Way back in December we welcomed a new member into our family. In the days leading up to Christmas, my nephew Squish (okay, that’s not his real name, but that is what I call him,) came into the world and into the arms of my sister Jemimah and her husband Adam, through an amazing sequence of events that was sealed with Squish’ adoption in March. And if you follow me on Instagram you will notice that I am a tad enamoured with my very first nephew! I have waited a long time to be an Auntie, and I am soaking it up!
Our youngest sister Judea (who now lives in Austin,) wasn’t able to be home for his birth or adoption, so when she said she was coming up for Mother’s Day weekend, we knew we had to seize the moment and throw a party to celebrate Squish’s birth/adoption and Jemimah’s first (and long-awaited) Mother’s Day. So I hastily sent out Facebook invites (no one is winning any southern hospitality awards here,) and scavenged the few party supplies that I randomly hand on hand to come up with a “theme.” Which in the end was pretty much “baby, circus, and primary colors.” I used decorations leftover from a baby shower I threw years ago, clipped some scrapbook and flash cards to some ric-rac ribbon, covered everything with colorful wrapping paper, and called it a theme!
Because my house is now way out-of-the-way for everyone whom we were inviting, I rented out a local bakery called Sweet Love (owned by my friend Kelli Marks,) as our venue for the shower. Sweet Love is charming, adorable, and was the perfect venue to hold a drop-in shower. Plus Kelli, and my friend Christen who also works there, made the process super easy and the treats super yummy. A win-win since I have been swamped at work and with our remodel.
Judea made a delicious punch, my mom brought meatballs and cucumber sandwiches, and Sweet Love provided cupcakes and cookies. Miles (my 10 yr old,) handled a lot of the decorating. arranged all the cookies, and cupcakes, and even made a “Welcome Jax” sign. So. Precious. When he was done he said, “Wow Momma. Now I know why you aren’t a decorator anymore! This is a lot of work!.” Ha!
I always get so busy once the events start that I never get enough pictures of PEOPLE. But I did manage to snap a few at the very beginning, and I love this one of my Maw watching Jemimah feed Squish. My Maw is 90 years old and look at her precious style and beautiful hair. I am grateful for every minute I get to spend with her. HUGE thanks to my Aunt Tei for bringing her to the party.
The story of Squish is really Jemimah’s to tell, and she promises me that she will blog about it all eventually. But until she does, let me just say that it is a story of miracles. The kind that gives you goosebumps and raises the hair on the back of your neck. I still can’t believe it all happened, and yet it feels as if it was always meant to be. As if his amazing arrival into our family is most natural thing in the world. Which, I think, in the end, it is.
Yesterday, on Mother’s Day, my sister posted this on her Facebook page, and I thought it was the best way to end this post, because it speaks to the heartbreak and the joy that my sister has experienced, and it is her wish and prayer for other waiting mommas out there.
I can’t even believe I’m a momma sometimes. It’s hard to remember what I did all the time before this guy. Oh yeah sleep and eat with both hands 🙂 But while I’m celebrating this amazing gift this year for the first time, I still remember how it felt before him. How it felt to long for a child and how it felt to be a hopeful adoptive mom. These two kinds of mommas will always hold a special place for me. They are a huge part of who I am and God has used those times to teach me so much. They were not without pain. They were not without tears. But He was with me the whole time. So I just want to let all those waiting mommas and hopeful foster/adoptive mommas out there know you are loved. You are not forgotten. He is with you in the waiting. He loves YOU. no matter if you have a baby, or 10 or none. you are more important than a rose on a certain Sunday, or a handwritten card or an added title to your name. And I will hug you. I will pray for you. I will cry with you and for you when you are at the end of your rope from all the waiting. Happy Mother’s Day to those with babies in their arms and those that are waiting.
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much love friends!
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