On Missing People

This is not an original thought, I'm sure, but when I was running just a little while ago,  I realized the poignancy of being in human in this respect: we are able to miss things before they're gone--the love of your life before they say good night to leave you, a child before he is fully grown, and a parent before he dies. 

We were created to dread separation, crave unity and kinship, and long to share life.

I am missing some people. Some are already gone, and some are in the process of going. I miss them all. Sometimes, it all looks hopeless.

"But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. 25 However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it. 26 In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.27 All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people. 28 We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.[d]" ~ The Book of Romans

I am grieving, but not without hope. If I knew the ending of the story, there would be no call for faith or hope, and those are beautiful things you don't want to miss out on in this life. 

"Maybe it's not about the happy ending. Maybe it's about the story." I have hope for a happy ending. But I have faith for a great story. Holding on, holding on. 

When a Granddaughter is Born

These are the notes I took on my phone when Josie was born.

Katie said she felt stunned when Josie opened her eyes. What a moment--the first time you look into your child's eyes! And I have to say, Josie does have some gorgeous eyes. (Did you think I could just leave that moment be without a grandma comment?)

Katie's first words after Josie was born were, "I can't believe this just happened!"

The way I knew that Josie had finally come was that Shad sent this pic to our phones as we were in the waiting area. I said, "She's here!" and jumped up. So this photo of Katie holding Josie is my first look at my granddaughter.

Right after Josie was born, Katie told Shad to feel how soft Josie was.

Shad didn't get to hold her right away because the hospital facilitates a "golden hour" wherein mom and baby snuggle and nurse. He came out and said because he hadn't held her yet, he felt like he was "dying a little."


Katie remarked several times about how Josie puts her hands on/near her own face all of the time. She continued to do that at home.

While they were in the hospital, and just Shad and Katie were in the room, Shad danced with Josie to, "Why Don't We Just Dance?" by Josh Turner.

In the hospital, while Shad was holding Josie, I said, "She's going to be your whole world for a while," referring to their getting acquainted with Josie and all of the transitions that would lie ahead, and he looked down at her and said, "She IS my whole world now."

And here is my first-born, holding her first-born. 

O happy day, January 23, 2013.

Mugged by Muggers

Oh, how innocent they look.

But this morning, I was fixing their first bottles of the day, when all of a sudden I felt 40 hands pulling on my sweat pant legs. Then I heard a chorus of wails, completely synchronized: "WAIIIIIIL, {breath} WAIIIIIL, {breath}". I'd been hit by the shortest, swiftest gang in town.

They pulled my waist band down over my hip. De-pantsed me, if you will. Mugged, by the scoundrels pictured in the mug shot above. Has anybody seen this gang of two? Oh yeah--there they are! Headed for the outlets, cords and every other dangerous thing in this town.

Meet My Grandbaby

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Well, here he or she is. I think he/she is waving hello to me. I love you, little grandbaby. Love, Nana

 "Nana" = combination of "Linda" and "Poor Nana" from Peter Pan: