy, caring, optimistic, book reading, song singing, passionate niece. I will encourage her to trust God's leading, to listen to His voice, and to marvel at all He plans to do, in her and through her!

I love you Janneke Ruth....