Chrysalis - A New Life

The word chrysalis brings to mind a safe, warm, cozy place...When I think of it, I envision a lovely butterfly and the promise of something beautiful. There are so many beautiful things in our world: sunsets, the night sky, waterfalls, rivers, spring flowers, fall leaves, and New Life.

My husband and I are blessed with two grown children and several grandchildren, and this summer we will welcome yet another life into our family. Our daughter and her husband are expecting their first child, and this little one has special meaning to me. Many years ago, we began the adoption process to add a baby girl to our family of three. Our son had just turned eight, and it seemed the perfect time to plunge ahead. We were fortunate to know two couples who had been through the adoption process and so they gave us confidence and valuable information.

After our home study, complete with references and photo albums, was submitted to Holt International Children's Services, the wait began. God must have known we were more than ready because only four months later we received the news our daughter had been born and was waiting for us in Inchon, South Korea. Today, future parents have ultrasound images to cherish. We had two black and white photos of our beautiful baby girl. As a proud "expectant" mother, I showed them to family and friends and counted the weeks to her homecoming.

We were told our daughter would arrive the end of January, but as plans do, they changed. The phone call came right after New Year's Day 1983 and we headed to the airport a few days later. It all seems so long ago, but as July 26, 2016 approaches, the same emotions sweep over me. As a grandmother, my role is entirely different, but I hope to have an impact on her precious life and build memories to last a lifetime. As with the first embrace with our daughter so many years ago, I can't wait to see my daughter's baby, to stroke her velvet-soft face, to look into her eyes, and pull her close to my heart. Welcome home, little angel.

New Life in February

It's been awhile since my last posting, but I have an excellent excuse. On February 1 we celebrated, and continue to celebrate, the birth of our third grandson. He was born at home, as planned, and arrived safe and sound amid much prayer and support from family. No, we didn't actually see his birth, but we were downstairs and heard his first cry. Another thing, besides the amazing miracle of birth, is that he looks so much like our son, and I feel transported back to 1973.

With this precious one's birth, we add another February birthday to our roster, giving us an additional reason, besides Valentine's Day, to love February. Our part of the country has been experiencing unseasonably warm weather and a few brave crocuses and lilac buds have appeared. I know spring is a ways off, but for our family, we witnessed the miracle of life coming in the winter.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone and please, if you can,
give your loved ones big hugs today.

Getting Better All the Time

Growing up, Christmas and summer vacation was the time I could read to my heart's content. Not only could I read whenever I wished, but I could read whatever I wished. Summertime on Saturday mornings my best friend and I would wait for the book mobile to pull up at the corner of Prescott and 68th Street. With library card in hand we'd go to our favorite section and check out as many Nancy Drew and Betsy, Tacy books, or any other mystery-adventure book we could find. Linda and I would plop down on the cool grass under a tree or in her room and read for hours, to ultimately create our own true-life adventures. We'd spend hours imagining scenarios and riding our bikes around the neighborhood searching for clues.

Now that I'm "grown-up" and recently retired, I can read anything and everything I want, and I do. And as a writer I can create as many fictional and true-life stories as I wish. I also have time to spend with my grandchildren, and can watch and guide them in developing their own interests, hobbies, and passions

in life.

Yes, it just keeps getting better and better all the time.