The Great Stuff

I was watching a movie the other night called Sarah's Choice. It was a good message, not a great movie, the acting was not real great but one conversation stood out to me. A young man was asking his uncle about marriage, was it hard, was it worth it? The uncle said, " yes it's hard, it can be good, it can be awful at first, but too many people give up before they get to the great." The great stuff, he said, is what makes marriage worthwhile.

I'm at the great stuff. I almost gave up. We split up once, for about three days. I didn't want to move from Ohio, away from my family. I was young and just spent two years in Germany. I did not want to move to a little town that had nothing, if you think our little town is bad now, try twenty three years ago when there really was only one stoplight, now I think we have four.

I was being stubborn, I was being demanding, and I went to my parents house. On day one I was missing him, on day two my two kids were crying for their dad, on day three I met him back at the apartment, we packed up our stuff and I got pregnant with kid number three. We moved.

Best thing we ever did. I love my little town. I love my husband for always providing for us and taking care of us. For being strong and determined. For never giving up on me. We pushed through the bad stuff, the lean years, the crying babies, and the immaturity, because really that's what it is. Immaturity. I'm not talking about real domestic problems, abuse, infidelity. I'm talking about the boredom, the never ending day to day stuff. The why did I get married. Why isn't it as exciting as it was. Push through that young people, because then you get to the great stuff.

The trust. I can depend on my husband. I trust him completely. I know he is dependable, I know he will never leave me, and I know that when he tells me something, its the truth. Trust is some great stuff.

The companionship. He is my bud. My best friend. I can't wait to see him every day when he comes home at lunch because something funny, stupid, or important might have happened that morning and I get to tell him and he acts interested, I may have a new picture of our granddaughter. I will even go to dumb ole Home Depot with him because I like to be with him, and talk. Companionship that's some great stuff.

Romance. It's gets better then 18 year old teenager longing, believe me yes it does. Romance is some great stuff.

Jewelry. He can afford to give me more because I stuck around and helped him get through college so he could get a better job. Jewelry is some great stuff. :)

Shared memories. We have been through it. Highs, lows, every memory I have for the last thirty years has Earl in it somewhere and he remembers too. Something we can talk about, cry or smile over. Shared memorie is some great stuff.

Love. He loves me. I love him. Jamie told me the best advice anyone ever told him about marriage was to prefer one another. Earl told a young man once, that was about to get married, make her your very best friend, put her above everyone else. He does that to me. I do that to him. Ask the kids, it was me and him against three. We stuck together. That is the great stuff, young people when you are number one in someone's life and you know it, there is nothing you can't handle together. Stick in there and wait for the great stuff!

I may have to divorce him though, tonight he asked me if I wanted to move to Minnesota.

A funny thing happened on the way to the .....

Do you have that face? I have that face. The one where some people you meet think they know you, or you are related to someone they know or are you sure we haven't met before? I can't tell you how many times someone has said to me "I think we've met before." "Um no." " Are you sure, you look familiar, are you Jenny's  sister?" "No." " did you go to East Central High School?" "No." "Well I'm sure I know you from somewhere." I usually just say maybe and try to escape. I think I know everyone I know, puhleese.  But the best was several years ago when Justin was a baby, and there was still the little IGA store on the corner of Huntersville and Pearl.  I had a big blue Bonneville, a boat of a car my Uncle had given me and it was and always will be my favorite car. It was roomy and had some power. My dad called me lead foot as I took those curves on 229 going at the speed of light, anyway sidetracked. Thinking of that car just made me miss it. So one morning I had only Justin with me and I was putting him back in his car seat getting ready to leave, was bent over trying to get the car seat buckled( they were bad then- they are worse now I didn't even attempt Brooklyn's on Sunday, I let her Mom do it :) when suddenly I was pounded on the back, ouch- it hurt and I turned around ready to do damage to the person who dared hit me. It was a startled dark haired woman who immediately apoligised " I'm so sorry I thought you were Barb." So apparently even my back side looks familiar.

Worse then people not knowing if they know me or not, is people not knowing my name even after hearing it 453 times. We have lived in our house here for almost thirteen years and my older next door neighbor still calls me Debbie. She sends me invites with Debbie Rowland on it. When I broke my ankle she called me on the phone. "Debbie?" " no this is Diane." "Debbie?" "No this is Diane." "Is this Debbie?" "Yes," I finally said. " This is Debbie." The kicker not too long ago I was sitting on my backyard swing with my husband and my neighbor on the other side of me was on her deck. I heard "Hey Debbie" I didn't answer right away and again "Debbie Debbie!!"  I looked at my husband "Is she talking to me?" He said "Yep I think so." "Oh well!" I said "When they talk about me behind my back at least people won't know who the heck they are talking about!"

One thing we can know for sure is the God of the universe knows our name. He created us and loves us, and if no one down here on earth knows us, he does. For that I am thankful.

Isaiah 43:1 ESV 

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Welcome Home Little One

My second grandchild came home on Friday. She spent 39 days in the NICU - 39 long days because there was a RSV restriction because of flu season and no one could see her but her parents- which is understandable but still made for a very long wait. Brooklyn is tiny- not yet 5 lbs when she came home but close, she was 2 lb 12 oz when she was born so almost 5 lbs is a wonderful jump. But still little. She is sweet. So very sweet and I don't think I really understood how sweet a grandchild is until I became a grandmother. You hear grandparents say that all the time but how can they be sweeter then your own? They can. And my daughter fought for Brooklyn- back at the hospital at 28 weeks she spent 5 weeks at the hospital- the whole time reliving the birth of David a year ago. But Jenna made it to 32 weeks this time- not 27 and Brooklyn was stronger. It was a nightmare for all of us, my daughter, son in law,  my husband and the rest of the family. December was spent in prayer, begging on my part that this time would be different - that she please not lose this baby like she lost her son. We celebrated the day of David's birth- December 12th with Jenna still in the hospital - missing him, hurting because I would have loved to see him as a one year old running around or crawling, I would have loved to have fed him cake. A year later it is still hard to understand but we made it a year. We can push on, still Jenna was in the hospital battling with preeclampsia again and on bed rest this time trying to get to 34 weeks so Brooklyn could be born with a fighting chance.  Then came Christmas Eve. She had been doing well so Earl and I were just lounging, Justin was gone to celebrate with his girlfriend and it was past six and we wanted ice cream. No place was open except the local drug store so Earl went to try and find us ice cream. The phone rang and it was Jenna "they want to deliver Brooklyn tonight." There was a loud ringing in my ears, fear was taking over, I was reliving it all again- I kept repeating What? What? and Jenna started crying. That snapped me back to reality- "We will be there it's going to be ok." Ben was already on his way so when Earl came up the stairs with the ice cream he took one look at my face and asked what is wrong. I lost it - for the last time that night, I was determined I would not cry in front of my daughter.  I can stand and be still and be strong in front of everyone but my husband. We called my brother and he came to stay with Mom and we left for the hospital. Thankfully we made it in time- there were three other babies born that night before they took Jenna back and at 10:39 pm my little namesake was born. Brooklyn Diane- she was 2 lb 12 oz and 14 1/2 inches long. I was so honored - it made me feel amazing that they loved me enough to give my name to my granddaughter. Jenna is my sweet daughter and I was also very thankful she was now out of danger too. We didn't get to see Brooklyn for over another hour so on Christmas Day 2012 I got to meet my granddaughter. Best. Christmas. Ever.

We came home, slept a few hours and went right back up to the hospital. Earl and I were very excited because they told us as grandparents we could come to the NICU and see Brooklyn whenever we wanted. The very next day they told us that RSV restriction would start on Friday. We only had one more day to see her.  "So much for grandparents rights!" Earl said. Dang.

So it was 39 days before I would get to hold her. I lived vicariously through pictures all of January and bombarded Jenna with a million questions every time she went to the hospital. " kiss her for me" I would say, " tell her MawMaw loves her,"

On Friday I got to tell her myself as I kissed her head, her fingers and toes. I held her and I cried of course. Because she is so sweet.

And I'm so thankful. God heard our prayer and the prayers of our many friends and family. I can never be thankful enough for everyone who prayed with us, who gave us comfort and I cannot get enough of Brooklyn. Last night I babysat for the first time. For 6 hours. She spent 5 hours 45 minutes in my arms, I let Earl have her for 15 minutes while I hovered over him.

I will forever miss my grandson David. Our hearts and arms will forever long for him. I believe he is there in heaven being loved by so many. Each  time I drop  kiss on Brooklyn's head I will remember him. Brooklyn is our little rainbow God sent to us after the storm.

And she is so sweet.

I finally know what all the other grandmothers have been trying to tell me.

There is nothing better than having a grandchild.

Isn't she sweet? :)