Hope for Baby Bennett: Goodbye and Good Riddance, 2013...don't let the door hit you on the way out

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Goodbye and Good Riddance, 2013...don't let the door hit you on the way out

Man, 2013 was a doozy for us. I don't think we've ever been SO glad to see a year end and move on with hopeful expectation toward a new one.

But at least we ended it with style...

We had Christmas celebrations galore...

including getting to see Santa not once, but twice - when he came to our neighborhood!

Bodie had his Christmas pageant at school - he did so well. He stood up there, so proud and excited for almost the entire thing.

I may have shed a tear or two out of such pride for my sweet boy. Or, who knows, perhaps they were tears of gratitude that he wasn't screaming his head off for me the entire time, which is how I had expected it to go down. But whatevs. Let's just call them tears of pride.

Popo Alan and Grandma Jan came to help for Dusk's surgery - and to spend some time with us! The kids had a blast with them.

And we got to see Popo Bill and Gigi for a Cal Poly vs LMU basketball game

and a quick dinner 2 weeks later!

(yep, I'd say that about sums up life with Bodie!)

Apparently, Sierra just plain grew up in the past month...

(I'm still trying to figure out who this grown up girl is!!!)

She also got to make homemade taffy with Dusk (a wonderful childhood memory of his!)

We had a wonderful visit from our dear friends the Fullers.

And started the year in style with our close friends the Hunts, with a visit to the Santa Monica Pier to celebrate New Year's Day!

1/2 a heart and loving riding roller coasters - take that, HLHS!!!

As we usher out the craptastic year that 2013 was and enter 2014 with hopeful anticipation, we covet your prayers that the next year brings more peace, more healing, less hospital time and slower days for our family - and for yours.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!

2 comments:

George LJanuary 2, 2014 at 5:20 AM
Hi! Great pictures! Praying for a great 2014 for the Bennetts!

Love,

Mister George in Annapolis, MD
ReplyDelete
Replies
danaJanuary 2, 2014 at 11:17 PM
Amy!!! The 4 of you are TOO gorgeous!! Inside and out. much love to you!!!
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

The Chosen Mothers by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you." No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps -"Selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them." She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron Saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."