August 30, 2006
Six Years Ago...
I could not have imagined what life would be like today.
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I would not have believed that I would be living in Georgia - for the second time! And that I would have moved 4 times to get here.
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I would have laughed in your face if you suggested that I'd homeschool my children.
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I wouldn't believe that I'd be out of the "workforce" for over 5 years already.
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I doubt I would have fathomed the number of pregnancies, or the pain of loss accompanying one particular, a perfect daughter.
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Because six years ago, I became a mother. It was actually about 9 months before then, but six years ago today, my arms were weighted by a precious daughter. A baby who would teach me a love unknown, a desire to protect unlike anything I'd experienced, a calling I hadn't yet heard. A baby who consumed my life in a new and unexpected way. Who fit right into my life, and we adjusted to life with one another as though we had always been together.
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My baby daughter was easy - she slept well and ate well and smiled a lot. She was a joy to everyone who knew her. She still is a joy to those people and even more now.
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Now that baby has become a girl. A beautiful and intelligent 6 year-old. A girl, not a baby, who one day will be a woman. A woman that I catch glimpses of, even at this tender age. I know she will be a kind, thoughtful woman - because she's already a kind, thoughtful kid.
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And during this day, when my precious baby is now six years old, I am trying to remind myself to enjoy each small moment. Each question, each cuddle, each time she caresses my cheek with her small hand... I know I'm doing the right things most of the time when I look at this beautiful daughter and see her faith, her concern, her commitment to her family, even her good manners. I know that God is leading us in this dance, this perfect dance of mother-daughter that is such a gift to me.
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On her sixth birthday, I want my daughter to know how proud I am of her. How happy she's helped me learn to be. How much joy she's brought into my life. How her grin only pushes me to turn it into a giggle or a full-on cackle.
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I love you, my precious girl. I pray your next six years don't go as quickly as these first six. I pray that I enjoy you each day, even the tough ones. I pray that you know in all of it that you are loved and cherished. And I pray that your faith only continues to grow as you grow taller and brighter and even more beautiful.
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Happy Birthday, my beautiful Bookworm.
August 15, 2006
Blog Boredom
I'm finding my blog mundane and boring. I like that I can read through past entries to see what was going on when, but I'm not finding much happiness in keeping this blog lately. I don't feel like my creative juices are flowing and my writing has just been blah. And I don't want to be just one more mommy blogger who chronicles the trudge of every day. I want to be interesting and fun! and feel like I'm making a difference, even if it is just expanding the creative portion of my mind and developing a writing a style all my own.
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I think I am going to take a break for a while. I enjoy reading everyone else's blogs, particularly some of the ones I've recently stumbled across. But my heart and my mind just are not into writing anything witty or interesting - and ultimately, I've always wanted to find a topic that I am passionate enough about to write a book. And well, I'm thinking that "Today I Cleaned the Laundry Room" is not destined to be a bestseller (or even a successful giveaway book).
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I am going to start a new thing or two, but not for a couple weeks at least. We have a new school year for which to prep and I have a lot on my TO DO LIST. And then, in about two weeks, we will actually begin the school year. You know what? Here I am, making this blog entry even more mundane by talking about all the daily blah going on in my life.
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I would like to start writing some different kinds of things and possibly will close this blog (or at least stop writing on it altogether). I am considering moving over to typepad more permanently and starting a new bloggy project.
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But for now, I'm going to sign off and pick one thing off my to do list to accomplish before dinner. And I'll be around (except for next week, when I will be walking on the beach with my children, looking for seashells to add to our colle- oh, we don't have a collection! I threw it out during the packing in June, so as to have one less thing to find a place for in our new home. So, I guess we will be starting our seashell collection from scratch. And that means lotsa beach-walking, my friends.)
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Until next time, God Bless you.
August 11, 2006
Miracles Abound
We are still home, though we are going to a party tomorrow in Atlanta.
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This means, of course, that Poppop in Baltimore is actually improving! This has taken everyone by surprise (except for that one doctor everyone thought was a little "off"), but Dad and his siblings seem grateful and pleased. Of course, Mommom expected that Poppop would come home to her, that it would just take a little time. And right now, it looks like he just might do that. Thank you, Jesus!
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Also, I've been praying for a young mom, Amy. She was diagnosed at the beginning of July with leukemia and has spent the last 42 days in the hospital, fighting for her life. She got some fantastic news today and I just want to praise God for His healing touch. .
Life just might settle down soon for us (right in time to start school!). And we are currently looking forward to a long weekend at the beach in less than two weeks.
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I would like to start making some changes here on the ol' blog, so please bear with me as I revamp things and change it up a bit. Can you believe it's been two years already?! Somehow it seems much longer, but in other ways, time sure flies.
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Have a blessed weekend!
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Please consider paying tribute to someone who lost (or bravely gave) their life on September 11, 2001.
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What this website is trying to accomplish is pretty incredible. Can you imagine the internet traffic on the anniversary this year? People compelled to visit the tributes to so many innocents... .
I couldn't NOT do something. My memories of that morning are fresh and sharp. The panic still constricts my chest - and I didn't personally know any of those who were lost that day. Can you imagine the suffering of each family who did?
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Hug your loved ones tight each day. And treat them as the precious gifts they are. And consider being a number somewhere between 1601 and 2996.
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God Bless you.
August 07, 2006
Another Funeral? *edited*
Husband's grandfather (the one who lives in MD, not the one we have spent a lot of time with in FL) is in the hospital. It doesn't look good. His advanced directives clearly state to let him go in the event he codes. Already someone in the family went against that directive and he had surgery (without his consent).
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He's been unresponsive for a day and half (possibly more?) and they are taking him off the vent on Wednesday. It would be surprising if he makes it.
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Due to the distance and rising cost of gas, the girls and I will have to stay here and let Husband go on his own for the funeral. I don't know that PopPop very well, but I loved him and I am upset for my father-in-law especially. I know it's hard for him to stay away when his family needs him. But tonight he said that with his own heart condition, he just doesn't think he can take it. He might still fly up Wednesday, depending on what's happening.
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***EDITED TO ADD: Poppop is much worse and they are removing him from the venilator tonight. Mom and Dad (my in-laws) are flying up tomorrow, but they'll likely not be there before Poppop dies, which it sounds like is for the best anyway. The funeral will likely be on Saturday and now we are talking about all of us driving up and Husband will fly back Monday, after we spend the day in DC. I will stay another day and visit a friend who is going to come down from PA to see us. On the way back, I will stop in NC to see two of my grandmothers, who live an hour from one another. I suppose all this death is making me realize I need to stay better connected to the ones in my own family that I love so much. So, as it is now, it looks like we will leave Thursday and drive partway and then arrive sometime later Friday in Baltimore. I hope it works out to spend some time with Husband's family there over the weekend and then spending some time with other important people before heading home next weekend. I have to get packed and that means getting laundry done and all that.
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If you would pray for a peaceful passing for Poppop, I would be grateful.***
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So, if you could please keep Husband's family in your prayers, I'd be much humbled and appreciative.
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Good night.
August 04, 2006
8.4.06
We're home. We're exhausted. But we are incredibly grateful. It was wonderful to see our family, even under sad circumstances, and were blessed that my sister (in-law) was able to make the trip from southern California.
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And in His infinite greatness, God timed some other things that allowed us to be there for others in times of great need.
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There aren't words (at least that I can urge through my fingers onto the screen) to describe the beauty of the celebration of our dear friend's life. Another friend did well in her explanation and I might just ask if I can quote her here.
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I will be back later with something else.
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Have a blessed weekend.
