first time for everything

Sorry for the lack of posting, it has been a crappy couple of weeks and I have had a wicked eleven day migraine that does not allow for looking at a computer screen. It peaked yesterday, so I should be right as rain in about two days.

In the time since the last post, Jake had a lot of firsts. First trip to church; first time meeting a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins; first trip in a limo (complete with an in-car meal); first time to a banquet hall; he met his first dog; and unfortunately this all came at the cost of his first funeral. His Great-Mom-Mom M passed on the 31st of March.

Jake seemed to be very interested in the new things he experienced at the church, he sneezed at the incense, stared at the speakers on the wall, and turned his head around in inhuman ways to see all the stained glass windows. He provided a nice diversion to me, who cannot stand funeral services. Usually I am the one staring at the windows, and wondering exactly how many gallons of gold paint go into a South Philly Catholic church, if there is a hymn 666 in the hymnal, or what everyone would do if all those statues of the saints came to life and began dancing the Lambada. Would it be a miracle they were moving or the destructive work of the devil? The world may never know. Instead of the blasphemy, I got to stare at my son and silently make promises to teach him the lessons that I learned from Mom-Mom.

I promise to keep my hands soft and strong, to provide a gentle touch and keep a oft-needed firm grasp on life.
I promise to give of myself and my possessions freely, without thinking of the cost.
I promise to learn all I can about the world through both personal experience as well as from others, so that I may continue to teach when I am too weak to leave my bed.
I promise to lead by example and by words, rather than having a "do as I say rather than as I do" approach at life and motherhood.
I promise to love without judgment, for those who are judged are those who need love most.
I promise to do the simple things to make others happy and healthy, including always having a freezer full of ice cream and a bowl full of fruit.
I promise to persevere through desperation and heartache to benefit others, but also to make myself stronger and wiser.
I promise to extend a vow I took to my husband to my children. I will be there for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, and for all the better times and especially for the worse.
I promise to nurture all children as I would my own, whether that child is 6 or 60.
I promise to fight with all my strength, intelligence, ability to protect my friends, family, and the people they love.
And finally, I promise to add to this short list as I grow and learn.