Thank You Daddy Bob!

I grew up surrounded by men who worked their fingers to the bone to support their families.  I have never understood when an able-bodied person said "I can't" or "I don't know how" and never tried.  It is no secret that I'm a daddy's girl but I'm going to take it back just one more generation. 

 As a little girl I would see my grandfather's picture in newspapers, I would admire the countless awards he received throughout the years for his athleticism or entrepreneurship and I loved to go to his printing shop to look through photo albums and get a coca-cola that still came in the glass bottle.  I knew he was well-respected in the community and I remember watching him one evening as he cashed my cousin's paycheck out of his own pocket because the bank had already closed.  He never missed a birthday, holiday or a wedding for any of his children, grandchildren or great grandchildren.  I am so thankful and proud that he was in charge of printing my wedding invitations and programs and that he was the one who blessed the food at the reception.  

At 94 years old Robert T. Wade still got up and went to work everyday, entertained guests for weekly games of pinochle and dominoes, taught Sunday school, and never met a slice of cake he didn't like.  He always told me that I didn't have a choice but to be special because my birthday is in September like his and to always live life with purpose because the minute you stop will be the minute you start to die.  He would sing to my oldest daughter, play golf with my son and I am so extremely blessed that he got to hold my baby girl this past summer.  I still laugh when I think about him calling me on my birthday this past September.  Thank God I still have the voicemail.  I didn't recognize the number but of course we talked once I realized that my 94 year-old grandfather had a cell phone. 

He left us on March 22nd and we said goodbye to him this past Saturday. It was absolutely one of the hardest things I have ever done.  There was one moment at the burial where I looked around at the family and thought "wow, we are holding up pretty well."  As I watched my uncle receive my grandfather's retired flag from the U.S. Navy I had another thought.  "Why am I surprised? We know what we are made of.  This may be tough and take a while to even sink in but we are his legacy."  Daddy Bob, because of you we are here and because you were a man of great character, integrity, compassion and strength you will never leave our hearts.  Thank you Daddy Bob, we have no choice to but be okay...no, not okay...extraordinary because that is all you ever showed us.  I love you. 

Buy Them Some Diapers!

There are times when we think life is unfair.  It is in these times that I think back to one of the most challenging times of my life.  I wanted to have another baby so bad and I had two miscarriages back to back.  I remember being in church one Sunday just praying and crying out to God.  There was someone in my life who already had several children and had just given birth to another baby.  I knew the ins and outs of her life and I just couldn't understand why she was having babies and I wasn't.  I remember bitterly saying to God, "She can't even take care of the kids she already has!  I'm married, both of us have full time jobs, we can afford this.  She can't even buy her baby some diapers!"  Just then, I heard God's voice as clear as ever.  He said, "well then buy them some diapers!"  What?  No, that couldn't be what I heard.  The more I tried to ignore what He was saying, the more He said it.  With all the confusion in the world, I went to the store, bought a big box of diapers and anonymously left them on her doorstep.

Shortly after that I suffered my most frightening miscarriage of them all.  I had an ectopic pregnancy that caused my left fallopian tube to burst.  It was then I realized that God didn't tell me to give her some diapers so that I could have a baby.  He told me to buy those diapers because He was interested in growing my character.  God loves us and wants to see his children happy but seeing us grow up is much more important.  While I was getting prepped for surgery (they had to go in and remove my left fallopian tube completely) I had another talk with God.  "Dear Lord, if it is not in your plan for me to have another baby will you please take the desire out of my heart?  Until then, I will be happy for everyone else and not worry about myself."

Five months later I found out I was pregnant with my son.  He is now four years old and more amazing than I could ever ask or think.  His sister was born 15 months ago and when I tell you that God showed up and showed out with His blessings...I mean it.

We will all face trials, tribulations and situations that we think are unfair.  Your cousin may have an amazing marriage while yours is under construction, your co-worker may get the promotion you were both after, your neighbor may have a brand new car while you're waiting to get yours out of the shop, your friend may be able to have Sunday dinner with her parents every week while you have to visit yours in the hospital, you may be in a season of hardship while everyone else around you is on a winning streak.  What do you do when these things are beyond your control?  You keep walking, put one foot in front of the other and get ready for YOUR blessing...and in the meantime...buy them some diapers!!!  God is faithful.