Visits

There is nothing more exciting in our house than visits from family and friends.  Here are some recent visitors.

First time in the high chair!  (It only lasted a few minutes, but she liked being able to see the action.)

This was a special visit from a special friend.  Glad you were able to meet Addy!

We look forward to many more visits and sleepovers.  Before we know it, these kiddies will be so busy, they will have to squeeze visits to Grandma and Grandpa's into their schedules.  We are enjoying the moment.

Tears

I am not sure if I should or will publish this entry.  The emotions are so raw that it might not be fair to readers, especially those readers who are casual  acquaintances, to have to read it.  So...you are forewarned.  Stop now if you check this blog just for pictures of the kids.

This has been a strange, hard, sad weekend for two reasons.  The first reason is the funeral I attended on Friday.  The 21 year old young woman was a student at the last school in which I worked, and I was saddened to read of her sudden passing.  I joined other present and former staff members at the prayers, and with them tried to find the words to comfort her parents, grandparents, and younger sister.  The words were few, but the emotions were huge.  With others, I couldn't help but put myself in the place of this young woman's parents.  How do you bury a child?  I know others who have done it, and I guess I would be able to do it too if I had to, but I can't get my head around the overwhelming emotions that would be part of that process.  It is so unnatural, the order is completely wrong, and a life is over far too soon.

Then today, my good friend lost her oldest daughter, and as yet no one knows how it happened.  She was in hospital, awaiting surgery tomorrow, and suddenly and peacefully passed away.  We are all in shock.  This young woman was a wife and mother of two beautiful little girls.  Her husband knows how much he will miss her, but the children have a lifetime in which to learn just what they have lost. How do they go on with life, when there is such  a huge missing piece? How do my friend and her husband, and this young woman's sisters and brother, cope with losing her so suddenly?  How do they go on day after day, knowing that for their first born, life is over?

I struggle with the notion that things happen for a reason.  If there is a reason for either one of these young women to leave this earth, I can't see it. I can only pray that I never have to go through what these two families are experiencing tonight.

Welcome Little One!

According to my family, one is not an official member of the family until one's name is on "the quilt".  So, welcome little one, you are now official!