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Sunday, October 2, 2011

18 + 45= Hope

~My first born with late husband Chris~
(Apologies for poor quality picture of a picture)

It's birthday week around our house...
18+45!
18 years ago on Friday, I became a Mama for the first time...Yes, my 1st baby is becoming an adult:)  Though much has happened in the last 18 years, it sure feels like we went from this day of birth straight to now!  In a blink of an eye, the boy is a man.

The fun thing is that our birthdays are only 1 day apart and I get to be 45 this year, on the following day. Oh yay, do I sound excited?
This year is rather reflective and emotional as I recall the blissful baby moments of that first child, so innocent and blessed with two loving parents, both completely over the moon for him!  And now he's becoming an adult, ready to spread his own wings and fly.  I think about how proud that Chris would be of his son and the well-rounded man of God that he has become.  I smile at their similar sense of humor and magnetic personalities, despite never knowing each other as Father and Son...
Tears may flow as we remember this sweet beginning of life and all that we miss. But despite the tragic loss of Chris in our lives, we continue to be blessed beyond measure. God has provided and we have so much to be thankful for. 
We miss but we mostly hope
We hope for the future and for the grace and mercy of God to see His face, reunited with all those we love.
We hope for the rainbow with an eternal message.  God always promises a rainbow.
It's a birthday week to be celebrated...Life, hope, and rainbows!

Our Lady of the Rosary, please pray for us.
Our Lady of Good Counsel, please pray for us.
My favorite quote applies now and forever:
"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."
~Mother Teresa~
Isn't this a great rainbow photo we captured with Mer-man this past Spring?
18+45= Hope.


The falling rain dissolves into mist
and the thunder begins to die,
as the sporadic lightning fades
an arch of color pours from the sky.
Rainbows appear after mighty storms
when things look their worst.
Just when the sky is darkest gray,
out of Heaven does a rainbow burst.
God first sent the rainbow to Noah
as a sign that His word is true.
The rainbow’s eternal message
still speaks to me and you.
The rainbow is a sign of God’s promise
that He will guide us through any storm,
That He will ease all our troubles,
No matter what their form.
When you feel battered by life’s storms
and you are filled with doubt and dismay,
just remember God’s rainbow is coming,
For it’s blessing you have only to pray.
Written by: BJ. Morbitzer

11 comments:

  1. Many blessings to both of you on your birthdays!!

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  2. Happiest of birthdays to you both!
    What beautiful and touching pictures of your newborn baby boy. Thank you so much for sharing Tiffany. May you both continue to receive God's abundant blessings and grace this coming year!

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  3. how blessed you are to have those old photos -- they must tell a thousand memories -- and to share birthdays so close together with your son, the child of you and Chris!! your humility is shining through in this post, Tiffany. Happy 45 to you and 18 to Mer-man! I love the photo of the three of you!

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  4. Chris indeed is smiling down showers of love and hope this week. He truly IS proud of what your your son has grown into and you summed it up so eloquently in this post. Tears of sadness and joy and hope for you all.

    I have met a handful of the most extraordinary kids who have been brought up to know, love, and serve God as well as fear God. They are amazing young adults and your son is one of them. It gives me hope for my own children, that yes, in this crazy world, we do have hope. HOpe in the future of our children.

    Birthday wishes to you all!!

    PS - Lovely photos, Tiffany. My mom says that birthdays of her children are the hardest for her with Dad gone. God bless!

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  5. Happy birthday and God bless both of you!!

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  6. Teary-eyed... Happy birthday to you both!
    +JMJ+

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  7. Happy birthday to you both Tiffany! Blessings to your son on his entrance into adulthood! I've no doubt that you and your husband have prepared him well!

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  8. 18...I can't even begin to imagine the emotions that go along with your first child hitting that milestone! My eldest is 11 and entering puberty - adjusting to the idea that she's not a child anymore has been really tough for me to wrap my brain around.

    Happy birthday to you both! :-)

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  9. Oh Tiffany, I cried tears of joy for you. You must have so much to say in those pictures, with your son and late husband. How beautiful a history, that you and your son have a day apart of each others birthdays.
    You inspire me with your beautiful posts. I look forward to seeing the day that I admire those pictures in the same way you do on your blog. I get teary eyed now thinking of that day. It sure goes by very quickly. Enjoy your day with your beautiful family. God bless you and may God give you Peace, Love, Joy, Happiness, and a multitude of Health in this coming birthday year for both of you. {internet hugs}

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  10. Thank you all for the special birthday wishes! You have warmed my heart:) Peace and love of Christ to you all!

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