Saturday, January 9, 2021

 One of the things I need, or would like to, do more often is write here.   Good intentions and all....

I thought yesterday about writing about Landon and his birthday. I love that boy so much----he was the first grandchild and he seems to be such an old soul and SO much like my dad.    I told Gary yesterday that usually on birthdays of family (like our daughters and the kiddos) I remember what it was like the day they were born.   But I can't with him.  The day he was born we didn't even know that he existed and that he would be part of our family.  But I do remember what I was doing that day.  We were back home after Dad's death and funeral.  I had gone to the Logansport campus for the Adjuncts' Orientation Meeting that I was in charge of.  We had decided to split the meetings into three locations since the new building was open and those adjuncts teaching there needed to see where they would be and become acclimated.  The last prep work had been done by Ethan, who was also on the committee, and Susie, who had run all kinds of papers for distribution.  I was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted, plus I had no idea of how my office would look since the move had happened over break and I hadn't been there.  I didn't know how to use the phones.  I wasn't ready for the first week of classes.  Thursday evening Tom, my program chair; Kim, the dean; and Kevin, the campus dean all told me to stay home on Friday and just rest and re-group.  So that is what I did.  I remember sitting in Gary's recliner that day, sobbing, and watching tv, and suddenly a peace came over me that all would be fine.  Of course I faltered later on, crying on the way to teach classes or on the way home, or a wave of emotion would come over me in my office at times.  But that day, at a certain time, I felt a sense of peace. Now I really think that is the time that Landon was born.

Later in February when Hilary and Blaine knew that Landon was coming home with them, the prep work for his nursery had been done, and dates had been set, along with pictures of the new baby to share, I showed his picture to my students. I am not sure now why I was in my office and the students were in the hallway looking at my computer screen.  But after Alyssa Samuels said to me..."You know what, Mrs. Siemens?  When your dad died, he went up to heaven and said to God, ' God, my granddaughter and her husband need a baby.  What are we going to do about it?'  and a week later Landon was born and now he is coming to live with Hilary and Blaine."  I really believe that.  

And here I was...not going to talk about Landon's birthday.  No, I don't remember the day of his birth, the moment when he came into the world and we saw him soon after and held him in our arms.  But I do remember that day and my feeling as the sense of peace came over me.  I truly believe that it was in that moment that he entered the world.

Happy Birthday, Landon.  I can't believe you are now 11.  I love you more than you could even know.