Profiles in House Guests

I wanted to profile some of the people who have and will be an influence in my child's life. It is my belief that we need help to raise him, not because we are needy, but because a healthy child has many different people to provide them different perspectives. I was blessed to have uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and mentors who provided this function and it is my deepest wish that my child would have these same blessings.

Willy Thiessen

Willy is my wife's oldest brother. My wife's family is intense. They are all opinionated and passionate and more than anything they are intense. Willy has the distinction of being the oldest in a family of mostly boys. Naturally being the oldest he has the personality of an oldest child; very strong. In addition to this he is a construction worker by his trade which adds to his strong persona. Willy has kids, but I only got to know them quite a bit later. Willy came to visit us in the hospital and at our house. I was struck by how tenderly he looked at my son. How he smiled and played with him. It was a blessing to see him be so interested in my son. I hope he and my son can know each other. I hope Uncle Willy can take him fishing and hunting. Willy is a great guy and I hope my son can be a blessing to him as well.

Khrista Vogt (honorary guest)

My sister. Also the oldest, also passionate and also intense. She is in my heart because I know what it must be like. My sister lives in Alberta and has lived there for the better part of the last 20 years. When my nephew was born she lived there and my nephew has grown up far from my reach. I only got to see him on a couple of occasions. I did my best to pray for him and let him know I cared, but it just isnt the same. Being an uncle is special and an honor I didnt take lightly. I know my sister doesn't take it lightly either. I know she thinks about us and wants to be near us as I have wanted to be with them. Paul wrote of a thorn in the flesh and I suppose our family has always known about their thorns. One of thorns has been the knowledge that my nephew is growing up without me and I would imagine my sister has a thorn. Despite this fact I have always held her son in my heart as I know she holds mine. I know that no one will treasure him in quite the way my sister will. My sister is a wonderful person and I hope Azariah gets all excited when he finds out aunty Khrista and Cole are coming to visit. I hope he will be a blessing to her as well.