Being tied down and sawed in half like a magician’s assistant made holding my newborn impossible. The nurse hoisted him up to my face and our noses touched ever so slightly. Our first kiss, an Eskimo kiss. Weeks, months went by and I never thought about that “kiss,” never replicated it. One afternoon as my handsome guy was learning to crawl, he scrambled over to where I was sitting on the living room floor, pulled himself up, and found my nose with his.
Because kismet.
My husband was throwing a batting practice to his baseball team before a big game. I was on a different field watching another game when I felt it. Just it. I turned around fully expecting someone to be looking for me, and there he was. A player’s father had come to tell me about the accident. Long months of surgeries, eye-drops, precautions, and prayers; my husband’s eye is fully healed and he is still coaching.
Because connection.
Lying in the hospital bed, in and out of consciousness thanks to the Percocet, I struggled to sit upright, to keep my chin from crashing onto my chest. A figure emerged from the shadows of the hallway; was she a vision or really standing in front of me? With her caramel complexion came a wave of calm. Mop, clean linens, and garbage bags piled in her hands, she smiled. She didn’t ask me to label the pain with a number; she spoke kind, comforting words. I slept better that night than I ever have, but despite my best efforts, never found her to thank her.
Because divine intervention.
A misunderstanding. Misplaced anger. Dreams deferred. A 10-hour car ride to stand by his side, fighting back tears while hats were held to hearts and music swelled around us. Frigid temperatures. Falling rain.
Because family.
Nightmares can yield happiness.
Plans gone awry become our foundation.
The unexpected gives us exactly what we need without us ever realizing we need it.
Because grace.
OMG Steph. There are just no words. Poignant and simply beautiful.
Thanks, Penny; my heart’s on a page and you’ve done it proud 😉
Beautiful. Loved this.
Because you are YOU!
Your comments make me so happy 🙂 🙂
Beautiful. I feel like I had an experience rather than simply reading words.
This is going to sound SO dorky, but you should submit that to Reader’s Digest.
Readers Digest still exists?! My Gram loved that shizz!
Felt to my core.
I hope that’s a good thing 😉 Thanks for reading and commenting, Anita–you’re super 🙂
Now you’re making me cry. Beautiful.
Ah Ha! Now we’re even 😉
heart gripping. soooo beautiful!
Aww, thanks lady! Much appreciated 🙂
This was beautiful. And that Eskimo picture melts my heart. Grace – wonderful grace. 😀 Undeserved but so beautiful.
You’re absolutely right; it is so undeserved, but appreciated nonetheless!
I hope it felt as amazing to write it as it did to read. Beautiful work, my friend!
To be honest, I was nervous to post this today!! I’m in a mood and a half and wanted to shake it off; wasn’t sure how this would be received. THANK YOU!!!!!
Wow — beautiful!!!!!!
Thanks, pal 🙂
The unexpected, unplanned and unexplained are often the most teachable things we encounter. This is beautiful!! Thanks for sharing.
Vicky
Vicky, you’re absolutely right! Just takes a while for a person (namely, me) to understand that. Hindsight is 20/20, right?!
This is just gorgeous! Truly. You are blessed with a gift, my friend.
Right back at ya, lady! I only wish I had your vocabulary; I will read the dictionary for fun. OH yes.
This is simply beautiful. I spend so much time writing exaggerated, snarky posts (which I love to do and read, of course!) that when I come across one like this, it takes my breath away. Thank you!
Shay, I spend my time writing with the same snark, so I get it! Sometimes a girl’s just gotta let her heart bleed onto the paper a little. Paper, laptop. Whatever.
THANK YOU!!
So, so beautiful!!! Thanks for this. These types of posts make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 🙂
Can’t wait to read yours–go for it!
This is so gorgeous, I’m tearful. Steph, your gift with words is too much. And that photo…oh, that photo. Beyond gorgeous.
Thanks, friend!!!! You’ve made me tear up enough–glad I could return the favor 😉
This is truly beautiful. I love it. Love the photo, and YOU. Your writing is amazing.
Isn’t the picture adorable?! One of my favorites! Thanks, Kristi <3
I can’t believe I missed this one! Simply beautiful my friend!
Coming from you, that means everything! THANK YOU!
AND… THERE it is!!!! This is the ONE. Absolutely powerful. OH Stephanie…. I soaked in your words and your beautiful message… so so beautiful!!!!! Oh how I love this. MUST share.
You’re my favorite. Period.
Absolutely beautiful perfection.
You’re too kind, Mama. xo
You win the internet today. 🙂 Awesomely amazing post.
Oooh the whole Internet!! You’re swell 😉
Wow. Just awesome and powerful.
I like you, Tracy. You’re good people. 😉
I don’t throw this word around.
But lovely. Just lovely.
Alan, wanna go steady? 🙂