March for Babies In Memory of Braden

 

March of Dimes'

March for Babies

USC for Babies
November 17, 2013

I have found myself surprised and saddened to realize how little I empathize with the difficult times of others until I, myself, go through such an experience.

So it was when I lost a grandchild upon his premature birth.   I really had no idea how many babies we lose each year or how much young moms and dads suffer for this.

And now that I know, I want to prevent it, learn from it, and help others.  

My third grandchild, Braden, was born premature and was not able to survive. We held him for just a short time and will remember him forever.

I hope to raise money and awareness for the need to strive to save more lives through research and experience. In the meantime, we need to support the babies born too soon, and their families, as we try to save their lives.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. I'm walking in March for Babies because I want to do something about this. And I need your help.

Please support my walk. Making a secure donation is easy: just click My Page and click the Donate Now button to make an online donation. Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Visit My Page to learn more or to make a donation.

Welcome Home 80th APS

Trying to pick out her daddy.

It was a big week for my family.  Robby, my son-in-law, who probably is known as Rob in the 80th, came home from Kuwait.

Before going to Kuwait, he got to know his son for about 2 months.  The goodbye was heart wrenching.  I knew the baby would be OK.  I wasn't so sure about the daddy.

Upon return, his son is 9 months old, has a little more hair and eats meat.

Keep our troops in your prayers.  Keep their spouses and children in your prayers.  I know it's hard to be away, but it's hard to be home alone, too.  Thank you to my kids for their service and thank you to the thousands of others who have served or are still over there.  Can't wait for them all to be home!

The Dance

Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,

The places where you can risk letting the world break your heart.

And I will take you to the places

Where the earth beneath my feet

And the stars overhead

Make my heart whole again and again.

~ Oriah Mountain Dreamer

So I was at the beach all last week with my children who are all well into adulthood and can only be called children as defined by their relationship to me and I saw these pelicans having a blast.  They were so majestic, I could only call it a dance.

As I watched them, I realized that my children were conducting a similar dance in the same sea and the parallels between the two brought a smile to my face.

I'm kind of sad to see another Summer past.

(Holden Beach, NC)

Braden Ray Leach

Today was his due date.

We got to hold him for just a few minutes on April 15th.

I gently took him from his father's arms, wrapped the hospital blanket around him snug and with a quiet prayer and loud sobs, I placed him back in the hospital bassinet.

Little Braden was my third grandchild.
Prayers today will be much appreciated.

Bobby Graves Fulfills His Calling . . . Four Decades Late

Sitting tall in the Captain’s chair in the wheelhouse of a beautiful 60’ trawler, navigating nowhere with the boat up on the rails for yearly maintenance, Bobby Graves (“Cap’n. Bobby") began describing the dream of his 12-year old self.  And it didn’t include fishing.

I thought Bobby was going to relate a life-long dream to fish commercially, so I was surprised with his story.

"When I was 12 years old," he said, “I had a vision of Christ beside me on the couch.  He reached out, touched me and said ‘I want you to be my messenger.’”  Then Bobby nodded at me with a smile and continued, “Truth is, we are all supposed to be His messengers.”

And that’s how Bobby Graves’ stories always lead his listeners to the cross.  Everything he talks about becomes a spiritual lesson.  He sails under the Christian flag so even if he kept his mouth shut (as if!), you would still get the picture.....

White Shrimp Season, Beaufort and Savannah

The white shrimp season is about to get kicking on the South Carolina coast with September and October being the peak season. Trawlers eagerly rushing out on Monday mornings or dragging back in on Saturday nights, Mariners and Fishermen on deck with waders up to their hips, guys on shore kicking them off or pulling them in..... such activity!  It always lures me to the coast -- I gotta get in on the action.

So I came to Savannah, GA to . . .

My Newest Grandbaby

The necklace on the shirt is pretty awesome, but watching her react to Sponge Bob is hilarious.

Abide With Me, Elizabeth Strout

When I read a book, I copy down quotes I love into my Evernote, then go back and savor them over and over.

So tonight I was thinking of one such quote and I tried to tweet it.  It was too long so I made it a two-tweeter; not sure I ever did a two-tweeter before.

Here's the quote, see what you think.

"Tell me about yourself."  She didn't know what to tell.  In her mind, she was a faint pencil line on a piece of paper; everyone else was drawn in ink, some -- like the minister -- with a firm Magic Marker.

I know, right?!  That's how Elizabeth Strout writes.   Here's another one....