Category Archives: Parenting

Life as We Know it.

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I try not to post things about the mushy sad side of dealing with a NICU stay. And there are a lot of things that I have questioned over the past four months this is the best Explanation I have seen as to why we are given the things that we are given in life. My family was not given a premature baby instead we were given Quinn who is amazing in her own right and has already taught us more than I ever could realize.  

A Perfect Choice
Finally, God passes a name to an angel and smiles, “Give her a premature child.”
The angel is curious. “Why this one, God? She’s so happy.”
‘Exactly, smiles God, ‘Could I give a premature child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel.’
‘But has she the patience?’ asks the angel.
‘I don’t want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.
Once the shock and resentment wear off, she’ll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother’
‘But lord, I don’t think she even believes in you.’
God smiles. ‘No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness.’
The angel gasp, ‘Selfishness? Is that a virtue?’
God nods. ‘If she can’t separate herself from the child occasionally, she’ll never survive.
Yes, there is a woman whom I will bless with a child in a less perfect way. She doesn’t realize it yet, but she will be envied. She will never consider a ‘step’ ordinary. When her child says ‘Mama’ for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.’
‘And what about her patron saint? Asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.
God smiles. ‘A mirror will suffice.’

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Kids will be Kids – No matter where they Grow up!

DSC08467I was a lucky one I guess.  My Dad always insisted on living in the country, we may not have had a huge place growing up, but we always had outside space to play and explore in without worry about traffic, predators (other than a coyote here and there), or hearing the neighbors!  How amazing that was to have back then.  We had each other, just our siblings for the most part, unless we traveled via horse or bike to the nearest neighbors.  We had to bike to the neighbors to play in their barn (it was of course, way cooler than ours) always listening for Dad’s whistle calling us home for supper, We pretended to play Army in the tree groves in the pastures, we enjoyed being able to enjoy riding horse through many pastures to the next place to visit and of course play in the closet creek we could find! DSC07786

I do remember we spent one summer living in town, oh how I was so jealous for a while after that summer.  Biking on pavement paths, walking to the ice cream parlor, just a few blocks to the bowling alley, just a quick drive to the park, not to mention friends in the same neighborhood (meaning you didn’t have to jump on a horse, bike, or in a car to get to). Oh and I almost forgot – FAST FOOD!   I always thought that was the life, I enjoyed college, being in town, just a moments jump to whatever we needed.

Now that I have kids of my own, looking back there really is amazing things in both Country living and City living, it is just a toss up of how you wanDSC07573t your family to experience life.  As I watch my own children growing up in the country on the ranch, able to play in their very own private creek and dams  (shared with all the neighbors kids of course), able to go learn to pick wildflowers and enjoy picking and eating as many wild berries as they can get their hands on, able to look out their window and step foot in the horse pasture with horses just waiting for them.  Not to mention the occasional sighting of black bears, snowmobiling without having to drive anywhere, and exploring little caves (dugouts really :P).

I realize that this is the life I (whoops, I mean WE) chose for them.  I hope someday they will look back and also realize how amazing their childhood was and be grateful for all they were able to experience living out on the ranch.

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