Things near and dear to my heart

Today, we celebrate the birthday of our grandson, Hunter. Off and on all day, I have thought back to the day he was born and the months prior to his birth. Hunter was another baby who threatened to come way too early and long before his due date. I honestly could not believe that we might be dealing with prematurity again. Luckily and by the grace of God, he was only born 5 weeks early but still such a scary time. As most of you know though our granddaughter was born 15 weeks too early and fought for her life.

I have learned so much with the birth of our grandchildren. I know you think with three children of my own, I should just about know most things but prematurity and complications of pregnancy is nothing I had ever experienced therefore knew so little.

Also with the birth of our grandchildren, I have become familiar with the March of Dimes and their role in helping babies. I never knew all the good things they do and the research that they are involved with. Again, a learning experience. I now know enough about them that I support their cause. I try to walk for babies, raise money for babies and in general raise awareness. Through organizations like this, babies are surviving and I want to be a part of that cause.

On April 9th, the Orangeburg March of Dimes will hold their walk. Our team, affectionately known as "Team Morgan Kate" will hopefully be out in full force. We had such a large group participate with us last year and we hope the number increases this year. Team shirts are available upon request and of course, we hope to raise lots of money. If you would like to contribute, please mail a check to me made out to March of Dimes or contact me and I will instruct you on making an online contribution.

I would like to offer a challenge. For every tshirt order placed, my husband and I will donate $1 to the March of Dimes up to $150.00. Maybe you could consider making a challenge like that. Could be alot of fun but most importantly, it is for a good cause.

GO TEAM MORGAN KATE!

The last one

If my calculation is accurate, there is 71 days until April 30, 2011! On that day, I will be in the midst of wedding celebrations for our middle child, Owens. It seems like it has been a long time coming but yet the time is slipping away so quickly. Even though he has not lived at home for years, he still feels like "he is mine" until he says I do.

He is the last of our three children to get married. I prefer to look at this as not losing a son but gaining a daughter.

I have always heard the saying "a son is a son until he takes a wife" and I just keep praying that his sweet future wife will share him with me for the rest of my life. Don't get me wrong, I know that is the way it is supposed to be...you leave and cleave. But a part of me wants to hold on and cling....haha A part of me wants to always feel the closeness that Owens and I share. A part of me would just like for all of our children to move back home and we would all live under one roof. Can't believe I typed that because that might be a bit much.

Actually if I looked the world over I would not have been able to find someone who adores him and loves him any more than his future wife. What more could a mother want!

So as we continue to celebrate the upcoming wedding for Owens and Trenholm, I do reflect on all the years he was just mine. But I look forward to the years ahead that he will share his heart and life with another redhead....the future Mrs. Hardison.

Christmas

I read this quote and just smiled. "The best Christmas of all is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up with one another." I surely have felt that this Christmas season and we haven't even gotten to Christmas day. Our house last night was full of family and full of good times and giggles. Watching our two grandchildren interact with each other, watching our adult children just hanging out and talking about some of our past Christmases was so much fun. I was even scolded for allowing Morgan Kate to open a gift early. I laughed. I am the grandmother and I can do that :) :)

I want our grandchildren to know the real reason of the season. I want to tell them about the birth of Jesus. I also want to see the excitement in their eyes of "Santa" and the gifts he will bring. I want to soak up every minute with them. Enjoy time with everyone. We don't have everyone together yet but they are coming. In the meantime, the dishes can wait, the house can be cluttered....after all we are just enjoying being wrapped up together this holiday season. Loving each other. Talking to each other. Getting to know each other better and it doesn't get any better than that! Merry Christmas!

Today two years ago

December 9, 2008, was not just any other day. It was the day we would finally bring Morgan Kate, our first grandchild, home from the hospital after 107 days in the NICU! It would be the day that Heather and Travis would begin their journey as a little family. It would be the day that Loitton and I would begin our journey as grandparents.

What a journey it has been so far and we are only beginning. There is so much about being a grandparent that made being a parent worthwhile. As a parent there were days where you felt like all you did was say "no, no, no". There were days where you felt like the enemy. There were those days were you felt like your children hated you because you had to enforce the rules, you had to insist on them having manners, you had to insist they listen and behave. You were the one who demanded that they finish their homework, that they help with the dishes, clean up their rooms, and the list goes on and on. HOWEVER, so far as a grandparent I am having fun and loving it! Such a nice reward for sticking it out as a parent :)

Morgan Katherine Callahan - I love you to the moon and back and I am so proud of the progress you have made in the 2 shorts years since we brought you home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This past Sunday in our worship service, the children's moment leader held up a sign that said "Happy Thanksgiving". He then broke it out into three parts and asked the children three questions. What makes you HAPPY, what are you THANKful for and what can you GIVE. It made me stop and think and reflect this week alot. I think at times we tend to focus on the bad rather than the good. So I attempted to focus on the good.

First, when I think of what makes me happy the first thing that pops in my mind is the way God loves me unconditionally. Then I thought of my family.. .my amazing husband, my six children and my grandchildren, my mom, my mother in law and ALL of my extended family. Other things that make me happy (in no particular order) are my friends, hearing my granddaughter say "Hey KaKa", seeing my grandson smile when he hears my voice, having my children share their lives with me, having my children come home and look forward to spending time at home. A peaceful afternoon at the farm. Riding 4 wheelers. Cooking for my family. My church. Playing with my grandchildren. Rocking my grandchildren and watching them fall off to sleep. Smelling their sweet little heads. Morgan Kate's arms around my neck. Seeing the pride in Loitton's eyes when Morgan Kate wants to know "Where Gakor". Folly Beach. Day trips to Charleston with Loitton. Gracie. Traditions. Family time. More family time. I found the more I named, the more I could name. Happiness is all around me! Not every day brings happiness but that's ok. For this week, I am focusing on what makes me happy!

When I thought about being thankful.....the list that makes me happy is the same list that I am thankful for. I am also thankful for a good job, good health, and as odd as it sounds I am thankful for the negatives in my life as well. I think they have made me more determined, more humble and stronger.

As for the giving part. I know I should pass gratitude on. I can listen more closely. Love more deeply. Forgive more often. I need to give back as often as I can and share what God has so richly blessed me with.

I am happy. I am thankful and I am going to be better about giving. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Yikes - 30 years ago!

Just typing in black and white that an event took place in my life 30 years ago sounds like a long time. But for this particular event, it seems like only yesterday. On August 16, 1980, our first child was brought into the world. Labor was not easy but the result was so worth the pain. On that day Heather Morgan Hardison was born at 11:16 in the morning. And on that day my life was changed forever. On that day my heart basically started walking around outside my body. On that day Loitton and I became parents and on that day it was love at first sight.

It would be impossible to share the many many memories that have blesssed me over the past 30 years but one or two of them immediately pop into my head. As a baby Heather and I would get up and go to Sunday School and Loitton would meet us at church. After many attempts by me to get him involved in Sunday School, guess who was the convincing factor...Heather. She would tell everyone that "her daddy was home eating cheese toast". He eventually went with us basically to keep her from saying that :) I vividly remember the first day that I took her to day care. I did fairly well when I left her but when I got to work I fell apart. Unfortunately I work with mostly men so there was no sympathy, just strange looks. I remember her putting a plate of spaghetti on her head and laughing that noodles hanging down looked like her hair. I remember preschool, elementary, middle school and all the little girl drama that went along with that. I remember high school, graduation, college, her masters degree...and so many things in between. I remember her wedding day and dancing into the wee hours of the morning. I rememeber her pregnancy test with Morgan Kate (Burger King and we did get it our way...he he). I remember the heartaches along the way and the challenges we overcame together!

I now watch her as a mom and I watch her with incredible pride. We have come full circle. Tomorrow she will drop Morgan Kate off for the first day at her day care provider and my eyes will fill with tears much like they did back in 1980 when I dropped Heather off for the first time. I will know her emotions and I will know the love she feels. A bond like none other....a bond between a parent and a child. Heather, my prayers continue for you as you transition into a "new normal". However as your mom, I know you will meet the challenge and one day down the road, you will be telling Morgan Kate the same things I am sharing with you.

Let me go ahead and say Happy Birthday! I am so thankful for the gift of parenthood and may your next 30 years be just as rewarding. Love you Skeeta!

Newlyweds becoming oldyweds

I read once that newlyweds become oldyweds and oldyweds are the reasons that families work.

Today I look back over 34 years of marriage and 39 years of being with the same man. It all started in the back yard of my neighbor when I was over visiting him and his best friend dropped by. The best friend was Loitton and is he now my best friend and has been for all these years. I can truly say it was love at first sight as corny as that might sound. I vividly remember telling my sister after one of our first dates, I will marry him and sure enough I did.

As with all marriages and relationships we have had our fair share of ups and downs. Trials and tribulations. Joys and sorrows. Pride and some not so proud moments. But when we said for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health forsaking all others, we meant it.

Heather commented this morning that she was thankful for our marriage. I truly believe the best gift we have ever given any of our children is our relationship with each other. We have tried to show them unconditional love, respect for one another and first and foremost love for God.

As our family gathered last night to celebrate Kyle's 21st birthday, I looked around the room and smiled. Loitton and I have been blessed with three amazing children, an awesome son in law, a terrific daughter in law and another daughter in law will join our family in April 2011. We have also enjoyed two grandchildren that are the light of our lives!

As my neighbor once told me, I am the richest woman in the world. Richly blessed! I give God the praise and the glory for our marriage so far and truly hope he continues to bless us for many many more years together.