it's all how you look at it...

after the Nutcracker last Saturday,

 (official pictures coming soon but here's one...)

a SWEET lady came up to me, 

a lady i didn't know...

to tell me what a JOY it was to watch Taylor...

and to give me a hug and say she was so sorry about my dad.

she had heard through the grapevine that he went through a lot...

and had prayed for God's strength...

for him and for us, the whole time. 

that she was STILL praying for us meant a lot.

imagine that...

someone i had never really talked with...

remembering a family she had never met in PRAYER.

just talking to this lady, i knew she meant it.

her words were precious and so meaningful.

as if i wasn't teary from watching my daughter perform,

i burst into tears and wished out loud...

"i only wish he were here right now to see his granddaughter."

she took my hands, looked me straight in the eyes and said

"do you not realize...he saw the whole thing. 

he watched his beautiful granddaughter

perform with GRACE and BEAUTY, from his new home in heaven,

with a smile lighting up his beautiful face...

a face that is perfect and a smile that is pain free"

WELL...wouldn't you think i REALLY cried then?

but i didn't.

it's as if i opened my eyes and saw clearly for the first time.

 it took a stranger to look into my eyes, 

to make me listen to every word...

to realize my dad...and my girl's PRECIOUS grandpa,

would always be with us.

 as if her performance wasn't special enough,

i met a stranger,

who reminded me of something

i knew...but sometimes forgot.

my SWEET dad is by God's side...

and is still the proud grandpa he always was.

i saw a quote the other day by the author C. S. Lewis...

now go spread some joy, find some for yourself...

bake cookies, wrap gifts, take a walk and look at the pretty lights...

you know, the simple things.

and remember there really IS something to look forward to:)

XOXOXOXOX

Suzanne

Dear Mom,

Although this is short and sweet,
it says it all.
Thank you for every little thing!
I love you,
Suzy

And a special poem for all of the wonderful moms out there...

A CHILD'S ANGEL

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God:

"They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

"Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

"But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy."

"Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy."

"And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that men talk?"

"Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

"Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?"

"Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

"Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly:

"Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

"Your angel's name is of no importance, you will call your angel,
"Mommy."

~ Author Unknown ~

Happy Mother's Day!!!