Light, Love, Hope

Light in the Darkness Surrounded by Love with Hope for those in need.

When

“When are you due?” I asked with great anticipation of the date.

“May 12,” my niece replied.

My oldest daughter sat across from me at lunch as I told her of what I had just learned.  I watched her eyes light up as she leaned forward with delight while a huge smile formed across her lips!

Ten weeks and two days. That is how far along my niece is at this point.

I can’t help myself as I am already shopping for this baby!

Neutral colors are a must at this point … but I am drawn to baby blue …

Oh the cute little boy suits … the baseball hats … I could snatch them all off the rack and buy every single one of those cutie patootie outfits!  She really believes she is having a boy, but with us not knowing for certain at this point, I resist the urge  …  to  … buy!

Will it be a boy?

OR

Will it be a girl that we can dress in lace and frills?

I have two girls … and my niece, of course.  So it stands to reason that girls could run in the family.

But what if that doesn’t ring true this time?  We just don’t know … other than what she feels in her heart … and what a psychic medium told me last year.

This is where I will lose a lot of my reading audience, I’m almost sure.  However, I feel the need to risk that and put it out there.

A year ago I went to a psychic medium that my friend in Illinois knows.  She predicted that my niece would come back into my life at some point when she was no longer under the control of her paternal influences.  I was not sure if any of this “reading” was real or would come to pass, but I held on to each word that she spoke with great anticipation.  Hoping.  Wanting.  Almost willing it to be …

Fast forward a little over a year and a half later, and it has come to pass!  My niece is back in my life after moving to be with her boyfriend.

Part of that has come true.  So we wait to see if the other half comes true as well.  What that other half is will remain a secret at this time.

 

 

Ask

Today my beautiful niece went to the doctor.  Not just any doctor, though.  An OB/GYN!

I realize I’m not even writing in correct sentence form either.

But who has time for that when you’re trying to make a point?!

MY NIECE IS PREGNANT!!!

She is so incredibly smart that she finished high school a year early.  Having just graduated in June, she moved shortly thereafter to live with her boyfriend in North Carolina.  We were so sad to see her go but looked forward to our visits together.  We took them to Carowinds this summer and had a great time, and she’s been back here a few times since to visit with us as well.  I have enjoyed every bit of time spent with them!

I’ll never forget the phone conversation with her when she said she had news to tell me.  Immediately I responded with, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!”  and she hadn’t even said anything beyond that yet.  Ha!  When she told me the news, my heart leaped out of my chest!

My sister’s baby is having a baby!!!

Oh, what joy filled my soul upon learning this.

Now I realize she’s probably already heard people saying things like, “You’re so young …” and she is, but she has graduated from high school and has been attending college. She still plans to continue with college and building her future.

Me?

I want to be a part OF that future!  NO matter what it holds.  And … in her future, WE will be HOLDING her baby!

She messaged me after the appointment today, as she goes back in a week for an ultrasound and blood work.  I was having lunch with my oldest daughter at that time, and we were both so excited we could hardly contain ourselves!  My daughter told me to ask if we could have a gender reveal party for her.  I had just picked up balloons at a store about 15 minutes before that which would be appropriate for a gender reveal OR we could use them at her actual baby shower.

Now, I was nervous asking her such a question.  I don’t want to intrude, but I want to be a part of all of this.  Only if she wants me to, though.   And I pray she does!

There I go again with the incomplete sentences.

But … the greatest thing has happened.  When I told her I wanted to be there for the ultrasounds, she responded with, “COME ON then!”

~SQUEAL~

And my heart did a back flip!

My niece has invited me in to be a part of this.

Let me say that again.  SHE HAS INVITED ME IN TO BE A PART OF THIS!

Not only has she invited me to be a part of the appointment when she has the ultrasound, but she has agreed to let them tell ME what the gender will be so we can have a gender reveal party for her!!!!

We are soaring!!

And the tears form in my eyes as I think of such an exciting time that I was a part of years ago … when my sister told me that she was pregnant.  It was such a special time the way my sister announced her pregnancy also.  I’ll never forget her allowing me to be a part of this time with her as well.

I can’t help but think of the tragedy in losing my sister two weeks after my niece was born.  I think of how my sister should be here to celebrate the anticipation of her grandbaby’s arrival, and yet, she’s in Heaven watching over them as we prepare.

My heart hurts!

Honestly, I wanted to call my sister to ask her, “Did you hear the news ….”  My sister was always the very first one I’d call to talk to, and now I can’t.  A part of me thinks she already knows, though, because God whispered it in her ear before he placed this little angel in my niece’s womb.  I believe God sent a little angel to us, to provide joy and to bring lots of laughter as we watch him or her grow.  I also believe He did so in a way to allow my niece and I to further bond together through this.  That is my prayer, at least.

She wants me to be a part of this!

And I swoon!

Thank you, Lord!

Talk

Everyone needs to have a person they can talk to when times are rough.  The world can seem like such a lonely place without this.

Do you have that in your life?  The one person you know you can turn to about anything and everything.  The one that will not sit in judgement of you but will lend a helping hand if needed.  The one that will offer advice even if you failed to take their well-meaning advice in the past.

Here’s the thing, though.  They have to keep things confidential.  They can’t spill the beans when they get mad at you.  OR the absolute worst thing – use what you’ve confided in them against you later!  They simply cannot, under any circumstances, use what you’ve told them against you later during an argument.  That’s the lowest of low!  And, it feels like the ultimate betrayal!  If you’ve ever had that happen to you, it stings!  You sit there feeling their assaults with each word they launch at you, wondering who that person is that is doing this!  Surely not the one you thought you could trust and that said they love you and have your best interest at heart!

You have to be wise about who you trust these days and how much of your life you share with them.  If you’re certain the friendship will stand the test of time, then share away.  However, be more reserved when you talk to someone that you really don’t know that much about.  That’s common sense, right?  But, a lot of people are in such desperate need to talk to someone – anyone – that they end up pouring their heart and soul out to someone unworthy of such an honor.

When someone comes to you to talk about what is bothering them, be the person you’d want to confide it.  Be the person that will keep things to themselves.  Honor the individual that trusts you so much to bare their soul to you.  Appreciate that they could talk to anyone about what is happening in their lives, yet they’ve chosen you!  Respect them enough not to share their business with anyone else and certainly never throw it back up in their faces later.

And here’s the biggest thing – BE THERE for them.

I’ve gone to friends in the past to talk about something I was going through just to come away feeling as if I “bothered” them with my stuff.  That is the biggest insult when you trust someone to confide in them, and they give the impression that they’d rather not be involved or would prefer not to be “that person” who will be there for you in your time of need.

 

 

 

 

 

shirley

Light, Love, Hope

Shirley is the proud mother of two beautiful young ladies. She enjoys spending time with them on their ranch in the deep South with their three paint horses. Always looking for an adventure, she looks forward to hikes in the mountains chasing waterfalls, or scouring the coast for beautiful lighthouses! Shirley writes to encourage others and often times shares things that motivate and inspire her. She believes in living life to the fullest because no one is promised the gift of another day. Join her as we honor our bodies, minds, hearts, souls, and our Almighty Creator, God above!