Tomorrow marks a week since I got that long awaited phone call; “Donna? My water just broke.” she nervously stated through the cell phone. My heart began to pound out of my chest and an emotional lump began rapidly growing in my throat, as my mind raced past the years of witnessing the transition from broken little girl to beautiful very-soon-to-be new mommy.
To have known her as a confused child who just got her first period (sitting with me and an encyclopedia opened to U for Uterus, as I tried to explain that babies don’t actually come out of a stomach) and to now know her as a woman, wife and a brand new mommy…unexplainable.
To have ached with her over her first heartbreak.
To have held her hand when she got her belly ring.
To have cheered loudly for her during basketball games and various awards ceremonies.
To have rushed her anxiously to the dentist when some kid knocked her front tooth loose on the basketball court.
To have cried proud tears as she received her diploma.
And now I ache for her, and cheer for her, and rush to her, and hold her hand, and cry proud tears as she becomes a mommy herself – hoping knowing that as she mothers her new little one, a piece of me will be in there somewhere guiding her maternal instinct. She may not have come from my womb but she is still a product of my heart, and I am so proud of my sis-in-law, Shade!
Welcome to the world, Arwen Elison aka Miss Ari Girl! I love you so much already and want you to know that you are blessed and a blessing. Good job, Shade and Devon…and good luck 🙂
You’ve made me cry once more with your emotional recall of memories. You are an exceptional woman, and you have raised an exceptional woman as well. I am proud of you both. Good job.
OMG DONNA….my hormones are already out of whack..not I am beside myself with emotion!!! Can’t stop crying!!! Thank you SO much for ALL that you have done and is still doing!! God knew what He was doing when He took my grandmother from me and gave me you!!! I couldn’t ask for anything else!!! My little family is SO blessed that you are in our lives and will be u forever!!!:) You and Tony did an AMAZING job and now my daughter gets to benefit from how you guys raised me!! THANK YOU!!!!
Special people create more special people. The circle of life continues on. Resiliency in children is developed when there is at least one (often it is only one) loving person in the child’s life who can teach them to celebrate their uniqueness. Nurturing and encouraging another life is hard work but it can be so rewarding. And now because of that love and all the wonderful people in her life Miss Ari will never have to know the kind of heartache, pain and loneliness that her mama experienced as a little girl. There is an awesome God who redeems our life story and creates beauty from ashes. I am so thankful for Him and for the blessings of new life into this amazing family that He created!!
Ohhhhh man! Now I am beside myself with emotion again too! Lord have mercy…thank you for saying so, and thank you for becoming positive proof that we made some right choices. Love you so dang much!
Very sweet. Congratulations to you all.