39 and Holding

Stephanie is one of the children who has always been inquisitive. A bright student, and like her mother willing to take risks and challenges. Growing up, she was the most challenging to me as a mother. Maybe we have always just been too much alike [any other parent know what I mean?!]

Well, today is her 39th birthday, and remember the day so well way back then. My water had broken two days before, went to the doctor the 16th of December and he told me that I had two more months. I was to go home and just take it easy. My words to him were, "don't plan anything tonight, don't think two months is in the baby's schedule."

After picking up her sister from my mom's house, we started home which normally was about 20 minutes to my house. For some reason I didn't take the regular route, but wanted to take a shortcut and beat some of the traffic. You guessed it--went into hard labor on a back road with nobody around, and before cell phones.

Somehow I got her sister upstairs and into her crib, changed my clothes and laid on the floor waiting for daddy to come home and take me to the hospital. I will add at this point that the doctor was flying down the hallway throwing his tuxedo off to the nurse as he ran to change into scrubs as I was taken into a delivery room. He got there just in time to basically catch the baby. Why don't doctors ever listen [smile] Christmas came early, the cute little bundle of no hair and so tiny. She was indeed a bit early.

Must admit during our years while she was growing up, it was hell on wheels, going somewhere and nowhere. Today, we can call each other friend--and that is a very good thing!

A bright and energetic child, grew into the same type of woman. Loves to read, still inquisitive, and a great mom to her two children. Before I left to live in Africa she asked me for something special that was just me to her. Stephanie has the only copy of a book that I wrote for the NaNoWriMo a couple of years ago. Hopefully one day it will be worth something besides sentiment.

When I moved from Utah to New York and was distributing things to the kids, Stephanie had the presence of mind to take one of my most valued dolls from the collection. Today it is worth thousands of dollars, perhaps to be given to her daughter.

So Ms. Stephanie in keeping with my promise, here is your blog for your birthday, may you share the joy of life with others, become even more of what you have dreamed. Do not let people tell you who you are, discover life and what it holds for you. Never give up and remember the edge is a step away to an adventure most will never try.

Lova lova you! Miss you! Happy Birthday, I was excited the day you arrived and even more excited to share your dreams and future and watch you grow and become ...