My First Born Turns Eighteen!!

Happy Birthday Darling!!

Eighteen years ago, at 7 am sharp, I gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl. It seemed to be a long labor of two days preceding this wonderful event. I remember praying so fiercely over which day she would arrive. I couldn't bear to have a Friday the thirteenth baby as I worked with one and she was a real witch! I didn't want to have to mother such a being. My prayers were answered and my precious daughter was born with the rise of the sun the following bright and beautiful day and she has been bringing sunshine into my life ever since.

Along with sunshine, life comes with a little rain. Today's rain is in the form of (fear) worry. The father of this precious child of mine is a violent man who is also out of his mind with mental illness currently. We always have to stay alert to his appearance. The last time we saw him, he was arrested and removed. We may be blessed to never see him again, but we may also have the misfortune to see him again, and those times are never pleasant.

It's so hard to have to warn my youngest, to keep the doors locked, cell phone handy, and dog with him at all times. Some may say I worry for no good reason. I worry as he has made death threats and the law doesn't really protect us. My spouse who tends to believe the best of everyone, doesn't trust him. He worries too.

So why do I mention this sad state of affairs? Because as we celebrate eighteen wonderful years, we are also aware that each birthday brings around the potential of a 'loving' father's strange and scary behaviors'. Please pray for a peaceful day as my daughter celebrates her Eighteenth Birthday.

God bless.