A Mah'velous Mother's Day

Mother's Day hasn't always been a day to be pampered around here.

In all fairness, it's usually been a special day to have all the family around, whether at home or elsewhere.  And I LOVE THAT!  But, ultimately, the moms did the planning, preparing, cooking, cleaning and shopping and had little opportunity to actually savor the time with her family.  But, because it was a reason to gather, no one ever minded what could be considered 'work'. 

But this year...this year... was an exquisite example of what Mother's Day should be and I joyfully savored every moment!  I will admit that it was odd not to be included in the planning, not knowing who was attending, not knowing what was being served or who was doing what. But I finally let go and just allowed the day to evolve. 

I was not disappointed!   From the flowers to the endless food buffet, the fabulous weather, my lovely extended family, meaty conversations, the dessert and even the picture taking...

It was a glorious day from start to finish.

Thank you children for listening
and acknowledging what I wanted to be important!

"When a child is born, so are grandmothers and grandfathers."

Okay, so it's official.  Today begins a new phase in our lives.  We are going to be grandparents! 
In a room filled with almost the entire family (a rarity in and of itself),  my son tries to get everyone's attention-his wife looking at him with an anticipatory smile as he shares that she is pregnant.   As if life couldn't get more exciting, God presents us with this moment of wonderfulness.  And, as with any death-defying moment, my life flashes before my eyes.  I am overwhelmed with emotion, thoughts and feelings.  My heart races, then stops and restarts, my mind jumbles with a myriad of thoughts colliding and bouncing off my brain. Then, simple joy overtakes the chaos in my head and I stand back and watch in contentment,  my insides still fluttering from the rush!   I watch the congratulations going around...hugs & love, questions about due dates and how mom is feeling.  I hardly have the words to express my feelings.  All I can do is to join in the revelry and express, face-to-face, arm to arm, shoulder to shoulder, to both Sean and Lizzy, my most heartfelt congratulations with big hugs, fighting back the tears that threaten to change the celebratrory mood.
Now, I am to become what I've known since childhood would be the most wonderful and precious phase of my life~that of grandparent. I had a wonderful example of grandparenting in my Grandma Mimi.  Her hospitality and her selflessness were wonderful examples to me.  In the months to come, as I ponder this new role, I will share moments and memories.  One will know the richness of my childhood through them.  I can only pray that I will be the grandparent she was to me.  My heart has the desire and I  trust God will handle the reality.

Taking the Healing

....so, as we continue to deal with this prostate cancer, I know, without a doubt  that we are blessed. I know that God has a purpose here. I don't know what it is or where He will lead us. I really don't know alot, but I trust Him.  As I am learning to trust Him more and more, He is revealing some pretty interesting things to me.  First and foremost He is encouraging me to know that I am not in control of my husband's health, his life choices or even his cancer.  Then, I get to pray. I get to rest in His hands and I get to place my husband there, too---every day.  He is showing me how growing in Him is all about what we allow Him to do in us.  My God is awesome and wonderful.  
God is also speaking clearly to Dennis. Earlier this week, he came home, after an evening dinner and prayer meeting with his men's group, with a revelation.  He told me that when some of the men were praying, for health issues, healings, etc. he started to have a bit of a pity party.  He has been faithfully sharing with everyone that God is going to heal him, and he has spoken nothing but healing since his diagnosis.  But, he began to wonder "what if God doesn't heal me?"  He worried first for himself, but then, in deeper thinking, he really didn't want those non-believers in his life to think less of his God because he was not healed.  Then, the Lord moved and in his spirit he felt a peace that spoke.  It spoke that even if he was not healed in the natural, the confidence he has in his healing is leading him to heaven, where he will be whole and healthy.  So, either way, he wins! Wow. Now, that's a revelation.  So, Dennis is taking the healing walk.  That is living for God's purpose, no matter what.  What an honor. What a blessing to be part of the plan!