August 6th: My in-between-day

Normally, I do not post on a Sunday. Sunday's are intentionally family day around our household. This morning is a quiet morning as hubby is on an airplane flying to Naples, Florida. ALL children are still sleeping (lazy slugs!) as we had a family celebration last night; our 2nd born turned 24 yesterday! It was a day filled with priceless memories and an evening of memory making celebration. It is our tradition that on each of our children's birthday, we spend the evening together for dinner. Curt's favorite restaurant is Ichiban's (a Japanese Steakhouse) so the crew met at 7:00 p.m. and the party began! It was a pleasant evening in Mpls. last night--inside and outside. August 5th is always a day of celebration--it is the day that, in 1982, my first son was born. He did not arrive without complications; he was my 2nd premature delivery. However, even at 36 weeks (after spending 6 weeks on bedrest to avoid delivery) he weighed in at 8 lbs 4 ounces, 21 inches long, with head and shoulders measuring at 15 in. After a very short labor, he was born posterior, with the help of several nurses pushing on my pregnant belly and the Dr. using forceps. As he was whisked off to the Neo-natal specialist (who had never seen such a large preemie!), I was moved to a recovery room to wait for the health report for my little bruiser. While I was waiting, I began to feel uncomfortable (to say the least) and it was soon discovered that I was experiencing internal bleeding. As my blood pressure dropped and I began to experience the sensation of levitating on my gourney--I began to argue with God, while the nursing staff scurried to prepare me for surgery. I was sure I was dying; what a way to mark a day!

Needless to say--I was wrong! While there was some confusion as to who would sign the surgery sign-off as I was floating into unconsciousness and my husband had left the building, (where do they go?).....the surgery commenced and I woke up feeling a little groggy, but just fine. As a matter of fact, my little bruiser of a preemie was hungry and they brought him to me for his first meal. I love August 5th!

I love August 6th! It is my between-day; the day between my first son's birth-day and my husband's, August 7th, birth-day. Each August 6th represents a 24 hour period of gratitude and anticipation. It is the day that I wake up smiling, remembering the birthday celebration the night before and awaiting the birthday celebration of tomorrow. It is the day I hug my bruiser, now 6'4" tall, and remind him that no matter how big he gets--I'll always be his Mom! It is the day I phone my mother-in-law and tell her how happy I am that she did such a great job raising her son and thank her for sharing her son with me! My in-between-day is a blessed day.

I imagine every day is an in-between-kind-of-day! Think about it! We don't know what our tomorrows hold--yet we get so lost in the busy-ness of today that we don't even stop to celebrate and be grateful for what we have this very moment. How does THAT happen! When we do this, we are preparing for future regrets! Yet, no matter how many times I think about this throughout the year, no matter how many days whiz bye without a moments gratefulness, I still only hold dear one (out of 365 opportunities) in-between day.

When my youngest sister died some years ago, I did not know that Sunday, January 29th, was the last in-between-day she would have: her last Sunday with family and her first day in heaven the next Monday morning. She died at the age of 35 years old; unexpectedly, suddenly, and in her sleep. Congestive heart failure--so many more heart beats expected, so many conversations lost. Had I known it was an in-between day, I would have celebrated accordingly.

Maybe it is only appropriate that I review this lesson on my in-between-day. Will you join me as we make the time to reflect and rejoice for each day? What happened in your life yesterday that is worthy of a long-pause to reflect and give gratitude for? What is so deeply meaningful that you simply must raise your heart toward heaven and shout, "THANKS!" Whether it is the first meal of a new born bruiser, I mean, baby, or the last words of a beloved sibling--there is always something to be thankful for! What there isn't room for in our in-between-days.....is regret! So get busy, with me, and treat this day--as the first of 365 days in-between-days we have been given each year.

August 6th: my in-between-day; a day for reminiscing and expectation. Hold me accountable, will you? Ask me in days to come, "what have you done to mark each in-between-day since!" I will do the same, if you wish. Let's remember to make time for gratitude and blessed anticipation each day--no matter the day. And on this cherished in-between-day, I am grateful for the time we have spent together.