A Gift from God!
Today is a big day for our youngest child, our daughter Emily. Today she turns 25 years of age…and I am reminded today, like most days this past quarter of a century, that God has a delightful sense of humor. Sometimes I learned this the hard way, most times, however, Emily’s entry in my life has been nothing less than an immense blessing.
Soon after my husband and I were married, we discovered that getting pregnant and having children might not be possible. When we heard this devastating news we began a nightly ritual, on our knees, praying to God for a child. We also began weekly visits to a fertility specialist and a regime of tests and procedures. The combination of God and medicine worked. We were blessed first with a son and then a daughter. Our family was complete. We had a boy; we had a girl. We had everything we had hoped for…or so we thought.
Having two small children—they are 18 months apart in age—was sometimes overwhelming for an “older” mom and dad. Our energy was challenged, but our joy never was.
When our daughter, Libby, was 18 months old I got a severe case of influenza. Every day and many times during the day I was sick to my stomach. My husband kiddingly said I must be pregnant since I had had “morning” sickness all day long for nine months during my two pregnancies. “It’s just the flu,” I told him. But after a month of the “flu,” I went and got a home pregnancy test. It said I was. I got another. It said I was. I went to the doctor. He said I was.
Nine months later, our gift from God—this time without medical intervention—arrived and life has been one exciting adventure after another. From almost the very beginning, Emily has been the sunshine (and, at times, the thunderstorms) in our home. She’s the type of being who adds electricity to the air the moment she steps into the room. And she has certainly played the “baby in the family” role to a tee. She gets attention when she wants it…she gets things that she wants when she wants them…she has even earned the “brat” label at times…but she also much more!
Emily is a loving person who adores her brother and sister. They, too, adore her. She is loyal beyond reproach and will defend family and friends and all things right. For more than 20 years she has left love notes on my pillow when she knows I am having a bad day. She always offers to help me clean and cook when I am entertaining and is the first to help with household chores. She is, like her sister and brother, a dutiful child.
God knew what he was doing on March 3, 1983. With a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, he gave us and the world Emily. Happy Birthday, my dear baby!
Comments
My baby is Emilee, too, and she gives me notes when I'm sad. She's a great cleaner and when she leaves, which could be this summer (she's graduating) I'm wondering how I'll survive. Sandy, I think you wrote this one just for me.
Posted by: Carol | March 5, 2008 06:40 PM