Meeting Baby Calah

Hello all,

There are things about this blog that still elude me like how to make a space before the first picture. Oh well. I (Charlene) just got back from the Philippines yesterday. On the Philippines end, it is always very sad to have to say goodbye to Crystal and company but it is a beautiful reunion to be able to meet back up with Ben on this end.

Mom and I left for the Philippines on October 18 because Crystal had her third baby - a girl this time. Her name is Calah Mary Tirrell Valdez and she was born on October 14. Most people who see her in the Philippines say she looks like her grandma. I can't say I have a strong opinion about her resemblance...she is very cute in her own way.

Joel loves holding Calah and had to "see baby Calah" at least 20 times per day just to know that she was okay. He tries very hard to be gentle but it is a struggle. It is beautiful to watch how much he loves her.


It runs in the family. Joshua loves liking the beaters after making chocolate cake too!!
Joel is kissing his expected baby cousin.
What a precious baby!! I can't say I've spent a lot of time with newborns in the past but I've decided it really is amazing to be able to hold a baby so tiny and yet so perfectly formed. Calah is VERY content. In fact I don't really know how it sounds when she cries because it was so infrequent.
Daddy Jerry with all three - he's brave!! Things started to shift quite soon after this picture was taken and requred a quick rescue by mommy!!
The expanded family.
Three generations. Calah, Crystal and my mom (Mary).
This is Joel and Joshua showing off their new bear towels that I made and took over for them. I was concerned that the presents might be a bit boring but the boys loved coming out the bath with them on and growling like bears.
Joshua is now able to take Joel (and me once) for rides on this big bike. Joel can move it too by just doing half pedals.
Joshua loves holding baby Calah and is very gentle with her. Calah is lucky to have two big brothers to look after her.

Kids are so much fun. It makes us feel sad that we don't live closer to all our neices and nephews in Australia and the Philippines. I was feeling this way as I was waiting for my plane in Manilla and a Filipino lady sat down beside me. She was well dressed and looked to be in her 20's. They started boarding the plane and calling out seat numbers starting at the back of the plane to board. She turned to me and asked me if it was her turn and I showed her where her seat number was and that it would be a little while before she was called. The announcer called the next set of numbers and she asked me again, obviously very nervous about flying. I asked her where she was going and she said Dubai to work as a receptionist. Her friend had got her a job there. I could tell that she was terrified and said "You must be sad having to leave your family behind." She said "Yes but especially my daughter who is 4." As she was saying that she seemed to become even more nervous and uncomfortable and went back to reading her papers in front of her, obviously unable to continue the conversation without bursting into tears. I said, "I'm sorry." And that was the end of the interaction. For us in Canada, it seems like a crazy decision for someone like her to leave her daughter behind and yet, she has no choice because her family has no money to survive. This is not an uncommon story. When I got on the plane, the sadness of this situation struck me deep within and tears flowed. It was raining outside and big drops of rain were coming down on the plane window which I imagined to be God's tears for this lady. I thank God for these reminders of the injustice in the world...may my heart never grow calloused and may I always be searching for ways to "love my neighbors as myself".