Seriously, a truly beautiful entry. If either of my two children had ever come to term, I’ve always been convinced at least one would’ve been a girl. Probably the 1st. OK, this was a mother/daughter thing, but it still made my miss not having a girl or two of my own yet = /

Also, sorry to read about the loss of the two mothers. Many prayers have already been proffered!

Peace!

jonny

Donna and Janice–so sorry for your sad news. We will pray for you.

Tori, I remember having both daughters living at home (I sound like an old grandma!) and having those unexpected times to treasure. Ours usually involved uncontrolled laughter and someone being somewhat inappropriate (OK,maybe it was me.)I’ve seen the way you look at Madi and Char…as if you still can’t believe the miracle of having them, even after 17 years of motherhood. It is a sacred thing.

Thank you for sharing your heart with us.

And Robyn, bless your sweet generous heart for making quality time for your niece! I loved the part where you said you and your sisters whisper to her heart that “we had a good time, didn’t we?”, hoping she will return! I believe you are giving this precious girl a wonderful life-changing gift of yourselves! Boys may come along and distract her for a short while, but you have planted yourselves in her heart forever with kindness and love when she most needed it. She’ll always remember you spending time with her and enriching her life. So many kids of divorce today live that one week with one parent and the next with the other——a divided existance and an unsettling life, at best. You and your sisters have brought some security and “same-ness” into her life that, I’m sure, has brought her great comfort. God bless you!

Betty, there ain’t enough Aleve in the Western Hemisphere to allow me to play on the playground like you did with your grandchildren! More power to ya!

And Tori, you and Russ are GREAT PARENTS! You’re right about there being no guarantees that they won’t take a wrong turn here or there, but your foundation of love, respect, quality time together, and “being present” when you are with them and really “knowing” and celebrating who they are is as close to a guarantee as you can get. Good job!

bettyrwoodward– I can just picture you playing on the playground with your grands! And Petunia has settled in on the top of Madi’s dresser.

VA-Cathy– Yeah, those boyfriends are definitely distractions… What is your daughter’s name?

DonnaMariePatterson– Donna, I am so so sorry. And I totally understand those “happy and sad” feelings. Your mother raised a lovely daughter.

Janice– What a nightmare for you and your sweet dad! I am in shock. There are no pat, easy answers to things like this and I won’t try to offer any– but please know that you are absolutely in my prayers. You have friends standing with you here.

rockin robin– Thank God your niece has you! Don’t ever underestimate what a huge difference you can make, and what a godly impact you can have on her. Russ had someone like that in his life as a teen, and they are still a beloved part of our family today.

MostlySunny— Thank you for those kind words. And you’re right, I will treasure these times.

Tori – I’m so proud of you! You are a great Mom; please don’t forget that! I’m so glad you didn’t just dump the girls off at the mall and throw some money at them and say “See you later. I’ll pick you up at 6:00.” Treasure these moments WITH them; they’ll be gone before you know it. No, no one is immune to the junk in the world, but the more time we spend with our kids (and having fun with them), and praying them through…none of it is wasted.

I love Petunia! She/he/it will be a constant reminder of a great day!

Sounds like you had a special special day. I can so see your heart in your stories and it makes me feel… (I’m sure it makes all of us feel that we’ve known you and the Taff family forever) The picture was so beautifully painted – because I saw the girls running off to the playground before I read it.

I am so in tune of late to my limited time with my niece. She comes from a broken home. She’s 12 and my brother gets her every other weekend except if she has plans with her friends or her mom. My brother brings her to visit and me and two of my sisters take her away for the day… taking her shopping, out to eat or just goofing off at one of our homes. Everytime we have a good day with her we always throw whispers to her heart “we had a great day, didn’t we”, sort of as ghostly whispers that will hopefully convince her to come back again. Her friends are already – sometimes – creaping in there into the #1 spot over three lonely pathetic aunts, just trying to keep her grounded and out of harms way, and away from bad influences. But soon the boys will come around and she won’t have time for us as much anymore. With no children of our own, it’s kinda sad to think about. But I know she’s a good kid and I too pray that God will keep her walking the straight and the narrow.

Life! Isn’t it sooo beautiful. It’s a jig-saw puzzle and you spend your days trying to fit all the pieces together. When that last piece is laid down, then is when you get to enter into that golden city where nothing will confuse you ever again… no sadness, no sickness, no good-byes… no more wondering when will this happen and why did that happen… We will know all the answers to questions we’ve pondered here on earth.

Until then we can glory in special times with family and friends!

I had to face that ‘dreaded day’ Easter Sunday. Mama went Home. Mama and Daddy always waved goodbye until we were out of sight. Now they are together and happy again. I’m happy and sad. Sad that I can’t rub her velvety arms anymore. Happy that when I’m with her again that those arms will never have to wave goodbye to me again.

God is good!

DonnaPatterson

Other than that, I totally understand the whole graveyard thing don’t worry. Most of the rest of the the family trapse around graveyards for family tree research – although I find that interesting – I leave them to do the hard work and just read the gravestones, the names and try to fill in the gaps of what their lives may have been like. In fact we were on a way to a graveyard when I first went into labour with Hannah. In the end I did have to admit that I was having contractions and we turned around, because giving birth in a graveyard might have been a little odd.