One More Day

Have you heard of Layla Grace?  She is a sweet, 2 year old little girl who is in the final stages of battling neuroblastoma, a form of cancer, and she lives in the next suburb over from Katy.  I've heard of Layla Grace for months on Facebook, from a friend of mine who attends church with Layla's family.  But I've never been strong enough to read for myself how Layla is doing.  I've been relying on posts from my Facebook friend.

Yesterday I took a deep breath and checked out Layla's Twitter page.  Dear, sweet Jesus, please be with this sweet little baby and her family as she is in her final hours before you take her home to be with you forever, where there is no more pain, no more sorrow, only joy in you.  I sobbed openly as I read updates from Layla's mom and dad.  I got down on my knees and bent over in emotional pain for this sweet baby and her family.  And when I had calmed down, I picked up my 3 year old son, and I held him.  I rocked him, and I loved on him. 

Don't ever miss a chance to hold your babies.  Some day they will be all grown up - don't ever look back in regret that you didn't read that 2nd story, or you didn't give them one last kiss before they fell asleep.  Always be grateful for the time that we have with our children - God has entrusted them in our care.  Just like our Father holds us, so too should we hold our children at all times, even when they are their most unloveable selves.

Tonight when I was getting Sammy ready for bed, I noticed he felt a bit warm.  I checked his temperature, and sure enough, he's running a fever.  It's not a high fever - a mere 100.7.  However, he's my baby and I hate for him to be in pain.  I cuddled with Sammy on the armchair, let him watch a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode, and bundled up in a blanket with him.  Then we read his current favorite, Knuffle Bunny.  He loves the line "Abble Flabble Klabble."  I have a feeling we'll be watching a lot of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse tomorrow, and perhaps repeating "Abble Flabble Klabble" and collapsing into giggles.  And I'm grateful that I can.

And now, for a rendition of the song that I sang to Sammy when I put him to bed tonight . . . Diamond Rio, one of my favorites.  Mike and I played this song at our wedding as our grandparents were being seated, in tribute to his late grandfather, Eddie Arnold Chase (whom Sammy's middle name is from), and my late grandmother, Willie Mae Lister (whom Sophia's middle name is from) and late grandfather, Gerald Gant.  It's a wonderful tribute, and so true.

One More Day by Diamond Rio

Last night I had a crazy dream

A wish was granted just for me,
It could be for anything

I didn't ask for money

Or a mansion in malibu

I simply wished, for one more day with you

One more day

One more time

One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied

But then again

I know what it would do

Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you

First thing I'd do, is pray for time to crawl

Then I'd unplug the telephone

And keep the tv off

I'd hold you every second

Say a million I love you's

That's what I'd do. With one more day with you