Yesterday was Mother's Day. It is not one of my favorite days of the year because I lost my Mom almost 10 years ago.
Yesterday I had lunch with a friend who had also lost his mother a number of years ago. We discussed our mothers and how we dealt with the day. He challenged me to recall a happy Mother's Day. And sadly I could not remember one. I could remember a Mother's Day that was really sad but not a happy one.
The realization of not being able to remember a happy Mother's Day was disheartening. It is possible that because of mental issues that I deal with could have buried some of my memories too deep for me to recall. Or they could have masked the good memories.
I have no doubt that I loved my Mom very much and I miss her deeply. Yesterday I asked God to give my Mom a hug from me and tell her that I love her and miss her.
I'm not sure if I want to dig around in my memories of past Mother's Day. Maybe it is just best to think of today and let God deal with my past.
I'm just glad I had the mother I did and thank God that He knew which mom was the best for me.
Belated Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you and miss you.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Monday, May 9, 2011
Friday, August 6, 2010
Another Precious Little Bundle
Today we welcomed another addition to our family. Lauren Jill Drader was born by C-section at 10:42 a.m. She weighed in at 3 pounds 13 ounces and was 17 inches long.
Lauren arrived 5 weeks premature. She had to be born today because her mother's blood pressure was very high and the doctors were unable to get it under control.
Even though Lauren arrived early her lungs are developed enough that she doesn't have breathing issues. In fact, she just needs to put on more weight to be able to go home.
Lauren is my second great niece. It will be a little while before I can go to the hospital to see her. I look forward to that day.
Thank you Lord for the safe arrival of Lauren and for blessing our family with another little girl. Please help the doctors get Meghan's blood pressure under control and help Lauren put on the weight she needs to go home.
I can hardly wait until I am able to hold Lauren in my arms.
Lauren arrived 5 weeks premature. She had to be born today because her mother's blood pressure was very high and the doctors were unable to get it under control.
Even though Lauren arrived early her lungs are developed enough that she doesn't have breathing issues. In fact, she just needs to put on more weight to be able to go home.
Lauren is my second great niece. It will be a little while before I can go to the hospital to see her. I look forward to that day.
Thank you Lord for the safe arrival of Lauren and for blessing our family with another little girl. Please help the doctors get Meghan's blood pressure under control and help Lauren put on the weight she needs to go home.
I can hardly wait until I am able to hold Lauren in my arms.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Precious Bundle
On Saturday, July 17th, 2010, I got to hold a very precious bundle of joy in my arms. That was the day that Joseph Timothy Drader joined our family. He weighed in at 6 pounds 12 ounces and stretched out at 20 inches. I made sure I counted all his fingers and toes - he has the right amount.
Joseph is my fourth great nephew, the first child of my oldest nephew. Unlike his father who was born in Yellowknife, NWT and whom I wasn't able to see until he was a month old, Joseph was born in Edmonton so I was able to see him and hold him just hours after he arrived.
As I held Joseph in my arms I couldn't help but thank God for his safe arrival and the fact that we had another addition to our family. There was a time when it seemed like his mother might not be able to carry a baby.
One of the most precious things in my life have been the arrivals of each of my nephews, nieces, great nephews and great niece. Being able to hold them in my arms, to watching them grow and mature is something that helps to make my life complete. I look forward to watching Joseph grow and mature and become the special person God has planned for him to be. Joseph is now a special work in progress.
Thank you God for this new addition to our family.
Joseph is my fourth great nephew, the first child of my oldest nephew. Unlike his father who was born in Yellowknife, NWT and whom I wasn't able to see until he was a month old, Joseph was born in Edmonton so I was able to see him and hold him just hours after he arrived.
As I held Joseph in my arms I couldn't help but thank God for his safe arrival and the fact that we had another addition to our family. There was a time when it seemed like his mother might not be able to carry a baby.
One of the most precious things in my life have been the arrivals of each of my nephews, nieces, great nephews and great niece. Being able to hold them in my arms, to watching them grow and mature is something that helps to make my life complete. I look forward to watching Joseph grow and mature and become the special person God has planned for him to be. Joseph is now a special work in progress.
Thank you God for this new addition to our family.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Allison and Braden
I have been fortunate enough to have my 15 year old niece and 13 year old nephew spend a few days with me.
The three of us spent Monday together watching movies and marveling over the down pours of rain that came on suddenly and stopped just as suddenly.
After supper on Monday night (which I made with my own two hands), Braden got picked up by one of my sisters. My sister and brother-in-law were planning to take Braden golfing.
So Tuesday saw Allison and I alone. We slept in because we had been up late the night before watching "Forrest Gump". In the afternoon Allison and I went shopping which is one of Allison's favorite things to do. We lucked out at the Dollarama store but otherwise we just window shopped.
After supper on Tuesday my sister brought Braden back to my place and took Allison to her place.
On Wednesday Braden and I spent part of the afternoon building a hideout using tree branches. We had a fun time. We found some "treasures" in the area around our hideout. We also discovered that our hideout provided pretty good shelter from the rain as a brief shower fell while we were working on the hideout.
My sister picked up Braden after supper on Wednesday. Then she will meet up with Allison's and Braden's mom on Thursday.
So why am I telling you about this? Because even though at times the weather prevented us from doing some of the things we had planned, we still had a great time together. It has been quite a while since I have had Allison and Braden visit me and stay overnight. Although the kids live only 3 hours away and we talk on the phone at least weekly, I don't get to see them as much as I would like to.
Being with Allison and Braden and doing the things they like to do gives me an opportunity to be a hands on aunt like I was with my older nephews. Ever since my oldest nephew was born I promised myself that I would be as much a part of his life as I could and that continued as each of the boys came along.
I just want to say "Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity you gave me to spend some special time together with Allison and Braden. I am proud to be their aunt."
Have you hugged a kid today?
The three of us spent Monday together watching movies and marveling over the down pours of rain that came on suddenly and stopped just as suddenly.
After supper on Monday night (which I made with my own two hands), Braden got picked up by one of my sisters. My sister and brother-in-law were planning to take Braden golfing.
So Tuesday saw Allison and I alone. We slept in because we had been up late the night before watching "Forrest Gump". In the afternoon Allison and I went shopping which is one of Allison's favorite things to do. We lucked out at the Dollarama store but otherwise we just window shopped.
After supper on Tuesday my sister brought Braden back to my place and took Allison to her place.
On Wednesday Braden and I spent part of the afternoon building a hideout using tree branches. We had a fun time. We found some "treasures" in the area around our hideout. We also discovered that our hideout provided pretty good shelter from the rain as a brief shower fell while we were working on the hideout.
My sister picked up Braden after supper on Wednesday. Then she will meet up with Allison's and Braden's mom on Thursday.
So why am I telling you about this? Because even though at times the weather prevented us from doing some of the things we had planned, we still had a great time together. It has been quite a while since I have had Allison and Braden visit me and stay overnight. Although the kids live only 3 hours away and we talk on the phone at least weekly, I don't get to see them as much as I would like to.
Being with Allison and Braden and doing the things they like to do gives me an opportunity to be a hands on aunt like I was with my older nephews. Ever since my oldest nephew was born I promised myself that I would be as much a part of his life as I could and that continued as each of the boys came along.
I just want to say "Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity you gave me to spend some special time together with Allison and Braden. I am proud to be their aunt."
Have you hugged a kid today?
Friday, June 18, 2010
Encouragement
Last night I was able to do something that reminded me of how much I enjoy being a part of the lives of my nieces and nephews. It reminded me that encouraging them in their various pursuits in life is something I can do to help them grow and mature - physically, spiritually, emotionally or mentally, whether they take only a few steps and realize that's not for them, or they dive right in and make it work. I want to be there on the side lines cheering them on with all I have.
Last night I was given an opportunity to encourage and play cheerleader for my thirteen year old nephew. Braden is in the process of writing a story/book, including drawing the illustrations. He read a few paragraphs to me and he got me hooked. I wanted to find out "what happens next."
The more we talked about this project the more excited I became. Suddenly it dawned on me that, even if it doesn't go far, I want to help Braden publish his story. That may mean doing a self-publication of the book by just going to a copy shop and running off a couple dozen copies of the book but this book needs to be in print.
I was able to encourage Braden that I would walk with him through this process and that I'd be the first one to buy a copy of his book. Who knows where the book might go from there.
I was so pumped when I got off the phone thinking about the possibilities ahead for Braden. I think he is even more excited about the book and seeing it in print now. Yes, there is a long ways to go before the book is actually printed but I think both Braden and I have joined together to see this through.
I am excited that Braden shared his dream with me and now I can help him where he needs help and encourage him when he needs encouragement. I look forward to holding the final product and sharing that special moment with Braden.
Write on Braden! Write on!
Last night I was given an opportunity to encourage and play cheerleader for my thirteen year old nephew. Braden is in the process of writing a story/book, including drawing the illustrations. He read a few paragraphs to me and he got me hooked. I wanted to find out "what happens next."
The more we talked about this project the more excited I became. Suddenly it dawned on me that, even if it doesn't go far, I want to help Braden publish his story. That may mean doing a self-publication of the book by just going to a copy shop and running off a couple dozen copies of the book but this book needs to be in print.
I was able to encourage Braden that I would walk with him through this process and that I'd be the first one to buy a copy of his book. Who knows where the book might go from there.
I was so pumped when I got off the phone thinking about the possibilities ahead for Braden. I think he is even more excited about the book and seeing it in print now. Yes, there is a long ways to go before the book is actually printed but I think both Braden and I have joined together to see this through.
I am excited that Braden shared his dream with me and now I can help him where he needs help and encourage him when he needs encouragement. I look forward to holding the final product and sharing that special moment with Braden.
Write on Braden! Write on!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
New Arrival
Today I am doing the dance of joy as I celebrate the birth of my first great-niece Sara Elizabeth who was born yesterday weighing in at 9 pounds 3 ounces. In a family that consists of mostly boys, it is exciting to have a girl born into the family. Sara Elizabeth is the first girl born into our family since my youngest sister was born 48 years ago. I do have a niece by adoption who is just as much a part of our family as if she had been born into it and I have five nieces by marriage, but Sara has presented a new perspective to our family.
I now have seven nephews (one by adoption), six nieces (one by adoption and five by marriage), three great-nephews and one great-niece. I also have three more babies due over the next six months.
Regardless of how my nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-niece have become a part of our family each one of them is special. I love them all very much. I enjoy watching them grow and mature and make lives for themselves.
Thank you God for the safe arrival of Sara. I pray that you would bless her, watch over her and help her to grow up to become the person you have destined for her to be.
I now have seven nephews (one by adoption), six nieces (one by adoption and five by marriage), three great-nephews and one great-niece. I also have three more babies due over the next six months.
Regardless of how my nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-niece have become a part of our family each one of them is special. I love them all very much. I enjoy watching them grow and mature and make lives for themselves.
Thank you God for the safe arrival of Sara. I pray that you would bless her, watch over her and help her to grow up to become the person you have destined for her to be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)