Wednesday, January 01, 2014

New Year's Day-10:45am

The world is white and gray.
It's ten below.
Karma is tired after I kept her up till 2am last night...
...with my little New Year's Eve ceremony.
I write down the positive things I/we might need help with in the coming year.  (I often ask for other people...and critters, too...even the earth.)  Then I focus on them one by one, touch the paper to the flame of the candle, and drop it in the copper burning bowl to send the request off into the heavens.
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Next I use one of my pendulums to pick an angel card.  This time I used the wooden one.  It is filled with multi-colored sand from the Tibetan monks when they were at Concordia college about ten years ago.  They worked for days on a beautiful, vibrant sand mandala--had a blessing ceremony--destroyed the mandala--and then gave away teaspoons of the sand to anyone who wanted some.  (They saved most of the sand for the final ceremony they do near water.)  They were the calmest, most loving people I have ever met.      
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I digress.
I am a known digresser.
Sorry--for keeping you in suspense.
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The card I got was absolutely perfect
Joy
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After saying they were never having children...
and ten years of marriage...
Dagan and Leah changed their minds...
and Leah is pregnant!!
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I was sworn to secrecy since Ruby was here summer before last--well, Ruby and I were both sworn to secrecy.  Dagan and Leah told Ruby and I together that they planned to start trying in the fall (of 2012).  Leah and her sister Michal were going to start trying at the same time.  (As you may recall, Chuck and Michal had a baby boy in 2013.) 
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This last February my dear friend Ruby died suddenly.  I got the shocking call right before Dagan and his friend brought over my new recliner.  Dagan's friend left, Leah arrived--and I was just kind of stunned and numb.  There's a kind of empty sadness when you lose someone who can practically read your mind...really "gets" you...knows all your flaws, but loves you regardless and always supports your soul.  Unconditional love.  We had that for each other.
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I was in a kind of void.
And that night Dagan and Leah decided to tell me she was pregnant!  
Such sadness--then such joy!
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But very shortly afterwards, Leah lost that baby.
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2014 has been an emotional roller coaster.
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She quietly put on the baby shower for Michal's baby.
You may remember us making the baby shower cards.
Unlike her gregarious, open-book, chatty MIL--Leah keeps her feelings pretty close to the vest.  But I know it was a difficult time.  I've been through it, too.
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They decided not to try for a while to let her body heal--and I heard nothing more about it.  
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Until they were here helping me sort through the junk drawer boxes.  Dagan casually says--Oh, by the way, Leah's pregnant again.  Whoohoo!  But I couldn't say anything publicly until she was past the three month mark (end of December). 
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It is an extra happy new year!!
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In 2014 Dagan and Leah will be happily married 12 years, Dagan will be 40, Leah will be 35, and I will turn 63.  Those facts alone are enough cause for celebration.  :):)
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There are a few of you reading this who actually remember when we used to celebrate Dagan living one more month with cake and coffee...until he got old enough to catch on that the gathering had something to do with him and I was afraid he'd think he had birthdays every month of his life--LOL!  He doesn't like it when I get all soft over how amazing it is that he is even still here at all...but he doesn't hardly ever read my blog...and moms have a right to get gushy and emotional sometimes, right?  He is still a miracle.  He will always be my special boy.  Patched and repatched--pacemaker and all the surgeries--he has survived.  Fooled them all!  Passed by every gravestone marker they had erected for him--LOL!  Until they quit predicting.  ;)
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  And now there is going to be this huge shift in their lives.
Dagan and Leah will never be the same.
Their hearts will expand to places they never imagined.
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Please say prayers for all of them.
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With love and joy...
Happy 2014!!!
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"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life."
Richard Bach 

17 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

awww. congratulations to all of you and i hope all will go well for her and the baby. bless them.

GrandmaG said...

Congratulations! You will love being a grandma. I've said it from the beginning, "it's the best gig in town!"

Beth said...

Congratulations to you all. Prayer said that all goes well!!

Zue said...

Wow, Rita...you will be a granny. I am so mega pleased for all of you.
This is wonderful news.Much love to Leah and Dagan.
They will be wonderful parents, you can tell by the way they look after you.
Xxx

DJan said...

What wonderful, life affirming news! How much it will change their lives, and yours. I will be praying for everything to go well, Rita. I suspect it will. Thank you for this really exciting news on the first day of the new year! :-)

Anonymous said...

Mazel tov--what wonderful news!! I wish you, Dagan, Leah &, of course, the little one the happiest & healthiest of new years!!

AliceKay said...

Congratulations to Dagan and Leah. I hope all goes well with the pregnancy and a healthy baby will be born to them this year.

My niece and her husband found out just before Thanksgiving that they were expecting (Karl and Linda's daughter) but she lost the baby Christmas night. Terri and I saw them after church Christmas Eve and congratulated them both, and then the very next night, the baby was gone. Very heart-breaking thing to happen on Christmas. :(

I hope 2014 is a better year for everyone. Happy New Year, Rita.

Joyce F said...

Wonderful! Thughts and prayers for all of you will continue in the months ahead as you await this blessed event.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Congratulations Granny! I am very excited for you! Must be a June baby...he or she will have lots of people saying special prayers. Happy New Year!! I am certain it will be a great year for you:)

Janie Junebug said...

Prayers bubble and boil on the front burner. I'm so happy for you all. The monks sound wonderful. I don't think anyone will ever describe me as the calmest person met.

Love,
Janie

Darla said...

Sounds like 2013 was emotionally hard. Glad you are starting out this year with happy news. I will be holding good thoughts for all of you.

Darla

Leah said...

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! Dagan and I are due in July and Rita will keep you posted on how things are going throughout the pregnancy. :)

Intense Guy said...

Happy New Year to the Granny-to-be!!

Congratulations to Dagan and Leah! I hope all goes well!

Furry Bottoms said...

You.Are.Going.To.Be.A.Grandma.!.!.!
Congratulations!!!!!!

Carol said...

Congratulations!!!! An amazing year will be had for all of you ♥♥♥♥♥ Sending lots of hugs and will keep you all in my prayers and thoughts.

Serena Lewis said...

That is fantastic news, Rita! Please pass on my congratulations to Dagan and Leah. So exciting!

I loved hearing about your New Year's Eve ceremony. Here's wishing a wonderful 2014 for you and your growing family.

Love and hugs ~ xo

Funny in My Mind said...

I knew it! Congratulations grandma! My sister is due in May with Charlotte and she is 40, lost a baby last year, martied late etc.....
Life is good!