Day 9: Those We Miss

Day 9: Those we miss

   First there are those I missed meeting like all my great-grandparents and my paternal grandmother.  My paternal grandfather died when I was 2 and so in a large sense I missed knowing him also.  I also missed knowing all of Charlie's grandparents except his maternal grandmother who I had the honor and pleasure of meeting and coming to know a bit.
 
   And then there are those I miss; my mom's parents both died when I was twenty, despite living an ocean away they both made a tremendous effort to love and build a good relationship with their American granddaughters visiting almost every year as long as their health allowed.  We would also go to Belgium every few years to visit them.  Another grandmother of sorts (my aunt-by-marriage's mother) who had always been very kind to me also passed away during my twenties.   My father's younger sister died when I was seven; my introduction to death on a personal level.

   Most significantly I miss my father and my father-in-law, the missing is different now nine years later but missing still and I imagine missing always.  Much of the missing now involves missing not being able to share my kids with them; and not being able to have my kids know their grandfathers in that intimate in the flesh manner I would wish them to.  Blessedly both my dad and Charlie's dad have siblings who are still living who I pray will continue to in addition to be wonderful great-uncles in their own right a wonderful link to stories from our dads childhood and adolescence.

More at Not in Jersey

Theme Thursday: Dad

Linking up with Cari of Clan Donaldson for another Theme Thursday.

I have long considered myself blessed in the friend and partner God brought into my life in the person of my husband and I have passed that blessing on to my kids in who they get for a Dad.

Elisabeth ~ 1 day old; happy if tired new dad

Introducing Liam to Caitlin

Please head over to Clan Donaldson for more Theme Thursday

Why I love my husband Vol 7

In honor of St Valentine's Day ~ another installment of:

1. Dr Daddy was on clinical service last week, and so not wanting to pass any of the lovely germs he might have brought home to Newborn Caitlin he wasn't holding her, but rather talking sweet nothings from a safe distance.
2. His great patience while cooking with the kids
3. His loving and funny texts to me when work keeps him there late.
4. For agreeing to come to my roommates party twenty years ago ~ and becoming one of God's greatest blessings in my life.

Inspired by Kaitlin of More like Mary, More like Me

Why I Love My Husband, vol 3

1. His smile, especially when he is watching or playing with his kids
2. The way he encourages me to try new things
3. His commitment to caring for others
4. His laughter

My thanks again to Kaitlin of More like Mary for inspiring this meme

Quick Takes vol #23

1. Enjoyed celebrating Jour de Belgie this week.  July is always fun in my family, good food and pride of heritage on July 4th and the 21st!  Elisabeth enjoyed sharing the frites, maybe next year she will try a mussel.
2. Charlie was away on a business trip this week and while we certainly missed him, am happy to report that all went smoothly.  And enjoyed the brief return to the phone conversations of  early infatuation which ends with the tug-of-love regarding who is hanging up first.
3. If Elisabeth's calm welcome did not quite convey to Daddy how much he was missed, this morning when she followed him everywhere and pitched a fit when he went out of sight definitely did.
4. Playground antics increase as slides and merry-go-rounds are added to the list of musts.  Her willingness to walk up to kids much bigger and strike up a conversation (granted in her own language) continues to surprise me.
5. Sesame Street is now a regular part of my day (again).  And I'm having a blast getting to know new friends like Zoe and Elmo, and getting back in sync with Big Bird and Grover
6. If anyone has tips to ward off the pickiness of the second year please pass them on because I'm loving sharing my eggplant, mushrooms, and avocado with her.  Though by far the best is the faces she makes after drink seltzer out of Charlie's glass...And then coming back for more!!
7. Looking forward to a visit from a good friend this weekend as we kick back and catch-up!

Enjoy the rest of this weeks Quick Takes with Jen at Conversion Diary

Quick Takes vol #19

1. I won a book giveaway!! I want to thank Anne of catholicmommybrain.com for hosting and also Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, the official sponsor of the Catholic summer reading program.  It is really exciting that I will not only be receiving a free book but one of ten chosen by their editors and then voted by many others.  Voting ends tomorrow, go check it out!
2. This week rather then complain about that fact that it has been raining for weeks on end I chose to focus on being grateful that I have a warm dry home to live in.  My roof is not leaking and nor are my windows. 
3. The first water babies class was not a great success, she cried through much of it.  She was not terrified and screaming to get out but would only not cry if we did not move around in the water too much and she could rest her head on my shoulder.
4. I am planning to give it another try next week.  I would like her to be comfortable playing with us in a pool, however it is not a must so whether we keep going after next week is an open question I guess.
5. As Father's Day comes around, I am enjoying the wonderful father-daughter relationship I'm seeing develop between E. and her daddy, missing my dad and giving thanks as always for our Heavenly Father
6. My godfather, one of my father's best friends has always been a wonderful gift of love and encouragement to me.  My father was not Catholic and so my godfather was one of my role models for living as an adult catholic in the world.  Now that I too am a godparent, I pray I do as good a job of modeling Catholic love and Christian charity as he did for me.
7. Hoping the sun shines a little on our weekend plans!