What a week! I just returned from a blissful 5 days in Pittsburgh with Ryan, Liz, Sarah and Abby. I was home for 3 days and we were blessed with the news that Rich and Letisha's baby arrived and all went well for them. I am so grateful. I love being a Grandma. I love everything about it. I am so glad that joy and rejoicing in your posterity is not limited because of location. (This is me trying to apply the "glass half full" perspective.) I did hear this week, "It must be so hard to be so far away." Well, duh! Thanks for the reminder! I am normal. Every cell of my being wants to gather my children and keep them close. I still wake up in the middle of a dream some mornings of snuggling in the brown LazyBoy recliner with one of my babies and reading a book. Some mornings it is a flashback to the stage when they cover you with kisses and tell you how much they love you. I love my dream world. I have the best fantasy mother moments. Some of them real, and some imagined. I still want to be in the details of their lives. I would love to prepare Sunday dinner and have them all want to come to eat and enjoy each other's company. But let's not get consumed with what is not going to happen this week. There is too much to be grateful for.
I might not get to have them all come for Thanksgiving, or have them live a block away and come over every weekend. But, I can rejoice in the goodness of their lives. I am incredibly blessed. I have 3 sons who have filled honorable missions, married incredible women, and are working hard to gain a good education in order to provide well, and who have taken on the responsibility of fatherhood. They all treat their wives with loving kindness and respect. Their lives and choices reflect strong testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are kind and respectful to me. I have much to celebrate and be thankful for. And I am.
Then there's Michelle. She knows me better than just about anyone and she still is glad that I am her Mom. In the past week I have heard, "Mom, I can't wait to go on a road trip with you". "Mom, can I stay home during Spring term and learn how to be a good homemaker? I want to learn everything about being a good homemaker, wife and mother from you. I don't want to have to learn that from any other place." and "Mom, when I have a baby I want you and Dad there with me." This is not a reflection on me, this is just how amazing she is. She is going to be a blessing to any life she touches because that is who she is: innocent, and loving.
I am grateful for technology: Facebook, blogs, email, texting, video chats. I have used every one of those avenues to connect with loved ones in the past week.
I got to share pictures of my visit to Pittsburgh,
(this was taken just prior to my visit, but I just love this picture)
I enjoyed seeing pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Hansen
with Michelle at her Fall concert.
I got to hear details of the arrival of Richard Samuel Hansen
and see pictures immediately on my phone and then on facebook.
Then seeing new pictures of Jordan, Emily, Hallie and Carter was a delight.
Squished in between all that was YW in excellence (playing the piano), temple assignment, Primary Stake Leadership meeting, World Wide Leadership Meeting, Stake Council, and 3 Primary Programs. I guess it's good that I am busy since I am not close enough to help right now with the new baby. I am so excited to snuggle with my new Grandson in 2 1/2 weeks.
Well it is late and this post sounds a little scattered as I re-read it but, hopefully it makes sense.
Just one last tidbit. Something I learned today that I didn't know. Richie and Letisha both returned home from their missions on Nov 12, 2008. Richard Samuel was born on Nov 12, 2010. That is, I think, a sweet fact. Some may consider it a tender mercy, one of those, "I know where you are and what you are doing and I am in the details of your life" moments that come from above. At least, I think so.
