I always wanted a sister. I am secretly still mad at my parents for giving me only one brother. Both of my parents came from families with eight children and their family reunions, childhood stories, and sibling relationships seemed so much more interesting than mine could ever be. And even though my parents insist that it was not their decision to have only two children, I still feel a little deprived of the exciting family life that they had!

In this last year while living at Bethel Camp, Ruthie became like a sister to me. We have so very much in common and think so similarly that we might as well have grown up in the same house. To top it all off, we even look alike – enough alike that our own children and husbands have gotten us confused and perfect strangers have asked us if we were twins. I have loved having a "sister" for this last year, and I think that even though we no longer live just down the drive from each other, we will stay "sisters."

So, even if I gained nothing else from our year at Bethel – I did finally find my long-lost sister!

The weather today was lovely – sunny, 70s and breezy. Still, I found myself troubled much of the day with some nagging thought or emotion. It seemed that every breeze carried on it a hint of a memory that I couldn’t quite place. I thought perhaps I was being reminded of my time in Lithuania – the summer days there were so very much like the weather today. At other times I felt like I was being carried back to childhood, or high school, or maybe college.

As I washed my dishes, composing this piece in my head, it suddenly came to me.  It wasn’t a memory the wind was carrying – it was inspiration - my hidden muse.

The weather, or my day, or week, had triggered some deep down need to create and give expression to a voice just waiting to be heard. I can go for weeks, months and occasionally years without needing to write, and then the muse will hit and words simply come.

I am always amazed at what comes to life in such times – I trust this occasion will be no different.

So my sister-in-law asked me to accompany her on her visit to the midwife. Her midwife lives two hours away and she has been making her regularly scheduled visits alone or with her six-year-old daughter in tow. This trip however was scheduled for the day before she was due – and she was a little afraid she might go into labor on the way up or back. She asked me to go along "just in case."

Hmm, should I admit that I hesitated a bit before saying yes? I could just imagine myself trying not to panic as she went into labor. I also imagined myself getting us horribly lost if I was suddenly in charge of driving - I figured if Kelly was in labor she might not be able to give me directions! I tried to figure out what on earth I would do if for some crazy reason I had to deliver that baby along the road somewhere! (which wasn’t that far fetched a thought – Kelly has notoriously short labors and she was on baby number four…)

Eventually though, I agreed to go. And did Kelly go into labor?

Yep!

But she was so calm about that whole thing that she didn’t even ask me drive! We were on our way home when the contractions started coming. And we made it home with plenty of time to spare. The new baby arrived around 8:00 that night.

I am now the proud aunt of another nephew – Isaac Wesley Hostetter. And boy is he cute! ; )