Yesterdays’ Child . . .and Tomorrows’ Too

~ rabbitpatchdiary.com

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March winds continue to blow scattering anything not nailed down, in every direction.  The bradford pears have all but lost their dainty blossoms, and in their place, are young leaves, the color of jade.  The porch rockers remain  kneeling, lest they are tossed hither and yonder, and broken up in the process.  Winter coats are still necessary, as the wind is cold and the nights are colder.  Still, the daffodils bloom.   . .This is March, the typical, familiar March, that sweeps through the “rabbitpatch”, as if it has an old score to even, every year.  

The  purple martin birds have sent their scouts, which are really the “elders” of the flock.  They always appear in March, back to their summer home, from previous years, the same home of the generations before them.  The martins “set up housekeeping ” and sing tropical songs, with trills- perfected in South America, where they spend their youth.  . . hence, their unique melodies.   Many people house colonies of martins, including my sister, Connie, who spotted her scouts, this week.   Special birdhouses with many compartments are erected in wide open spaces.  If you hang your laundry out, on any given morning in June, you are likely to hear the song of the  purple martin.

March comes along, bearing such gifts as wind, blossoms and purple martins  . . .and fair children, too.  Today is Christians’ birthday.   Christian is the “baby” of my five children.  The fact, that he is now twenty-five years old, makes little difference to me-he is and always will be, the “baby”.   I was in my early thirties when Christian was born.  Brant was almost ten, and there were three others behind him.  Truthfully, I worried that I would not have the same zeal to raise him as I had before.  Where would I find the gumption, to on top of everything else, make baby food and wash cloth diapers?  How would I have time for leisure strolls and the time to read poetry to a baby?   It shamed me to no end and so I now worried, that as we awaited his birth, he knew, my doubts. 

 The day before, Christian was born, Kyle and I took a long walk and had milkshakes later. I remember, like it was yesterday. Not too long after midnight, Christian was born.  Every fear, I had vanished, the moment I held him.  “Gumption” washed over me like a baptism. “Love covers a multitude of sins” , rang true again. . . as it always does.

Brant, all but took over housekeeping and Jenny abandoned her dolls, for now she had a real baby.  We all strolled together and when I cooked supper, Christian had four baby sitters.  I had never factored in, that Christian would inherit the wealth, of having four siblings that were on the same mission, as I was. . .to make sure he grew up loved and cared for.  They read poetry and sang “Ave Maria”  in latin to him.  They played their violins for him. (Christian thought every child played the violin, for a long time.)  They took great pains not to “spoil” him, too.  Tres would bring  little tractors within a few feet, to entice Christian to crawl to them.  Christian did not point at something and whine, to get it.  I had warned the older ones, that the “baby” surely needed to walk, as they did, and that “catering” to whims would be quite unkind.  Tres took it to heart and did not allow anybody to hinder Christians’ chances of climbing trees or rambling in woods.

Of course, I wrote about this and of course, Christian  has grown into a fine young man.  He has one of the purest and most compassionate hearts, I have ever know.  He is an artist to the core.  He writes, paints and is a musician.  He has bought medicine for a neighbor and is apt to carry groceries out for seniors.  Not long ago, I lost him in a garden center, and found him loading mulch for an older man.  If it sounds like I am bragging . . .I am.  I can not deny my blessings-all five of them . . .and it is Christians’ birthday, after all.  My children are -“the gift that keeps on giving”.  

Now, Christian plays his guitar for Lyla and at Christmas, he handed me a handful of money and asked me to buy art supplies for her. “We”  have not yet raised a perfect child, but we have come mighty close

And now for the very grand finale . . . .Jenny is having a baby! 

It is expected to happen sometime, in early September, and there is no shortage of zeal  nor gumption, from any of us.  This baby will be born “with a silver spoon, in its’ mouth”   . . .for truly   love is a silver spoon and the  only one that does not tarnish.  . . .believe me . . . I  know this as a fact.  It is one of the few things, I am certain of.

Happy Birthday Christian!

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35 thoughts on “Yesterdays’ Child . . .and Tomorrows’ Too”

  1. Congrats! There is nothing like a new baby. It is God’s way of telling us to carry on.
    Happy birthday to Christian!
    ps. Oh dear…I made a stab at the tea cakes….didn’t do so good ,but I will try again.

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  7. Ohhh Rabbit!! A new Grandbaby! Many Congratulations. What an incredible blessing for the whole family to have.
    And . . . Birthday Greetings to that very handsome young man of yours, Christian.

    You have much to celebrate right now, and it’s just lovely to know this. You are such a truly lovely friend that if I were to wish anything for you, it would be for life to feel as blessed as it does right now – filled with happy and love.
    Sending you all much love ~ Cobs. xxx

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      1. Getting much better, thank you Rabbit. But the second fall which I had four weeks ago (not a faint or blackout – I got my foot caught in the throw on the bed! tsk tsk) – that fall hurt my feet. Don’t think anything was actually broken but saw Dr. on Friday and he says I should have an X-ray just to be safe. (Didn’t have them checked at the time as I didn’t think they could do anything about a broken toe etc – but now been told that I should have had it checked. tsk tsk).

        Not driving yet but I will be soon because Dr. says I’m fit to drive – so just waiting now for the DVLA (Driver Vehicle Licencing Authority) to do the paperwork and send my Driving Licence back. 😀

        Love you Rabbit. ~ Cobs. xxx

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  8. Congratulation Michele!!! A new grandbaby….how very wonderful. A grandma can never have to many of those around.
    It sounds like you and your children did a marvelous job raising Christian. I love the thought that they did not hinder him from climbing trees and learning things for himself….that is truly a gift.

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  12. This is one of my favorites as of late, loved reading about the purple martins and your family’s baby having many “parents”. You were worried you wouldn’t have time for poetry reading to baby dear. A woman after my own heart, you are. It’s still coldest here, but we are seeing MANY signs of spring, robins, skunks waddling about, sand hills returning, red wing black birds, and swans. Happiest belated to your Christian and I’m SO excited for you on the coming new grand baby. Lyla, especially will be so blessed to have a little sibling. ❤

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    1. thank you Amy-We are all so excited.-Lyla too! I have always though that we have a lot in common. Your stories remind me of happy times. You will never regret one moment-and neither will your children. wishing you a beautiful spring-and thank you again-love Michele

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  14. HaPpY BIRTHDAY to Christian – what a gift his life is! And now, Lyla will have a sibling to hover over & hang out with – and you’ll have two grands to love on!!! 🎉🤗💜🤗🎉

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