So Blessed

I was thinking the other day about what a blessing my two beautiful children are to me. I am so very thankful to be their mom. I am amazed at God's blessings everyday, but my children, He went above and beyond my dreams.

You see I was never supposed to have children. When I was eighteen years old I had endometriosis so badly that I had to have surgery. In that surgery I had my left ovary, tube and anything else that was on the left side, removed. Along with a tumor that the doctor said was the size of a "grapefruit"!  The doctor told my mom that I would probably never be able to have children, but there was a chance if I had some procedures done to get pregnant. Well I was eighteen, no boyfriend, no thought of marriage, so I was okay with all of that, but it did upset my mom.

Fast forward to when I was 24 and in love with the love of my life, Jeffery. I knew that I had to be very open and honest with him about myself. So I told him about everything. I had the last 6 years to think all of this through and I knew without a doubt I wanted to be a mommy when I was married. So I told him regardless of how I became a mommy, be it through adoption, procedures, whatever- I WAS going to be a mommy. It took him some time to think it over, but he came around to the idea that he could be okay with those options too.

Fast forward to when I was 27 and had been married for 3 years. I had been on birth control for 9 years after my surgery to help control the endometriosis, so I knew in order for any pregnancy to happen I had to be off of that. So Jeffery and I talked about it and decided to stop "the pill" and see what happens. Wow!!! What a great decision that was! Five months later, we did a home pregnancy test and could NOT believe the results. We actually thought "these things are a rip off" this can NOT be accurate. So we didn't tell anyone- until we went to a doctor. The day after we went to the doctor I called the doctor's office from my school. I still remember what the nurse said- "Mrs. Smith- your test was positive"  and I remember what I said too- "what does that mean?" and she said "your going to have a baby"! The most beautiful words I have ever heard. I immediately called Jeffery still having a hard time believing what I was telling him!

I had  amazing pregnancies, labors, and deliveries. The easiest of anyone I have ever heard from. Both times I was pregnant, I felt better than I ever had in my life!

So to say that my children are a blessing to me is really such an understatement. I guess I really don't have words to describe what it means to me to be a mom. I know God knows my heart and I know that He knows what it means to me. He loved me so much that He sent His only Son to be my Savior, so I know He knows. Until I was a mom, I don't think I could even imagine how much He loves me. I think that is why it was important to Him for me to be a mom. I am so glad He wanted that for me too!

Margaret

I have a great-aunt Margaret. She is my "Pop's"(my late grandfather's) sister.  She is such an inspiration to me, and has ALWAYS been one my whole life. Her beautiful smile is something that I always associate with her.

Margaret's life has been spent learning, teaching, educating, traveling, writing, encouraging and serving her Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ. When I was young she was a curriculum director for the Beaumont ISD. She would bring me sample books, teacher editions, and I would have "class" in my room with my dolls-chalkboard (that she gave me) and all!  She is a HUGE reason I became a teacher. She brought me Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? when I was about 4 years old. I LOVED that book because it made me "think" I could read! She would come home to Bloomburg about once a month, and boy would I get excited! I knew that when she got there I would probably have some kind of a surprise, and the best part was she would spend time with me. I loved going to her house there in Bloomburg too. We would play games, barrel of monkeys, cards, dominoes, chinese checkers and Parcheese (sp?) my favorite! Somehow I won a lot of those games too! :) She loved riddles, and she always had songs, and poetry to share. She would  decorate her Christmas tree while she was home for Thanksgiving and that was always a high light of Thanksgiving for me. I would know that Christmas was just around the corner when I was helping her decorate her tree!

When I grew up, I always enjoyed visiting her in her home in Beaumont. She was the "hostess with the mostest". We would look through all of her photo albums and I enjoyed hearing all of the stories that went with the photos. She had a lovely home there and had so many beautiful knick-knacks from all of her travels. Sadly her home was destroyed from the effects of hurricane Rita. So she returned to her home in Bloomburg still with her beautiful smile! During her time back in Bloomburg she has a book of poetry that was published .She has enjoyed giving those away to continue  encouraging others. Her poems are so thoughtful and some are very funny. They are a treasure to all of us that love her.

Last year she suffered a heart attack and a  massive stroke, that has left her paralized on one side and unable to speak.  She has had to move into a nursing home. Yet through ALL of this tradegy she remains the sweetest, happiest, most joyful person in the nursing home. When I go to see her, it is just like when I was little. The smile that lights her face up is as beautiful as ever! Her one arm that she is able to move, is stretched out for a welcoming hug, and I know she is trying to tell me how "good it is to see" me.

Anyday that I am complaing about my work, my problems, my ache or pains- if I will stop long enough to think of my sweet Margaret, my problems seem to fade away. I picture her beautiful smile, and ... I smile too.