ANOTHER FATHERS DAY

 IT HAS BEEN 38 FATHERS DAYS SINCE I CELEBRATED WITH MY DADDY.

I CAME TO HIM WHEN HE THOUGHT HIS FAMILY WAS COMPLETE...

AGAIN!

AT 45, HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO.

YET, HE WAS THE BEST DADDY TO ME.

AS A YOUNG CHILD, I DIDN'T REALIZE JUST HOW LUCKY I WAS.

I THOUGHT ALL DADDY'S WERE LIKE HIM.

AS I GOT OLDER, I UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS MAN WAS MORE THAN JUST A DAD.

WHEN FIGHTING CANCER AT 5, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN 50.

MY MEMORIES ARE OF HIM ALWAYS BEING THERE.

WHEN THE CHILDREN'S WARD SAID VISITING HOURS WERE OVER,

PARENTS HAD TO LEAVE THEIR SICK CHILDREN ALONE.

MY DADDY REFUSED. 

HE WOULD LEAVE FOR A VERY SHORT TIME RIGHT AFTER THE 

ANNOUNCEMENT THAT VISITING WAS OVER.

THIS IS WHEN ALL THE BABIES AND CHILDREN WOULD START TO CRY, SCREAM.

I DIDN'T CRY, ALTHOUGH THEIR CRIES I CAN STILL HEAR IN MY HEART.

MY DEAR DADDY WOULD SNEAK BACK IN TO ROCK OR PUT ME TO SLEEP.

AS HE LAYED ME DOWN IN MY METAL CRIB 

I NEVER WONDERED WHERE HE WOULD BE.

I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO ROCK OTHER PEOPLE'S BABIES.

HE DID THIS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT MY DADDY,

MY SISTER, CELENA JUST FOUND THIS OUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

WE HAD AN UNSPOKEN BOND, MY DADDY AND I.

I WAS TO ALWAYS BE HIS BABY AND HE MY PROTECTOR.

JUST ONE OF THE MANY STORIES THAT WILL FOREVER LIVE IN ME.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY DADDY!

My Chapter Book

 

On Friday I had another Coffee gathering with new and old friends.

It is one of my very favorite things to do, gather around my dining room table

with coffee, dessert and good conversation.

This particular gathering was with clients who have become friends

and the couple I was able to surprise for these clients with a painting.

I love that my job brings me so many new friends and my chalkboard

is filled with names of future coffee dates.

My two littlest Grand girls were in attendance this time

and helped me tremendously in getting ready for our visit.

My friends also brought their little daughter/grand daughter 

so we set up a table for them as well.

As we sat and visited the littles had their own little party 

and then moved theirs to their room here at the Cottage to play.

As we talked and shared stories, as I gave them the

"old Cottage tour" 

Jolee had settled in the round chair in the library to read.

I should have known that her little ears were taking in all the stories I told

as well as the ones my friends shared.

As the wonderful gathering was coming to an end, 

I went into the library to check on the girls.

Jolee was there, still reading and as I passed she stopped me.

"Mumsie, your life is just like a great chapter book"

Once again this girl, like the grandgirls often do, melted my heart.

I pray almost nightly that as they grow up the words,

Mumsie's Cottage will not be just words but a 

series of events and so many memories that they will be brought 

back to a place where they knew they were loved and so special.

When they make statements like that,

..."your life is like a great chapter book"

I know I am achieving my goal.