What a Story!!!

Congratulations are in order for the First Family of Alaska upon the arrival of their 5th child born Friday morning -- a little baby boy born a little earlier than expected and causing quite a buzz! See, Governor Sarah Palin is from the same town as I am from and I've visited many a times with her through several mutual friends. It's always a hoot to sit anywhere in the vicinity of her during a sports event but you might not catch all the action you originally hoped for. You're always in for a treat though -- she's usually multi-tasking at its finest as she can carry on an entertaining conversation and cheer on the action all at the same time. She's so entertaining that you can't help but pay attention to her! She has such endearing qualities and even when she was just the mayor of our town, she was just a normal person who blended in. Now in her role as Governor, she's never had trouble keeping her rise to stardom in check. Extremely poised, she's just the same endearing person with a desire to serve her constituents, and I must say she does a great job!

Anyways, she has quite the story to tell involving the pregnancy. She's 44 years old and in fabulous shape and just recently shocked the media and whole state of Alaskan people by revealing she was 7 month pregnant. Nobody even suspicioned that she was pregnant and it was stunning news to hear that she was that far along.

Well, story has it that she was in Texas on Thursday at a Governor's conference when her water broke. She then went on to deliver a keynote address where she stood during her 30 minute speech, still never letting on to the fact that she was in labor. She had to conceal her late-term pregnancy and labor from the airlines in order to fly from Texas back to Alaska. Tough, but manageable. Somehow she managed to land in Anchorage and trek another 50 miles north to her hometown where she was admitted in the hospital and then gave birth. Her father said she was bound and determined not to have the baby in Texas and chuckled that she said she knew if she did, she'd never live that one down.

There were special challenges with this child and some of the local news coverage is reporting that little Trig Paxson Van Palin has Down syndrome. One news channel's coverage in my opinion was a bit brash in reporting the news making it seem like such an unmanageable challenge. (Anyone who knows me well knows that I went through most of my pregnancy with Marissa suspecting she would have Down Syndrome, but I trusted God had a plan. Turns out Marissa was not DS, but I still carry it so deep in my heart and share a love for all out there with these unique qualities.)

I am so happy to hear that my christian sister Sarah stands so proudly with her family in their faith in God and has issued this statement:


Trig Paxson Van Palin, Governor Sarah Palin's second son, was born at 6:30 a.m. on Friday and weighs six pounds, two ounces. Both Sarah Palin and the baby are reported to be doing well.

The state's first family released this statement:
"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."


In my opinion, what more needs to be said? They are proudly embracing what God has given them, and he is truly a beautiful baby boy. I could not imagine the tenacity, the courage, and her determination she endured during her pregnancy, labor, birth process, and now the media personnel. I admire her faith!

Thanks for listening as she has quite the story to tell, and it's only beginning. God is working wonders through this family and it's so neat to so closely witness His grace. She is clearly a wholesome believer of Christ who has been reported by the media recently as being courted as a possible running mate for Vice President with John McCain, but as for now she's just Sarah Palin, my friend and proud mama of 5!