Light, Love, Hope

As it is New Year’s Eve, that time we say good-bye to the current year and welcome in the new year. It can be a time of reflection of things happening not only in the past year, but in years long past.

For some, it is a time for making resolutions. Those things we wish to make happen in our lives in the coming year. I have heard that people will resolve to do the diet they have been thinking about or save up for that special item they have always wanted. I have never really considered making resolutions because for me I have always felt I would have no ability to stick to them.

However, sitting here this evening and thinking about all that has and is happening in my life, I have found one thing that I resolve to do this coming year. I think a little background would be helpful before I disclose my “New Year’s Resolution.” I am the kind of person that gives of themselves for others. It is something that brings me joy and happiness. It is done with no expectation of anything in return except for a thank you. That is truly all that I need.

At times, I give of myself to the point of placing myself in rather precarious situations. It is always of my choice to do this and I have never regretted it. However, of late, I have been questioning myself as to whether I should be much more cautious in stepping up to offer help to others. I have run into certain situations where it feels that my generosity and caring for others is being taken advantage of. I could be wrong as I can only see one side of this, my side; but that doesn’t help to push that feeling away.

So, in 2019, I resolve to think before offering my help. As I write that, it sounds like of selfish. But we really need to take care of ourselves as well as taking care of others. I will still do what I have done over the years; just not as much anymore. I need to do a lot of things for myself that have been pushed to the wayside because of how much I help others.

As you go into this new year, I wish you love, health and happiness.

Happy New Year.

We had our last family Christmas today. It was a nice gathering; good food, good fellowship. It is hard to accept that there won’t be a Christmas like this again. You see, my aunt, who has always brought us together each year won’t be here next year. She was diagnosed with cancer in multiple areas last Thursday.

We didn’t dwell on that today. We just enjoyed having everyone around the dinner table chatting about this and that. Then we played games as we always do every holiday; laughing and carrying on as if what we know is inevitable wasn’t going to happen. But deep inside we know it is. We just enjoyed the moment and made more memories for us to have in our hearts for the years to come.

As you celebrate with your families the birth of Jesus, I hope that you had a joyous and wonderful day filled with love and memories for you to treasure in the years to come as we did today. Those that have passed on are never gone; they are always in our hearts each and every day whether we realize it or not.

Merry Christmas.

Our family has been beside ourselves with happiness ever since we found out we have a baby on the way!  Our happiness was dashed for a few weeks, and I’m not going to lie, depression crept in when we heard what no one wants to hear.  They suspected something may be wrong with our little bundle of joy.  Sadness swept over us, and tears fell like rain.  We prayed with all of our might, and then we waited for the testing to be done and for the results.

We were referred to a specialist in a big town, which was intimidating for us country bumpkins. However, we managed to find our way, not without a few wrong turns and feeling like a fish out of water in this town we knew nothing about.  Frustrations were running high as we finally reached the doctor’s office for the ultrasound.  Once inside, we waited for the tech to complete the extensive 2D ultrasound, and we did have a few moments of pure joy as we watched the baby on the screen flip and turn in Mommy’s tummy.  We smiled, we laughed, and we were overjoyed in those moments.

Then more waiting …

The tech needed ten minutes to transcribe for the doctor, and then the doctor would come right in to meet with us.  We sat there nervously trying to talk about anything to keep our minds occupied.  Silently I prayed to myself between grasping at any conversation material we could think of.

Just then you could hear footsteps outside the door and a hand on the knob as it turned to reveal a short middle-aged African American woman smiling back at us.  She greeted us, then went immediately to the ultrasound machine where she did a few more things of her own as we watched in silence wondering what was found.

A few minutes went by, but they felt like hours as we waited for her to speak.  When she did begin speaking, she asked why we were referred to her.  I explained that they saw something suspicious on the ultrasound in the doctor’s office, and they suspected the baby might have Down Syndrome.  The doctor asked if we had blood testing done, and we explained that we were awaiting the results and that the doctor indicated it would take the 2D ultrasound AND the bloodwork to make the final determination.  With that taken into consideration, the doctor paused for a moment, then said that everything looked good as far as she could tell, and she did not see any cause for concern.  They offered further testing, which my niece declined.  The doctor inserted her clause before letting us exit, “However, it would still take the bloodwork and the 2D ultrasound together to confirm.” 

A wave of relief filled the room and washed over ALL of us as “Thank God” escaped my lips.

We almost danced out of the doctor’s office that day.  Surely we were floating on a big, white, fluffy cloud as high up as you could see with your naked eye, right?  Because it sure felt that way!

What WONDERFUL NEWS!!!

WE jumped ONE hurdle – like a horse trotting and breaking into a gallop right before he reaches the poles, and up, up, and away he goes launching himself right over and onto the other side …

Now to receive the bloodwork results …

And within a few days, those came in, and once again we were rejoicing because the bloodwork did NOT reveal the extra chromosome that would have indicated Down Syndrome.

Our hearts leaped for joy and our souls danced over the moon with this news.  Our little baby was going to be just fine.  Praises, praises, and more praises to God above!

We can finally move on to happier days ahead!!