More Memories ...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my parents got roped into some of my (not-so-minor) nesting projects. This was to be their first grandchild, so they were all in. I have lots of great memories of the time we spent together waiting for AJ to arrive. The following is a thank-you note I wrote to them after the fact. These are more of our memories, and I hope reading about them warms your heart as much as it does mine.

How can we possibly begin to thank you for all that you have done for us? Thank you ... for helping us build wonderful and lasting memories of our son as we prepared for and anxiously awaited his arrival. We remember garage sales in the rain, countless trips to Menards, painting the guest bedroom and hoping we had enough paint, planning and constructing the most magnificent cat castle ever to have existed, the joy of cutting the perfect 45 degree angles and wasting less than 2 inches of oak trim, a beautiful pegboard frame for gardening tools atop a sturdy shelf, safe dryer vents and a growing pregnant lady in small spaces with power tools, shampooing carpet tiles, coffee and donuts and phone calls to Mom that I had kept Dad late (again), the road trip to Rapids for our showers and the joy of introducing our families to one another, your hospitality when Ron and Margaret visited and big scones in the cool shade at the Dane County Farmer's Market.

Thank you ... for nurturing our bodies, minds, and souls as we travel down this unanticipated fork in the road ... and for encouraging us to have faith and hope in a bright future. We have been nourished by Mom's lasagna, Dad's chili, and countless other casseroles; we have been comforted by your kind words, your phone calls, your hugs, and your presence. We have needed to talk, and you have listened. We have needed to be silent, and you sat patiently waiting by our sides. We needed privacy, and you graciously provided it and protected us. We needed to inform others, and you made and received countless phone calls -- all the while grieving the loss yourselves. We needed encouragement, and you have told us time and time again how proud you were of us.

Our faith has been strengthened through connections with the church. We are thankful for Pastor Narum and his wife Betsy -- a connection that was made possible through you, Mom. We are comforted by the afghan made by St. James' Shawl Ministry -- it's rainbow-colored tassles remind us of God's promise and give us hope for brighter days ahead. We are humbled by your generous monetary gift in honor of AJ and find peace in the hope that our efforts will positively affect the lives of others.

We are encouraged by the planter you received when I was born and passed on to us. As a symbol of the past, it is the container within which new life is planted and will flourish in the future. We cannot possibly begin to thank you for all you have done ... for all that you are. We love you both dearly.