My last post I talked a bit about this but my heart is still full about it so here goes. When our youngest daughter gave birth to our little Ashlinn and our daughter had complications, it was so frightening. As I look back in my life I realize how many times I have seen the hand of the Lord right in our family. Each of our daughters as they have gone through difficult times, pregnancy, birthing, surgery, how grateful I was to be able to talk to the Lord about their particular time of difficulty and how much better I felt, although I have to admit that during the time I wished I could do it for them, much easier then watching and feeling so helpless. Our little Ashlinn being the last born and little miracle so far.
Then this past week a dear friend had an aneurysm in his brain and passed away. His wife had passed a little over a year ago. I'm sure she was anxious to have him with her again. They were always such a beautiful couple. As I look back to the birth and now the death it really puts things in perspective.
When our daughters were born I was so thrilled and I worked very hard to do the very best job, I thought I could do to help them be prepared for their lives. They are each such lovely women. Each so different, not only in looks (although if you saw them together, you'd guess they belonged as sisters) but they have gone on and developed such diverse interests and abilities and talents. Now all but one have been blessed to be mothers. They have beautiful, intelligent, talented children. Some are real athletes, some are into the arts and music, some are just learning what they might be interested in for their lives. But our daughters and their husbands have taken these lovely little ones and are teaching them the things they feel they need, to be prepared for their lives. Don't get me wrong, it isn't an easy job, at times it can be the most frustrating time but it is also one of the most rewarding times.
Our daughter that doesn't have any children, has taken a young woman and was her guardian to help her through her life. This young woman was mentally handicapped but to our daughter and to us, she was beyond wonderful. But sadly her time here on the earth has passed and she has joined our Heavenly Father. We all wept for this lovely young woman and for our daughter having to lose her but yet they gave one another so much and so many memories. This daughter is the greatest Aunt to her sister's children and loves each of them beyond her life. She has so much to give and this is the way she has chosen to do some of that. She has done so many things for others and I marvel at how she has taken her life and made it so rich and fulfilling. When we finally get the chance to visit her, she is such a joy because she takes us to new places to see and hear and eat and even to some old ones we have grown fond of. Early on in her life she had some terrible surgery and had to face a difficult time but she has risen above it and made her life even better.
Yes, I am proud of our daughters and what they have done with their lives. Yes, they have had struggles and yes they have made mistakes but they are such wonderful ladies that they have grown from all of that.
Again the circle of life and the miracles we have witnessed in our family is such a humbling thing.
Thank you Father for your willingness to bless our family with so much. For helping each of us make it through this world to accomplish as much as we can. So some day we can return to live with you.
