Last week I was in the UK visiting my “little” sister and her family. She had just had her second child in late December (2 weeks late!) and I was there to offer emotional support and just help her out. Since my mom died I feel this overwhelming need to be close to my family. My dad is a few blocks away but my sisters and their families are far. Kath is in Calgary and Alla is in the UK. We only see each other a few times a year and this, especially lately has been very hard on me.
When I arrived in the UK and saw that little bundle of love I knelt on the floor, covered my face and wept like a child. My mom deserved to meet him and my sister deserved to have her mother there to help, not her big sister. It was all just wrong. But soon the joy a little baby brings and the crazy fun of a toddler pulled me out of my sadness and had me appreciating all of the wonderful gifts this life has brought to me.
So, despite the lack of sleep, my trip was filled with the easy going good times only sisters share, the giggles and joy of a toddler and the warm and snugly wonder of a newborn. Life is good.