The past two weeks have been a very difficult time for our family. Thankfully we were not alone. We had each other, friends, other relatives, and neighbors who kept us going. We also had some very caring people at Presbyterian Hospital that cared for daddy. It was also there we met Bro. Harry Smith who visited and prayed with the family many times. Do not ever underestimate the power of a pat on the back, a hug, a phone call, a text message, email, or a meal and even a place to sleep and rest and what all of these things did for us.
My dad was 90 years old. We celebrated his birthday on Nov. 16th with family and friends. We felt very strongly about celebrating this birthday. After all, it’s not everyday you turn 90 years young, but we knew he would not be a willing participant. Dad never wanted anyone to go to any trouble for him. I didn’t even talk to him about it. Instead Shelly told her PawPaw we wanted to do something for his birthday. Of course he said, “NO”; he didn’t need or want anything. He had us and that’s all he needed. He finally agreed that we could meet at McDonald’s in Ennis because that was between my house and his. Why McDonald’s you might ask? Well, he wouldn’t want to put anybody out with some place nice and he currently liked the food there. We decided on a time and it was all set. Except I guess we should have told him he was leaving at a later time because he thinks he has to leave very early to get places on time and you can never be late. Linda was waiting for my call to say it was ok to come since we had rented a room in town to have the party. It got to be later than the designated time and dad decided he just wouldn’t go if I didn’t call soon cause it was getting too late. We finally got the room situated and guests had arrived so I gave my sister the A-ok to leave. However, when they arrived my dad wouldn’t get out of the car because he was meeting me at McDonald’s and this was not McDonald’s. Finally, I get him to come inside and he is surprised and happy to see his family and friends, including some that he had not seen in years. After the party, he still had to have his McDonald’s.
I remember Dad always working and doing something around the house. He didn’t rest much except when it was time to go to bed. After I was married, I had to be careful about what I asked him about because he would be up and doing, trying to fix whatever was wrong. He was a fixer!! He never wanted anyone doing something for him but he always wanted to do for others. We always said he would give you the shirt off his back if it would help you.
He loved his family. Life wasn’t easy for him growing up and his dad had died when he was young. It used to be difficult for him to say, “I love you” but I can remember when this all changed. I was in high school and in a church choir. We were performing at the high school auditorium and the choir director asked me to say a few words after a song. I said “ok” but inside I was panicking. I thought what in the world can I say. I don’t want to talk in front of all these people. When it was my time to speak, I walked up and just started talking----no words written down and nothing really planned. I talked from my heart and said you know sometimes we are nice to our friends and others we encounter each day, but often we don’t treat the ones we are closest to the way we should. In fact, we aren’t always even nice to them. So I said, Mom and Dad, I want you to know I love you. Then I was done. It was over. I didn’t think much about it, but my dad came up with tears in his eyes and told me he loved me too. From then on, I became his angel with horns!! This simple action changed us. When talking to him on the phone or when leaving him after a visit, I would often say, “I love you” and then he would say “I love you too”. Over the course of his hospital visit, I heard my sister and his dear grandchildren tell him many times, “I love you.” “PawPaw, I love you.” We shared with him good stories and times.
A visit from Dad's nephew, Ricky and his wife Becky provided us with more laughter and joy in our pain and sorrow as he had us laughing until we had tears in our eyes. When Ricky was growing up, he spent many days and even weeks with our family and believe me when Ricky was at our house there was never a dull moment. My dad had a special relationship with Ricky and many of his nephews and nieces they viewed him as a father or grandfather figure.
Last week Dad was still telling us about the beginning of the Coca-cola Bottling Company in Dallas. I honestly can’t tell you how many times I heard this story. He found it hard to believe that Coke had started with only two employees and $5000. He was even telling one of his doctors this story. He worked 43 years for them. He loved his job. He loved working and he was good at what he did. Days missed at work were few and he was a dedicated worker and worked tirelessly. As a young child, I can remember him winning contests for selling or leasing Coke machines to businesses. His job was not an easy one. He delivered cases of Coke all over the Dallas area and he did so with a smile on his face and joy in his heart. Dad epitomized proper customer service. His smile and baby blue eyes would melt your heart. He was the company’s #1 fan.
Dad’s sometimes rough exterior hid a heart of gold. Despite his heart of gold, he could be a stubborn old goat. In fact on his 80th birthday cake, I put Happy 80th birthday you old goat. When he saw it, he smiled and laughed.
When dad wanted something done he wanted it done then and my sweet sister often dealt with his impatience and stubbornness. Dad was not a complainer. He could feel bad and never tell you. We often would have to go by the way he looked or sometimes his actions because we all know our actions speak louder than words. He never wanted us to buy him anything. He had all he needed--a family that loved him. It was okay for him to do for us though. Dad delighted in his family and often proudly told stories about them. We always said he never met a stranger. Dad would talk to anybody that would listen and as my mama would often say, “He could talk the hind legs off a billy goat.”
I remember many vacations with Dad to visit family. One thing about Dad is he didn’t linger long in one place. Once he got there and visited, he was ready to get back to his home, his safe haven, because there was always work to be done. I can remember one vacation going to Indiana to visit one of mom’s cousins. We went through eight states in 4 days. We didn’t stop and do anything anywhere. After all, our trip was to visit the relatives. Once we did that, the mission was accomplished and it was time to go back home. I remember on our final night, momma begging him to please let us stop at a motel with a swimming pool so I could swim.
However, Dad became a push over with his grandkids and great grandkids. He watched them as they grew and he was able to relax more. Many a night was spent at Paw Paw’s and Nana’s house and according to them, “The kids could do no wrong” Dad loved to give pony rides to Sarah and Jordan and he played many a game of Sorry and Wheel of Fortune with them. Sarah was Vanna White and I don’t know, but maybe Jordan was Pat Sajak. They were also always playing “Hide and seek” and mom and dad would delight in scaring them before they were found by yelling, “Boo”. Sometimes they would just hide around a corner and scare us as we walked by.
Shelly, Chad, and Brandon would ride the bus to their Nana and Paw Paw’s house after school and their Nana always had a meal prepared for them. Many times I think they had pinto beans which was always a family favorite. No one has ever cooked pinto beans as good as my mom. After dinner there would always be a dessert and it was then the prankster came out in their PawPaw. He would always hide their bowls of ice cream when they stepped away from the table. Shelly remembers him singing “I scream, you scream we all scream for ice cream”. Keith and I remember making homemade peppermint ice cream with an old hand turned ice cream freezer. I got tired of turning that crank, but daddy would always finish it up as it became more difficult to turn. For some reason, PawPaw would have Keith sit on the ice cream freezer and Keith remembers freezing his backside off sitting there.
Even the very youngest great grandchild, Landon, was a bit of a prankster like his pawpaw. When his Paw Paw would go to the kitchen to eat, Landon would take his favorite chair and tell his papa, “I’m getting your chair PawPaw!” When PawPaw was finished eating he would say, “You better get out of chair or I’ll get the fly swatter!”
PawPaw would make his grandkids laugh when he would say, “I bet I can do something you can’t do!” and they would say, “What pawpaw?” Then he would take out his teeth and say can you do this? Then he would ask, “Will you hold these for me?”
Michael, Jordan, Sarah, and I went on several great vacations with Mama and Daddy. One destination we have wonderful memories of is to Branson, MI where we visited Silver Dollar City and stayed at a motel that had a water slide. Good times. Fun times.
I take joy in telling these stories because these are memories we hold in our hearts and this is what our daddy and Paw Paw would have wanted us to do. He is at peace and he would say to us, “Don’t cry for me. I’m with your mama, your Nana and I’m okay and you should be too.” We will forever remember our good times with our sweet daddy and PawPaw and the lessons on living he taught us.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
My dad
I am emotional. At the moment I am composed, but it seems this can change in an instant. It's only been 1 year and 9 months since my mom passed away. So I am again flooded with memories. Tomorrow is the memorial service, a celebration of my daddy's life. I will be recalling memories of life growing up with my dad. Please pray that I am able to do this. It's something I really want to do for him.
My dad, 90, a loving husband, father, and papa passed away on July 21, 2009. Raymond was born on November 16, 1918. He worked for Coca-Cola Bottling Company for 43 years. During the final week of his life he still proudly told family and friends that the bottling company started with only 2 employees and $5000. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a man who loved his family, wasn’t afraid of hard work, and was always willing to lend a helping hand. He was an avid reader and gardener. He delighted in sharing vegetables from his garden with family and friends. He never met a stranger and often greeted people with “How’s it going Easy Money?” He leaves behind 2 loving daughters, 6 grandkids, and 11 great grandkids and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
My dad, 90, a loving husband, father, and papa passed away on July 21, 2009. Raymond was born on November 16, 1918. He worked for Coca-Cola Bottling Company for 43 years. During the final week of his life he still proudly told family and friends that the bottling company started with only 2 employees and $5000. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a man who loved his family, wasn’t afraid of hard work, and was always willing to lend a helping hand. He was an avid reader and gardener. He delighted in sharing vegetables from his garden with family and friends. He never met a stranger and often greeted people with “How’s it going Easy Money?” He leaves behind 2 loving daughters, 6 grandkids, and 11 great grandkids and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
letting go and finding peace
we are in the final days of my daddy's life. if you are thinking how can you write on your blog at a time like this? well, i tell you this is my means of release, my means of communication, and a vital part of my survival at this time. i'm at home now. i slept here last night. i had been with dad for 30 hrs minus the couple of hours my friends took me away from reality. i love my friends. they provide me with care, encouragement, and understanding, and ears to listen to me and shoulders to cry on and arms to hug me.
my sister and i met with the VNA hospice nurse yesterday. when talking to the nurse, the tears came once more and i stand to get a tissue and i take the last one. i say, "i've used another box. i gotta find some more." i walk to the other side of the room and grab another box and i sit and we continue our conversation. hospice care at the hospital begins today and the plan is to move him home on friday. i don't know if he will live that long though.
so many emotions flood my soul. i remember sitting beside my sweet mama in her final days and singing to her. i sang to her every song i could think of: religious, childhood, but mostly Christmas carols----even though it was october it was okay because Christmas was always a special time for the family. i sang to my daddy some to. i sang softly and tenderly, jesus is calling.
you may ask how do you deal with this and say you couldn't do it. well, you can and you do. you have to. you just do. you depend on friends and family and kind nurses and doctors and love and prayers. getting a phone call, a text message, or an email, having friends let you escape reality for a couple of hours, crying, laughing, eating, sleeping, and showering at a childhood friend's house are all things that keep me going.
this is hard. i cry out in prayer for peace and rest for my daddy.
my sister and i met with the VNA hospice nurse yesterday. when talking to the nurse, the tears came once more and i stand to get a tissue and i take the last one. i say, "i've used another box. i gotta find some more." i walk to the other side of the room and grab another box and i sit and we continue our conversation. hospice care at the hospital begins today and the plan is to move him home on friday. i don't know if he will live that long though.
so many emotions flood my soul. i remember sitting beside my sweet mama in her final days and singing to her. i sang to her every song i could think of: religious, childhood, but mostly Christmas carols----even though it was october it was okay because Christmas was always a special time for the family. i sang to my daddy some to. i sang softly and tenderly, jesus is calling.
you may ask how do you deal with this and say you couldn't do it. well, you can and you do. you have to. you just do. you depend on friends and family and kind nurses and doctors and love and prayers. getting a phone call, a text message, or an email, having friends let you escape reality for a couple of hours, crying, laughing, eating, sleeping, and showering at a childhood friend's house are all things that keep me going.
this is hard. i cry out in prayer for peace and rest for my daddy.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
My sweet daddy
I wish I could change the events that happened on the evening of July 9th. That evening my dad was taken to the emergency room by ambulance. He was admitted to ICU and then sent to a regular room on Sunday, July 12th. He stayed there until the afternoon of July 16th when he was readmitted to ICU. Now he is going back to a regular room and will probably begin receiving hospice services. I won’t write all the details or events, but let me just say it has been extremely hard seeing my dear sweet daddy this way. He’s 90 years old.
We celebrated his 90th birthday last Nov. 16th. We wanted it to be a surprise because we knew he wouldn’t go for a party so my niece Shelly told him we wanted to do something for his birthday and he finally agreed that we would meet at McDonald’s between my house and his. Why McDonald’s you might ask? Well, he wouldn’t want to put anybody out with some place nice and he currently liked the food there. We decided on a time and it was all set. Except I guess we should have told him he was leaving at a later time because he thinks he has to leave very early to get places and my sister Linda was waiting for my call to say it was ok to come since we had renting a room in town to have the party. It got to be later than the designated time and dad decided he just wouldn’t go if I didn’t call soon cause it was getting too late. We finally got the room situated and guests had arrived so I gave my sister the A-ok to leave. They pull up to the building and dad won’t get out of the car because he is meeting me at McDonald’s and this is not McDonald’s. I go out to get him and I guess he is not understanding so well but I get him to come inside and I think he is pretty surprised and happy. It was a fun party with some neighbors, relatives, and some friends that he hadn’t seen in years. I have some pictures that I will post later. He still wanted his McDonald’s though so his grandson went and got him some after the party was over.
That was a good time. I like to remember times like that. I have to recall these memories to get through my current days. I told someone every day is blur. I look at the clock on the wall and it’s 8:00 am and then I glance again and it’s 5:30 pm. Some days I just don’t think I can make it, but I have to keep going for my daddy. He needs me. So far we have been told twice he probably wouldn’t make it through the night. The first time was Friday, July 10th and the doctor told us to contact all the family. That is most difficult thing to do. My son and daughter in law flew in Friday afternoon and had a good visit with their Papa. I had a meltdown on Sunday morning though because all I could think of was Jordan telling his papa good-bye for what could be the last time. I was a mess, but my dear sweet hubby kept me going and gave me some tender loving care and I was okay later that morning. I don’t think anyone even knew it happened except him. Hubby made the trip to see dad that morning while I pulled myself together and he decided we should do something as a family that afternoon but the timing for a movie was all wrong so we went to eat at Chuy’s and that is always good!! After the movie, the kids and I went to see my dad/their papa. He had been moved to a regular room that day so we had a nice visit.
Dad’s doctor is amazed when I sent him a text message that he has been moved to a room. He comes by the next morning and we talk. He says dad is very strong. Either Tues. or Wed. we talk about what kind of care Dad will need when he leaves the hospital and he tells me he should go to a long term acute care facility which is basically a hospital with rehab. He orders a physical therapist to do an evaluation and she comes by Wed. Dad even sat in a chair on Tues. for a couple of hours but on Thurs. he is weaker and scares the therapist when he gets very faint and pale. She lies him down quickly, but comes back later to do exercises with his arms and legs. She says he is strong. He counts with her from 1 to 10 with each movement, but he always get ahead of her and she teases himj that he is trying to finish before she wants him to. A nurse from the facility comes on Thurs, July 16th and visits with us. She says he can be moved that day or Friday. Well, then in a instant that all changed and he plummeted lower than before and I was sent out of the room and blubbered phone numbers to call and my sister, nephew, and hubby got it as fast as they could. This put us back in ICU. Again we were told it didn’t look good so we all said our good-byes and told him how much we loved him. I told him I bet mama was waiting for him in heaven. His blood pressure at one time was 68/51, but he made it through the night with family always by his side. That morning about 6:30 I was exhausted and emotionally drained so I went to a friend’s house and cried and rested. She laid beside me for a while and talked and then I rested. It was wonderful to just be on a bed, but I couldn’t rest for a while cause I couldn’t stop sobbing. About 10:30 I got up and she fixed me breakfast. I felt stronger and returned to the hospital in my same clothes from the day before. I was by dad’s bedside until 10:00 that night and I didn’t want to go far so I went back to my dear friend’s house to sleep. Thankfully, Hubby had brought me clean clothes. The bed brought peace and sleep for the night which I needed. Hubby ended up staying at the hospital all night.
It’s 7:09 pm and dad is not doing so good and neither am I. Michael is on his way. I would appreciate your prayers for my dad to be at peace and not suffer.
We celebrated his 90th birthday last Nov. 16th. We wanted it to be a surprise because we knew he wouldn’t go for a party so my niece Shelly told him we wanted to do something for his birthday and he finally agreed that we would meet at McDonald’s between my house and his. Why McDonald’s you might ask? Well, he wouldn’t want to put anybody out with some place nice and he currently liked the food there. We decided on a time and it was all set. Except I guess we should have told him he was leaving at a later time because he thinks he has to leave very early to get places and my sister Linda was waiting for my call to say it was ok to come since we had renting a room in town to have the party. It got to be later than the designated time and dad decided he just wouldn’t go if I didn’t call soon cause it was getting too late. We finally got the room situated and guests had arrived so I gave my sister the A-ok to leave. They pull up to the building and dad won’t get out of the car because he is meeting me at McDonald’s and this is not McDonald’s. I go out to get him and I guess he is not understanding so well but I get him to come inside and I think he is pretty surprised and happy. It was a fun party with some neighbors, relatives, and some friends that he hadn’t seen in years. I have some pictures that I will post later. He still wanted his McDonald’s though so his grandson went and got him some after the party was over.
That was a good time. I like to remember times like that. I have to recall these memories to get through my current days. I told someone every day is blur. I look at the clock on the wall and it’s 8:00 am and then I glance again and it’s 5:30 pm. Some days I just don’t think I can make it, but I have to keep going for my daddy. He needs me. So far we have been told twice he probably wouldn’t make it through the night. The first time was Friday, July 10th and the doctor told us to contact all the family. That is most difficult thing to do. My son and daughter in law flew in Friday afternoon and had a good visit with their Papa. I had a meltdown on Sunday morning though because all I could think of was Jordan telling his papa good-bye for what could be the last time. I was a mess, but my dear sweet hubby kept me going and gave me some tender loving care and I was okay later that morning. I don’t think anyone even knew it happened except him. Hubby made the trip to see dad that morning while I pulled myself together and he decided we should do something as a family that afternoon but the timing for a movie was all wrong so we went to eat at Chuy’s and that is always good!! After the movie, the kids and I went to see my dad/their papa. He had been moved to a regular room that day so we had a nice visit.
Dad’s doctor is amazed when I sent him a text message that he has been moved to a room. He comes by the next morning and we talk. He says dad is very strong. Either Tues. or Wed. we talk about what kind of care Dad will need when he leaves the hospital and he tells me he should go to a long term acute care facility which is basically a hospital with rehab. He orders a physical therapist to do an evaluation and she comes by Wed. Dad even sat in a chair on Tues. for a couple of hours but on Thurs. he is weaker and scares the therapist when he gets very faint and pale. She lies him down quickly, but comes back later to do exercises with his arms and legs. She says he is strong. He counts with her from 1 to 10 with each movement, but he always get ahead of her and she teases himj that he is trying to finish before she wants him to. A nurse from the facility comes on Thurs, July 16th and visits with us. She says he can be moved that day or Friday. Well, then in a instant that all changed and he plummeted lower than before and I was sent out of the room and blubbered phone numbers to call and my sister, nephew, and hubby got it as fast as they could. This put us back in ICU. Again we were told it didn’t look good so we all said our good-byes and told him how much we loved him. I told him I bet mama was waiting for him in heaven. His blood pressure at one time was 68/51, but he made it through the night with family always by his side. That morning about 6:30 I was exhausted and emotionally drained so I went to a friend’s house and cried and rested. She laid beside me for a while and talked and then I rested. It was wonderful to just be on a bed, but I couldn’t rest for a while cause I couldn’t stop sobbing. About 10:30 I got up and she fixed me breakfast. I felt stronger and returned to the hospital in my same clothes from the day before. I was by dad’s bedside until 10:00 that night and I didn’t want to go far so I went back to my dear friend’s house to sleep. Thankfully, Hubby had brought me clean clothes. The bed brought peace and sleep for the night which I needed. Hubby ended up staying at the hospital all night.
It’s 7:09 pm and dad is not doing so good and neither am I. Michael is on his way. I would appreciate your prayers for my dad to be at peace and not suffer.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Please Pray for Kate McRae; Blogger community prayers are needed
modified from Kate's caring bridge site:
Monday June 29th began like every other day for the McRae family, and ended like one the family could have never imagined. Their daughter Kate was taken to the dr. for tremors in her right hand. They proceeded to Phoenix Childrens Hospital for a stat CT of her head. At 5:30 Holly, Kate's mom, was taken into a room alone and told Kate had a massive tumor on the basil ganglia portion of her brain. She had surgery on July 3rd and Kate needs our prayers, as does her family, Aaron, Holly, Olivia and Will. Specific prayer requests from the family on July 13th as posted on their caring bridge site:
1. Improvement in Kate's right arm and hand, as we are not seeing much at all
2. Protection from any sort of outside illness for Kate (and Aaron and Holly for that matter)
3. Sleep for Kate especially, as she desperately needs it to heal.
4. Wisdom for everyone involved in her care, that the best plan of action would be developed for her.
5. No, absolutely no, cancer cells in her spine.
6. Protection for Kate's hearing specifically during the chemo
7. Protection for Kate's kidney's during the chemo
8. That the tumor would shrink (miraculously, or through medicine)
9. That God would get glory through Kate's horrific journey
10. Kate's healing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot begin to comprehend how this family feels, but I do believe in the power of prayer. I've seen the blogging community come together for many children/adults and I think it's time once again. I am not too blogger savvy and I cannot figure out how to do a link box that other bloggers can copy and paste into their sidebars. So if you know how or can paste this request on, I would so appreciate it and I know the McRae family would.
This song was written by Audrey Assad, a Nashville Singer-Songwriter, during an online Global Night of Prayer for Kate McRae. The lyrics came in one pass that night and the chords/melody came the following morning.
Little Light by Audrey Assad
Look at all the angels watching you
They’re singing songs that we have never heard
Their voices ring like bells over the mountains
Oh, if only we could hear their words
God is near, little girl.
Your eyes are brilliant,deep sky blue.
Your quiet wisdom is an evening song.
The angels must be breathless at your beauty
Like the world catches its breath before the dawn.
God is near, little one.
And Jesus bends to hear you breathe;
His tender hands are holding you tonight.
His heart is ravished when you look at Him,
and oh, the endless mercy in His eyes;
God is here, little light.
Monday June 29th began like every other day for the McRae family, and ended like one the family could have never imagined. Their daughter Kate was taken to the dr. for tremors in her right hand. They proceeded to Phoenix Childrens Hospital for a stat CT of her head. At 5:30 Holly, Kate's mom, was taken into a room alone and told Kate had a massive tumor on the basil ganglia portion of her brain. She had surgery on July 3rd and Kate needs our prayers, as does her family, Aaron, Holly, Olivia and Will. Specific prayer requests from the family on July 13th as posted on their caring bridge site:
1. Improvement in Kate's right arm and hand, as we are not seeing much at all
2. Protection from any sort of outside illness for Kate (and Aaron and Holly for that matter)
3. Sleep for Kate especially, as she desperately needs it to heal.
4. Wisdom for everyone involved in her care, that the best plan of action would be developed for her.
5. No, absolutely no, cancer cells in her spine.
6. Protection for Kate's hearing specifically during the chemo
7. Protection for Kate's kidney's during the chemo
8. That the tumor would shrink (miraculously, or through medicine)
9. That God would get glory through Kate's horrific journey
10. Kate's healing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot begin to comprehend how this family feels, but I do believe in the power of prayer. I've seen the blogging community come together for many children/adults and I think it's time once again. I am not too blogger savvy and I cannot figure out how to do a link box that other bloggers can copy and paste into their sidebars. So if you know how or can paste this request on, I would so appreciate it and I know the McRae family would.
This song was written by Audrey Assad, a Nashville Singer-Songwriter, during an online Global Night of Prayer for Kate McRae. The lyrics came in one pass that night and the chords/melody came the following morning.
Little Light by Audrey Assad
Look at all the angels watching you
They’re singing songs that we have never heard
Their voices ring like bells over the mountains
Oh, if only we could hear their words
God is near, little girl.
Your eyes are brilliant,deep sky blue.
Your quiet wisdom is an evening song.
The angels must be breathless at your beauty
Like the world catches its breath before the dawn.
God is near, little one.
And Jesus bends to hear you breathe;
His tender hands are holding you tonight.
His heart is ravished when you look at Him,
and oh, the endless mercy in His eyes;
God is here, little light.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
My kids have found their wings
I was flooded with emotion while watching this video.
It brought back so many memories of my children. It's hard to believe so many years have passed since I had moments like some of the ones shown in the video. I have several friends that have grown up children and I have one friend that is already beginning to struggle thinking about what this next school year will bring as her son graduates from high school and then leaves home for college. I also have some friends/relatives that have either babies, toddlers, or school age children. My dear niece has one child beginning 1st grade and the other 4th grade. These boys can't be that old already!! One friend has a daughter beginning kindergarten. How can this be? It seems like she was just born a few days ago. We blink our eyes and they change.
It's hard, so very hard to watch our babies grow up. I know cause I still struggle with it. I started crying on Sunday when we were leaving Jordan and Kristeen's house after spending several days with them. I thought at first I could control it. I wiped a few tears and thought I can do this. No one has to know. I put on my sunglasses and went to the restroom to blot my eyes, but then I sobbed and I think they heard me. I came out and sat down and the tears were flowing freely. I couldn't control it.
Memories that flood my heart and eyes until they overflow with droplets of salty water:
The first time I saw Jordan. I touched his cheek and thought this is our little baby. It was love at first sight.
Taking Jordan to meet his dad for lunch at Wendy's when he was about 2 years old. He was wearing white shorts and blue and white striped shirt and little keds---he was adorable with his blond hair and blue eyes. When he held his daddy's hand walking to the car, my heart melted.
Hearing "It's a girl" followed by the sweetest little cry when Sarah was born and then being able to hold her right after she was born.
Jordan picking every daffodil I had shortly after Sarah was born. He brought them to me so proudly, smiling ear to ear. It was the sweetest thing!! I think he needed some attention after his baby sister had taken some of his.
2 year old Sarah taking her dad a balloon bouquet for Valentine's Day. She had a little red plaid dress on and the balloons were bigger than she was. We had gone to his office and she ran down the hallway with the balloons waving above her head. Her expression and smile were worth a million.
I have more to write but my eyes are closing....... check back later....
It brought back so many memories of my children. It's hard to believe so many years have passed since I had moments like some of the ones shown in the video. I have several friends that have grown up children and I have one friend that is already beginning to struggle thinking about what this next school year will bring as her son graduates from high school and then leaves home for college. I also have some friends/relatives that have either babies, toddlers, or school age children. My dear niece has one child beginning 1st grade and the other 4th grade. These boys can't be that old already!! One friend has a daughter beginning kindergarten. How can this be? It seems like she was just born a few days ago. We blink our eyes and they change.
It's hard, so very hard to watch our babies grow up. I know cause I still struggle with it. I started crying on Sunday when we were leaving Jordan and Kristeen's house after spending several days with them. I thought at first I could control it. I wiped a few tears and thought I can do this. No one has to know. I put on my sunglasses and went to the restroom to blot my eyes, but then I sobbed and I think they heard me. I came out and sat down and the tears were flowing freely. I couldn't control it.
Memories that flood my heart and eyes until they overflow with droplets of salty water:
The first time I saw Jordan. I touched his cheek and thought this is our little baby. It was love at first sight.
Taking Jordan to meet his dad for lunch at Wendy's when he was about 2 years old. He was wearing white shorts and blue and white striped shirt and little keds---he was adorable with his blond hair and blue eyes. When he held his daddy's hand walking to the car, my heart melted.
Hearing "It's a girl" followed by the sweetest little cry when Sarah was born and then being able to hold her right after she was born.
Jordan picking every daffodil I had shortly after Sarah was born. He brought them to me so proudly, smiling ear to ear. It was the sweetest thing!! I think he needed some attention after his baby sister had taken some of his.
2 year old Sarah taking her dad a balloon bouquet for Valentine's Day. She had a little red plaid dress on and the balloons were bigger than she was. We had gone to his office and she ran down the hallway with the balloons waving above her head. Her expression and smile were worth a million.
I have more to write but my eyes are closing....... check back later....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)