It was a Saturday, and as was our tradition we went to breakfast as a family. This Saturday was Big City Bread, and we lingered over egg biscuits, fruit, and lattes while Songbird and Bro colored with chalks. It was the core of Summer, yet if I remember correctly this day was a bit more temperate. After breakfast we headed over to Lowe's to buy some stepping stones to connect the back patio to the playground. Papa had a deep wound on the bottom of his foot from some natural stone we had in place, and I couldn't rest until we had gotten rid of all the pieces and replaced them with a sturdier cement (I was having visions of barefoot little ones and bloody feet). At the store we ran into the Bryants from church and they asked about you. I said not yet, it wasn't time yet.
We got home and had some lunch and then a family work session - digging up old pieces of rock, loosening the dirt and mud, planting the new stones - laying them just so - creating order out of chaos. And when it was all done we stopped and smiled, sitting together on the steps out back.
It was time to make a call to Grandma who had been sick at the hospital. Only a month before we were visiting her in person, swimming at the pool, having a leisurely lunch. Her foot was hurting then, but little did we know... She went to the hospital the day after our visit, and had been there for weeks at this point - in and out of consciousness. But this day, this call, she was fully aware - even able to respond to our questions, singing, stories. And then it was time to go - she was sleepy, and Songbird and Bro needed rest, so we said good-bye...the last time.
After everyone was settled in for naps, your Papa and I settled on the couch - me with a novel and him with his laptop. I was noticing the ebb and flow of my belly hardening and softening over time, so I decided to watch and count more carefully. The light was beautiful - almost magical - coming in the french doors, and then, as if out of the bluest part of the sky, it started raining softly and slowly - ushering in something new.
Later that evening we were at the hospital holding you in our arms, rejoicing over life. Yesterday, exactly one year later, we told the story again over dinner, and remembered that day and that week - saying hello to life, and saying goodbye to life. It is sweet to remember life and death together in this way, and to know that Grandma had a rich 93 years, and that we shared part of it with her. And sweet to welcome you, and bless you with her name.
beautiful! she is such a bright little girl...all smiles and cuddles. love you sweet one!
ReplyDeleteHappy bday to Raindrop! She is beautiful. :)
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