Category Archives: Day to Day

This is when the big event begins – finally.  Tomorrow Grace goes to the hospital to be induced.  From there I guess we will wait and see what developes.  A c-section may be needed.  She is a bit scared. 

Keep her in your prayers. 

Dixie posts about getting ready for Haloween with her kids.  I have some good memories of costumes too.  Most involve other people wearing them.  My self consciousness always made me feel a bit stupid dressing up.

We had the most fun ever at Haloween when we lived in the Congo.  That is until some pious missionary family came out in the late 80’s and informed us that we were indeed wicked for our antics.  Then we all felt a bit guilty so the fun was greatly diminished.  Phooey on them anyway.  I wouldn’t let them get away with that these days.  I’d whip out the article Randall quoted and shove it under their noses – and laugh.  Then I would really have to think up a good costume to make my point I suppose.  Not likely I would actually go through with it but …

Some of the best costumes my kids came up with:
        – There was the year Rachelle went as a hut.  She had a small version of a thatched roof made for her and walked around under that all night inside her cardboard walls.  She won the costume prise that year.
       _ One of the boys and two friends went as an accident case.  They borrowed a stretcher.  One was the wounded, the others the stretcher bearers.  I think the wounded one that got the free ride was the smartest of the three.

Then there was the year Leo was the beauty queen – Miss Karawa.  Some well meaning group had sent out an ample one piece bathing suit.  One can not be too thankful for the well chosen gifts sent out to the mission field.  It was a beautiful royal blue.  My did he look good!!  I wish I could find the pictures.

Waiting.  I told her she could have it anytime now since I am off work for the next few days.  She never did listen!

Actually she is a bit mad at me right now I think – I am pretty sure. 

This weekend was so good for me.  I had an extra day and a half off work and I was getting close to exhaustion.  Today I feel ready to face life again.

Just one thing.  Kieran’s Blue (as in a stuffed dog) lost part of his nose this morning.  We have a real live dog Maisy, you see.  She is still young and thinks most everything is one of her chew toys.  So this morning as I was upstairs getting ready to leave with Kieran for daycare, Maisy found Blue.  I spent about 11/2 hours looking in the stores for a replacement with no luck.  Tonioght I will have to tell Kieran’s daddy that I was a negligent grandmother.  Hopefully we will find another – but there are no ones like it in PA – as far as I can tell. 

And we are still waiting.  Grace is still carrying around her little basketball of a belly.  We are 3 days past due date and holding.  Dr’s appt this am may give her some news.  But we all know this boy of hers will eventually make his grand entrance. 

We are waiting for several events around our house.  Grace is most of all impatiently waiting for her baby who was due on Friday.  It is not too surprising that it is going over her due date.  I wonder what the percentage of past due date first babies are?  I think it is pretty high.  I gave reassured her that it will however not forget to come forth and that there is no worry – she will not somehow sleep through it.  She was saying she was having some contractions last night and was afraid to fall asleep.

We are also right now waiting for Sara.  We are waiting to go to Superstore to do some shopping for things she “needs”.   I reminded her it has better be for things she needs.  She had to shower, straighten her hair, get dressed, and whatever else it has been taking her what seems like hours to do.  Grace and I got dressed.  we are after all just going to Superstore!

Four years ago, Oct 17th, Logan Mathew Alexander Lanoie-McEwan died in the arms of his parents.  Two days old.  We were all there together.  Peace to his memory.  He helped join two families together.  That part of our lives cannot be undone.  Lord have mercy on us.  Grant us more of your healing today.

Today – lots of good conversation, laughter, food.  Being with friends.  It is one of God’s ways of letting us know we are cared for.

Thank you God for friends.

I have been getting to know my grandson – one good thing that has come out of these days of broken relationships.  Yesterday and last night we spent a lot of time together.  And he had a good time.  A week ago he would have spent a lot more time crying. 

I also am beginning to learn first hand that family gatherings are hard times for those in the grieving process.  Absences are magnified and hurts are all too close to the surface.  In spite of family being there to support, there are times when we can’t.  We can’t take away pain.  We go on with our celebrations and in the midst of celebration pain becomes magnified for the hurting ones.  They do not want to spoil the day for everyone so they stay away.  So David stayed home, alone for Thanksgiving.  Kieran went with us over to his Great-grandmother’s place.

It was kind of cool, actually in some ways, that the celebration moved over to our house in the evening and the guys of the family gathered around David.  And then some friends of his called and he got to go and spend some time with them. 

Meanwhile Grandma babysat again.

A couple of things struck me about the relationship between Kieran and me.  I want to get to know him better.  I want him to know that I love him.  I know that if I am going to make this clear to him I can’t just say it; I can’t stay up on the adult plane of events and expect him to “get” the fact that I love him and want to know him.  I have to get down on his level when I want to play with him.  So I have spent a lot of time sitting on the floor, crawling around as he plays cars, picking him up to sit beside me so we can read or do puzzles.  I have to.  Otherwise he won’t feel my enjoyment in his play.  He won’t know that he has my undivided attention.  He won’t know that I want to play with him, be with him and love him.  He’s got to get to know me and he’s got to learn to trust that I love him.

There is a lot in this grandmother/grandchild relationship that reminds me of God and myself.  Can you imagine if he had not come down to our level?  He actually got down here and played in the stuff that makes up our lives.  And he has shown me many times that he is right down here beside me working through the stuff that puzzles me right now.  So I trust him –  I am learning to. 

Monday –
     the day when everyone at work asks “How was your weekend?”

This is work.  I’m the boss.  Dental offices are not always the cheeriest places anyway.  What am I supposed to say?  Crappy – about as sad as they get? 

Not likely.

So, much of the day was spent pushing my emotions under cover. 

Then I managed to have a good talk with someone.  That helped.

Little things like that are small gifts.  Thank you God.

I was in the middle of posting some painful stuff about love – watching it die.  Maybe it is more true to say that it is killing something in my son.  I feel helpless.  So I tried to put it into words but couldn’t.

Then I remember that in our weakness  God shows his strength.  Well, we are pretty weak and helpless right now.

Lord have mercy on this fragile thing of a marriage.
Have mercy on the little guy who already is caught in the middle.
Give us some of your wisdom.  Grant our prayers for healing.
Lord have mercy.