Dancing with Daffodils

Today is a special day.  Five years ago today I became a mother.  I went through three years of infertility treatments, had one miscarriage, dozens of shots and medications, one D&C and three doctors before I was able to become a mother, but none of that mattered on August 17, 2008 when my beautiful daughter was born. I woke up around 4am on that Sunday morning and just laid there wondering if I was in labor.  I finally stood up and went to the bathroom around 5am and definitely felt a gush that was not normal.  I woke my husband up and we then called the doctor who said I should come in to the hospital, so I showered and got ready and we drove to the hospital very calmly.  They checked me when I got there at about 6am and I did have a tear so they went ahead and broke my water all of the way for me.  Then I got an epidural and the next few hours I just sat around.  I couldn’t feel anything below my waist so I was relaxed and not even aware of w...

A few weeks ago my 19-year-old nephew left to serve a two-year mission for our church in Bogota, Colombia.  We got to hear his talk in church on his last Sunday before leaving and the room was full of family members, friends, and church members who were there to support him in his good decision. My nephew with his mission president in Colombia My nephew is a good-hearted kid and we've always been close.  When he was just learning to talk I had him convinced my name was “favorite aunty ‘lecia”.   He has always had a natural desire to do the right thing and that was increased upon the tragic death of his father when he was 12.   My grandfather died when my dad was only six months old so he too grew up without a father.  He has said that God has made up the difference.  Men have been placed in his life at key moments to play a special role and my father promised my nephews the same thing in their lives.  On that Sunday before my nephew...