It’s a Girl!

I didn’t have a baby, but I am finding myself suddenly in a mommy role. That is my explanation of why I haven’t been and probably won’t be posting much new material here for a while.  I may just share some old stories and poems until I work out a routine that allows me time to write again.

It’s a sudden life change, and where most people have 9 months to prepare for a child, my husband and I had exactly 9 days. I won’t go into the details of what has brought my adorable 4-year-old grandniece (remember, that doesn’t mean I am old!) to live with us, except to say that we will will be taking care of and raising her for a period while her mom works to make a better life. I’m actually quite proud of her right now, because sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing, but I guess that is the same for Robert and I at this point too.

We certainly shocked many people with the sudden addition to our household (including the dogs who are really trying to figure out why this small person makes weird noises) because we have lived child-free for 14 years of marriage and had declared it was the life for us.

But sometimes…life happens, and you feel called to do something that seems crazy, because you NOW know God has been preparing you for it (even though I still feel wildly UNprepared), and because she’s family, and because she needs a safe and loving home, and even though you have little experience in these sorts of things, you just know it’s what you’re supposed to do.

Ugh- I’m rambling.

This is my world now, for an indefinite time.  What a challenge we have before us, but we’ll learn.  The weirdest part so far is people in stores assuming I’m her mommy.  I’ve never been a mommy figure to anyone but a couple silly dogs.  And now I suddenly have a pink room in my house. Sigh.

Dylan looks about as freaked out as I am, but he also loves her, and so do I.