Dreams Come True
When I was a child, I already had the seed of motherhood growing within my heart. I loved dolls, and each one had a name and held a special place inside of me.
As the early years of my life unfolded, I could see that my calling was to be a wife and mother. The things I acted out in childhood play foreshadowed my adult life.
For instance, I remember playing "church" with several of my dolls. I would carry a pile of six or seven downstairs, then proceed to line up dining room chairs, to simulate a church pew. I carefully set each baby doll on its own chair, then went about seating myself next to them, then "re-enacting" Mass with my "children".
I raided our attic for baby clothes (much to my mother's chagrin! I can still hear her admonishing me for sneaking into the attic and making a mess of the things she had tucked away) to clothe my dolls in. I carefully wrapped them in blankets, styled their hair, and pushed them in strollers.
I started babysitting at the age of 13. I babysat numerous children throughout my teens and early twenties. Caring for children was something I was good at, I related well to kids, and enjoyed watching over them, supervising while their parents were out.
I also taught children's classes at the Valley Arts Guild, and through the Buhl Club. I knew, even then, that I was born to nurture others.
When I began to notice boys, I was already of the mindset that I was looking for a future husband. I'm sure most of them would have been clueless about that. When I began to date John, the summer between my junior and senior high school year, it was clear after a few days that he and I would one day marry.
It wasn't like he came along and swept me off my feet...it was the quiet and easy way we seemed to be able to read each other--within a very short time. Our first date was a hamburger and a five hour walk around Buhl Park. Our conversation was not awkward or halting, despite us being complete strangers. The date was not planned--it was not even a "date", per se. It was a chance encounter that turned into a lifelong love.
Two weeks into our dating, we never wanted to be apart. We exchanged bread ties, formed into little wire rings, and jokingly decided those would be our "promise" rings. I told John that I had always wanted to be a mother--to a brood of children--and he confessed that he wanted that too, to be a Dad...of many children.
God blessed us with children--oh, did he bless us. Less than two years into our marriage, we welcomed Ian into our family. It's a whole other story for another time, but his birth was life changing. He was not the healthy bundle of joy we had expected, but rather, Ian came to us with very challenging health problems. I could expound upon this in the form of a novel--that is the extent of the things that we faced at that time.
Ian made me a mother! He was so smart, and so independent, right from the beginning of his life. Three years later, God sent us another little one, Jacob, who was a little cherub. He and Ian couldn't be more different. Ian was long and lanky, and stubborn! Jake was smiley, and cuddly, very easy going. A couple years later, we found ourselves with a third little boy, Tony. Tony was an easy baby, very sweet, very soft hearted. Less than two years after Tony came to us, our first little girl arrived.
Maria came as a surprise, because other than some extra pregnancy nausea, I carried her just like I carried the previous three. I figured she was going to be another boy. I still remember the first moment I laid eyes on her--she was so petite and pink, with pale blond hairs. I had a DAUGHTER. I had dreamed of, and even prayed for, a sister all my life. I never got a sister, although I love both my brothers to no end. They are everything anyone could ever hope for in a sibling/best friend.
When Maria was given to us, I was so thrilled because those long "on hold" desires to have a sister were answered through her. She was our little tomboy, and tough child, who could hold her own with three big brothers. Just as I loved my brothers with my whole heart, I loved my sons. But, to have a daughter, that was the icing on the delicious cake!
John and I welcomed our children with no reserve, always allowing God to bless us when He saw fit. After Maria came, I asked God for one little favor, though. I felt like I needed a bit of a break, so I asked Him, "When you send us another baby, would you mind if Maria is at least three years old, and potty trained?".
Three years later, Maria was reliably potty trained for a long while. I gave birth to child number five, JohnPaul. JohnPaul had the decency to be born at 8:30 at night, unlike the older Elliott children, who kept me up all hours during labor. I was thankful! He arrived with the strains of Immaculate Mary playing on the cassette player nearby. His birth felt serene and holy. JohnPaul was my smallest baby, only 6 lb. 11 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. He was a cute looking little guy--he reminded me of a leprechaun.
It was four years before my youngest was born--Therese Joy. Therese came two weeks late, with a full head of curly reddish brown hair. Therese was the little sister that Maria had hoped for--not so different from her mama!
Now, I have always been the sort of woman who would take a dozen children, if God saw fit to bless me that way. I figured I would be having children into my forties...but, sadly, Therese was the last child I would birth. I was two months shy of 38 when she was born.
Later, in my mid to late 40's, I had some health problems. Upon further testing, I found, to my surprise, that one of my fallopian tubes was completely blocked and that I had been suffering with endometriosis for years. I realized that it was a wonder that I was able to conceive and carry six children.
When Therese was about eight years old, God sent me a seventh child in a way I could never have expected. On my birthday, I was given a young son, in his early twenties, who was in need of a mother.
This son was born in Nigeria, to another woman, and yet, God saw my desire to love another child, and He saw Danny's (Christian Okpanachi Dansuma) desire for a Mom. He brought us together. At that time, Danny was just at the beginning of his journey towards the priesthood, and now, in about two weeks, will finally be ordained.
Eight months ago, our family began to expand to include our first daughter-in-law, Miranda. Miranda, Tony's wife, is as close to me as my very own flesh and blood. John and I love her and cherish her as much as we do the others. Our daughters both have boyfriends, Nate and Spencer, who are, likewise, very special to us, just as if they are our sons.
I have seen how love that is open to life will result in blessings of new life, in sometimes surprising ways. God's love and generosity is vastly underestimated. I can never stop praising the Father that He shared these people, my children, with me. Each one has enriched me in unimaginable ways.
I continue to watch them, as they mature, all at different rates and stages of life. The love each other, their parents, and grandparents so deeply. I feel profoundly fulfilled in this role as mother.
When I look back at my former self, the little girl I once was, with dolls all lined up for "church", I see that dreams really do come true.
This Mother's Day will be different because my own mom has left to go to Paradise. I know she will be with me in spirit, but I miss her smile, voice, touch, laugh. In previous years, I spent Mother's Day with her, sometimes having a cookout at the dam, other times, would gather at our house or hers.
She always had Masses said for me, and would spoil me with all kinds of wonderful gifts. I always tried to do the same for her--picking out the most meaningful and pretty card, a special gift, a Mother's Day Mass. This year, I will visit the cemetery and talk to her for awhile, most likely shedding copious tears.
I look forward to seeing my kids, I'm sure they will all seek me out in their busy day. I love them all with the most powerful love. Happy Mother's Day to all women, those who have children of their own, those who foster or have adopted kids, those who have had miscarriages, and those who love children who are not their own.
As the early years of my life unfolded, I could see that my calling was to be a wife and mother. The things I acted out in childhood play foreshadowed my adult life.
For instance, I remember playing "church" with several of my dolls. I would carry a pile of six or seven downstairs, then proceed to line up dining room chairs, to simulate a church pew. I carefully set each baby doll on its own chair, then went about seating myself next to them, then "re-enacting" Mass with my "children".
I raided our attic for baby clothes (much to my mother's chagrin! I can still hear her admonishing me for sneaking into the attic and making a mess of the things she had tucked away) to clothe my dolls in. I carefully wrapped them in blankets, styled their hair, and pushed them in strollers.
I started babysitting at the age of 13. I babysat numerous children throughout my teens and early twenties. Caring for children was something I was good at, I related well to kids, and enjoyed watching over them, supervising while their parents were out.
I also taught children's classes at the Valley Arts Guild, and through the Buhl Club. I knew, even then, that I was born to nurture others.
When I began to notice boys, I was already of the mindset that I was looking for a future husband. I'm sure most of them would have been clueless about that. When I began to date John, the summer between my junior and senior high school year, it was clear after a few days that he and I would one day marry.
It wasn't like he came along and swept me off my feet...it was the quiet and easy way we seemed to be able to read each other--within a very short time. Our first date was a hamburger and a five hour walk around Buhl Park. Our conversation was not awkward or halting, despite us being complete strangers. The date was not planned--it was not even a "date", per se. It was a chance encounter that turned into a lifelong love.
Two weeks into our dating, we never wanted to be apart. We exchanged bread ties, formed into little wire rings, and jokingly decided those would be our "promise" rings. I told John that I had always wanted to be a mother--to a brood of children--and he confessed that he wanted that too, to be a Dad...of many children.
God blessed us with children--oh, did he bless us. Less than two years into our marriage, we welcomed Ian into our family. It's a whole other story for another time, but his birth was life changing. He was not the healthy bundle of joy we had expected, but rather, Ian came to us with very challenging health problems. I could expound upon this in the form of a novel--that is the extent of the things that we faced at that time.
Ian made me a mother! He was so smart, and so independent, right from the beginning of his life. Three years later, God sent us another little one, Jacob, who was a little cherub. He and Ian couldn't be more different. Ian was long and lanky, and stubborn! Jake was smiley, and cuddly, very easy going. A couple years later, we found ourselves with a third little boy, Tony. Tony was an easy baby, very sweet, very soft hearted. Less than two years after Tony came to us, our first little girl arrived.
Maria came as a surprise, because other than some extra pregnancy nausea, I carried her just like I carried the previous three. I figured she was going to be another boy. I still remember the first moment I laid eyes on her--she was so petite and pink, with pale blond hairs. I had a DAUGHTER. I had dreamed of, and even prayed for, a sister all my life. I never got a sister, although I love both my brothers to no end. They are everything anyone could ever hope for in a sibling/best friend.
When Maria was given to us, I was so thrilled because those long "on hold" desires to have a sister were answered through her. She was our little tomboy, and tough child, who could hold her own with three big brothers. Just as I loved my brothers with my whole heart, I loved my sons. But, to have a daughter, that was the icing on the delicious cake!
John and I welcomed our children with no reserve, always allowing God to bless us when He saw fit. After Maria came, I asked God for one little favor, though. I felt like I needed a bit of a break, so I asked Him, "When you send us another baby, would you mind if Maria is at least three years old, and potty trained?".
Three years later, Maria was reliably potty trained for a long while. I gave birth to child number five, JohnPaul. JohnPaul had the decency to be born at 8:30 at night, unlike the older Elliott children, who kept me up all hours during labor. I was thankful! He arrived with the strains of Immaculate Mary playing on the cassette player nearby. His birth felt serene and holy. JohnPaul was my smallest baby, only 6 lb. 11 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. He was a cute looking little guy--he reminded me of a leprechaun.
It was four years before my youngest was born--Therese Joy. Therese came two weeks late, with a full head of curly reddish brown hair. Therese was the little sister that Maria had hoped for--not so different from her mama!
Now, I have always been the sort of woman who would take a dozen children, if God saw fit to bless me that way. I figured I would be having children into my forties...but, sadly, Therese was the last child I would birth. I was two months shy of 38 when she was born.
Later, in my mid to late 40's, I had some health problems. Upon further testing, I found, to my surprise, that one of my fallopian tubes was completely blocked and that I had been suffering with endometriosis for years. I realized that it was a wonder that I was able to conceive and carry six children.
When Therese was about eight years old, God sent me a seventh child in a way I could never have expected. On my birthday, I was given a young son, in his early twenties, who was in need of a mother.
This son was born in Nigeria, to another woman, and yet, God saw my desire to love another child, and He saw Danny's (Christian Okpanachi Dansuma) desire for a Mom. He brought us together. At that time, Danny was just at the beginning of his journey towards the priesthood, and now, in about two weeks, will finally be ordained.
Eight months ago, our family began to expand to include our first daughter-in-law, Miranda. Miranda, Tony's wife, is as close to me as my very own flesh and blood. John and I love her and cherish her as much as we do the others. Our daughters both have boyfriends, Nate and Spencer, who are, likewise, very special to us, just as if they are our sons.
I have seen how love that is open to life will result in blessings of new life, in sometimes surprising ways. God's love and generosity is vastly underestimated. I can never stop praising the Father that He shared these people, my children, with me. Each one has enriched me in unimaginable ways.
I continue to watch them, as they mature, all at different rates and stages of life. The love each other, their parents, and grandparents so deeply. I feel profoundly fulfilled in this role as mother.
When I look back at my former self, the little girl I once was, with dolls all lined up for "church", I see that dreams really do come true.
This Mother's Day will be different because my own mom has left to go to Paradise. I know she will be with me in spirit, but I miss her smile, voice, touch, laugh. In previous years, I spent Mother's Day with her, sometimes having a cookout at the dam, other times, would gather at our house or hers.
She always had Masses said for me, and would spoil me with all kinds of wonderful gifts. I always tried to do the same for her--picking out the most meaningful and pretty card, a special gift, a Mother's Day Mass. This year, I will visit the cemetery and talk to her for awhile, most likely shedding copious tears.
I look forward to seeing my kids, I'm sure they will all seek me out in their busy day. I love them all with the most powerful love. Happy Mother's Day to all women, those who have children of their own, those who foster or have adopted kids, those who have had miscarriages, and those who love children who are not their own.
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