My sweet cousin Michelle came to Utah this weekend to meet Cate. Shell and I grew up more like sisters than cousins and have had a wonderful two days. I am so blessed to have Michelle in my life and to welcome Cate into our wonderful, disjointed family. We did nothing extraordinary these last two days, yet the weekend feels like it was so full of moments to seize and cherish. Is it true to seize the moment or is each moment in our life already seized as long as we are living, growing, loving and sharing ?
I am off to bed, feeling grateful for David, my loving husband (who puts up with me through thick and thin), stuff he just doesn't t get, and the morning hugs he always remembers.You are my rock, my launching pad and my dream maker , thankful for my boys and the people that afford me the opportunity to live life to the fullest. My heart is full of hope for a little girl who is sleeping upstairs with someone she will grow up to know as her Aunt Michelle, because our mom's believed in life together as a family. I am also so amazed what 80 days of love can do, Cate was grooving to Michael Jackson all alone tonight in the kitchen.... Michelle ????? I am also thinking of all the children left behind because they are forgotten and can slip through the cracks, just like kiddos here. They are human beings, living in the shadows, people, helpless little people. At 3 or 4 years old how do have the ability to advocate for yourself? You don't, so you hope (I guess) that someone does because you are a little person living in a institution losing 25% of your cognitive ability and motor skills every 4 months that you are stuck. I watch as Cate skyrockets, she is learning to navigate a world at lightening speed. Oh what love can do , may God's grace find the children left behind homes and forever families. Lots of pics to post tomorrow. Plus, Michelle has video of little Cate dancing.
I am truly surprised that she knows at such a young age who is safe and warm and who will naturally be a part of "her" tribe. she will gravitate toward these people, there is no fooling this girl, she knows who belongs in the tribe. Sweet simple Cate, loving, kind, generous, way beyond her years, she is a firecracker and knows how to give and receive love - spectacular sight for anyone who has not witnessed a Cate day or dinner party.
We (Michelle and I) shared with Cate a few words of wisdom and popular phrases our mothers used from our childhood that are still definitely quite useful and unbelievably still applicable after 40 some years. Hey, a splinter is a splinter and it's gotta come out. We are happy share our tidbits if you just ask.... too funny. Our mothers were characters, a set, a pair, a twosome most of the time. So our childhood was an adventure, that now provides lots of tugs at the ol' heart and fond memories. I won't lie there is also the comic relief side of childhood that makes us belly laugh. Some of the memories are shared and some are mixed up and a few will never be fully understood. When you put in all on the table I cant help but see my mom in me and how I parent. Michelle thank you for growing up and old with me, you are in my heart.
Good night our sweet Cate and to all your buddies still left behind. Good night Rubie, we are thinking of you. Love to everyone and a heartfelt thanks to Michelle for a weekend that was as much about our childhood and the ties that bind, as it was about little Miss Cate getting to know her family. Thank you, Nan, you are missed.
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