Time to Visit Exacto's Blog!

Exacto has just posted two new entries on his blog . If you're one of his readers, it's a great time to visit. :)

How thin the veil between the worlds
On the day of birth
And the day of death.

One moment your spirit resided
Within a sweet, perfect body
Cradled within mine.
The next it had fled
Back to where we all long to be.

A sacred gift it was
To be so close to Father in Heaven
As we welcomed you from His presence
And bid you farewell as you returned.

A holy privilege it is
To be your mother.
The only time you knew away from Him
Was the time you spent next to my heart.
~ written for Benjamin by his mother, Michelle Baker, on April 13, 2008

This morning Mom said goodbye before leaving for home, and said, "Happy 6-month birthday to Benjamin! I'm so glad he's in our family." I loved the feeling of celebration that we both felt. She also gave us a special gift, a Willow Tree sculpture of a couple holding a baby. (I'll post a picture when I get home).

I'm about to leave for the Provo Temple with sweet Mandy and Manda, and that will also be in honor of this day. Becky called and shared her love. She posted a beautiful tribute on her blog. I had been having a really hard time lately, but today I feel a lot of comfort, and actually joy again, similar to what I felt the day Benjamin was born.

Thank you, most beloved family and friends, for your unfailing concern and care for me. I feel so grateful to Heavenly Father for surrounding me with such love through you.

And to Benjamin,

I love you, my son. I miss you, but hope to feel you close today. I'm so grateful to have you!

Love,

Mommy

Round Rock Rag

Here's a slideshow of some highlights of our trip in March to Becky and Daniel's house. (Fifty points if you can figure out which three are from Douglas opening his mission call!)

I'm off to Women's Conference this week, and will be pretty quiet in the blogosphere for a while. Type to you when I get back! :)

Darling Cutie

What is his name? Gras, Flocken, Darling, etc.

How long have we been married? Eleven years last Saturday!

How long did we date? Way too long. Of course, I was 17 when we met. We had to wait at least until parental consent was no longer required! ha. Just kidding. Actually we dated a year and a half before our wedding, and eleven years since.

How old is he? 34, and boy, do I rub it in!

Who said I love you first? Can't remember. Romantic, I know.

Who is taller? He is, by exactly 3 inches.

Who sings better? Well, you know, I hate to brag.

Who is smarter? DC is way smarter. He was actually an EE major before switching to violin performance. He has a doctorate. Need I say more?

Whose temper is worse? Definitely mine. :(

Who pays the bills? Moi.

Who does the laundry? Me again. Although my darling often helps put away the clothes, especially when I'm huge and pregnant and tired.

Who cooks dinner? Me. And since food is kind of a hobby for me, I really actually enjoy it.

Who drives when we are together? Usually DC. Especially on long trips. Which suits me perfectly.

Who is more stubborn? I think a lot of people would be surprised to find how stubborn my darling can be. But it's not very often. He almost always lets me have my way. :)

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Usually me, and because it's usually me that's wrong!

Whose parents do you see more? Mine.

Who has more friends? I seem to lean on my friends more than he leans on his, but we definitely are each other's Best Friend. :)

Who wears the pants in the family? My manly husband.

Who eats more sweets? It's a tie. We are a bad influence on each other, and both tend to cave in whenever the other is partaking of sugar.

Who mows the lawn? Darling Gras.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does.

Who asked who out first? Darling Gras asked me out first.

Who kissed whom first? Well, my goodness, that's kind of a personal question. :)

What is my favorite thing about him? His amazing Christ-like love for every person. I don't think I've ever heard him speak negatively about anyone. He has a celestial heart.

I tag Suzanne, Malauna, and Mom. . . .

My soul's clock is ticking

I have a dear friend back in Tallahassee who is a very talented writer, even having recently published a children's book. We used to go to a writers' group together, and I will always be grateful to her for encouraging me in my creative verbal efforts! :) She sent me this poem a couple of months ago, and it fit so well how I feel. I have really good weeks where I feel almost normal, and then I have down weeks where I just want to stay in bed and cry and eat chocolate. (Not that I do, but that's how I feel). Thank you, Norma, not only for expressing beautifully what living with grief feels like, but especially for letting me "lean on you" through our emails!

Invitation

Don’t expect too much of me

Of something I can’t give,

I’m still searching who I am

and how I want to live.

My mind and heart are wounded now

the scars are wide and deep,

but my soul’s clock is ticking

with time-washed healing sleep.

So if you care to wait around

on the periphery,

One day I’ll reach out again

in new maturity.

--Norma J. Sundberg--

copyrighted, permission given to post on this blog

(original title: A Death Called Divorce)

A Visit from SuzieQ - Fun at Home

I interrupt this blogcast to bring you. . . .

. . .A GREAT SMILE!