Camp Thorkildsen

I sit here at my computer, in a town far away from home, wondering how I managed to miss the birth of my best friend's 2nd baby girl. April & I began a friendship long ago, probably before she & Chris even knew they were destined to be together. We met Valentine's Day in Frisco at the Stonebriar Mall for a triple date with Brad & Jenny (then just dating). I always tease April on Valentine's Day & make a big deal of our "friendship anniversary." She laughs, calling me cheesy-but I know she secretly loves it! So April & I began a long distance friendship, chatting it up on the phone almost daily. Then in no time Chris was being transferred here & they picked up life with us here in Denton like they'd always been here. Over the years, we have had our differences, but come to appreciate them & the honesty we know we can count on from each other, no matter how brutal sometimes!

When I had Joss, April had just taken a pregnancy test that resulted in a negative result, but she knew it was just too early for the test to tell. Sure enough she was pregnant with Avery Kate. So 9 months later Ave came into this world, born to be Jossi's bestie. Luke & I rolled into the hospital with 9 month old Jossi in her stroller to visit brand new baby Ave. We stood there at the window & Joss got so excited over seeing her, I said to Luke, "aww, see Joss needs a sibling. A baby brother!" Everyone in the nursery laughed at my insanity. Turned out we were pregnant with Trip & just didn't know it yet! 9 months later, Trip Henson entered this world. I was just waiting for the Lord to take charge of Chris & April's timing & for her to tell me she was pregnant (they were admittedly "not ready"). It was all apart of my plan. My plan, no one elses! So FINALLY on Trip's first birthday party at Chris & April's house, Ave comes out in a new outfit & April has this funny look on her face. She just stands there staring at me, about to burst, until I read Ave's shirt & it says "Big Sister" on it! I just about died! It seems like that was just weeks ago & here we are with Allie Grace here already! And I'm not there. I know the Lord's timing is perfect, but I still wish I could've been there to hug April & cry as I always do when babies are born, tell her how proud I am of her & of course how excited I am for Trip to have 2 amazing wife prospects out of her & Chris now. ;) But I'm not there to say it in person. So I'm thankful that April is a blog-a-holic & I know she'll see this eventually.

Brand new Ave & 9 month old Joss (we called her babyzilla because she looked so huge next to Ave!)

Us girls at the hospital when Trip was born.

April Holding Trip on my 27th birthday. He was 5 days old. She made me chicken pot pie for my birthday dinner.

Ave & April arrive at the hospital to see Trip.

The girls celebrating with a little dance!

April & Ave at when they told us they were pregnant with Allie at Trip's 1st birthday.

I can't wait to meet Allie & to see Avery in action as big sister. I'm so excited April gets to live her dream & be a stay at home mom. Life is such an adventure & ours has taken us far off at the moment, but I know we will still journey together.

~Keri Jo