Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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April 22nd
Malaybalay, Philippines
Each day, I am greeted by a word that I have come to love.  They kids here at the children’s home, call me and the other females Ate.  In Visayan, it means Big Sister.  It sounds a lot like Auntie to me, which is already a title that I love and feel honored by.  But this one, also make me feel honored.  Maybe it is because I am a big sister and I know the implications of what that title means.  It means these kids look up to me.  It means these kids are watching me.  It means these kids are learning about life through what is happening in my own.  I know that, because I learned that from my own Ate.  My Big sister, Heather.

That word, each time I hear it, makes me smile.  It makes me feel important and makes me feel honored.  Renato, the first time he called me that at the prison in response to a question, I felt like I had arrived.  Like I had gained his approval.  I think I squealed with delight.  When one of the kids at the home calls me that, I run over and lift them in the air or push them on the swing or hug them.   It demands a response.  It calls out love. 
And as I have soaked in the love of that name, I become aware that I have not honored my own true Big Sister in the same way that they honor me. 

So, Ate Heather – on your birthday.  Here are 34 reasons why I love you and respect you as a big sister:
1. You are a great mother
2. You are best friend’s with the fly lady, I am still trying to get in
3. You are intentional with your family
4. You are caring
5. You are thoughtful
6. You made me the aunt of 3 of my favorite people in the whole world (Dan helped too!)
7. You gave Ryan your intelligence and love for following the rules
8. You allow Braden to be his free spirited warrior self
9. You will and are treating Haylee as the princess she is
10. You go after what you want
11. You are always learning
12. You take care of yourself
13. You allowed me to follow you around as a kid
14. You never really hated me too much for destroying the block towers you strategically built
15. You were good at baton – so I didn’t have to be
16. You do things with your whole heart
17. You took the pressure of going first – oh, the birth order 
18.  You let me get my first high school letter by carrying your batons around the football field
19. You are very smart – I was always kind of jealous of your letter sweater – who can say they have one – you!
20. Sharing the egg!
21. Being one of the 3 favorite nieces
22. Getting to share uncle frank’s last days and last words to us
23. Our Niagara trip – and letting us have a day to plan, although it killed you and we folded
24. Taking green slime on your car like a champ
25. Passing out in the backseat so that we could eat Tim Horton’s
26. Your support of me on this trip
27. Allowing God to teach you and guide you
28. Pursuing god’s best for you and your family
29. You are a lifegiver
30. You are a lady of wisdom
31. You are a helper completer
32. You loved me when I didn’t deserve it
33. You are loyal to your family and me
34. You want the best for me

I am glad that you were born Ate Heather!