A New Year

A year ago, my sister, dad and I started a vigil of sorts. We knew any day or any moment, could be the last with mom. My desire was for us all to be there, she wanted it that way as well. For about 4/5 days I think we all were at the house taking turns between being at her side/sleeping/eating/giving meds/changing sheets etc. Time would simultaneously drag on and seem to go so slow, yet I often remember thinking how 5pm came up so quickly each day. We were by her bedside right there for her, waiting for her to go and be with Jesus. This week is upon us and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it, to be honest. I am just now starting to process it, I guess.

What really started me thinking about it came by way of my sister-in-law, Rachel, giving birth to her little boy, on January 1st!
Her due date was December 28th, so we knew it could be any day before or after. She sent me a text on December 31st, that she was having contractions. I was so excited! So many things were running through my mind. Up to that point, I hadn't ever asked her who would be in the room with her during the labor process. We texted back and forth over a couple hours and she eventually told me that her and her mom(Jodi) went to the hospital and had been admitted. I called Jodi later and I mentioned that if Rachel didn't mind, I would love to be there for some time. I checked in again around 9:30pm and decided I'd wait until the ball dropped since I had my nieces and nephew overnight. I left at 12:30 or so and when I got to Rachel's room they told me she was at a 10! That meant, she was ready to push, for those who may not know. :) I was praying the whole time and would every so often think of my mom who I know would've been praying the whole time, too. I don't know how to describe the rest of the night accept that it was amazing. Looking back on it, realizing that this new year, in the first few hours of 2015, I was able to stand by and watch/usher in this new LIFE. A life being born, into the world... still to this moment it makes me stop. I am speechless to describe how profound and meaningful it was.... that at this time last year, DEATH was upon us... and this year LIFE....

I know my mom ultimately gained her new body and life in heaven, so it wasn't an ultimate death, but it still left us here to mourn and grieve....

This year started out with life, it did for my sister's sister in law as well..... I pray for each of our family members that these new lives would be a symbol to remember the beginning of 2015... whether it is just the small victories or life in places long waited for....

I'm a little late to the "Gungor" band wagon as I just bought their first cd last month. I have heard this song many times, but feel it is so fitting for this....

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us