Blog with HOPe

     Do you remember your Sweet 16? In my house and where I was from (I am a Jersey girl!!) turning 16 was a major event in a girls life.  The party given to me by my parents was equal to a small wedding.  It was a day filled with friends, family, dancing, food, and so much fun.  The gift I was given by my mom was a gold ring with 2 pearls in it…a gift given to her by her parents on her Sweet 16.  I remember my mothers telling me that someday I would give my daughter that ring on her Sweet 16. 

    Years later God blessed me with 2 wonderful different children.  I have a son who is 19 and a daughter who just turned 16.  My daughter has special needs….not a specific diagnosis……after years of tests and doctors we were never given a specific diagnosis so in my house we just call it Sherlock Holmes Syndrome…..just a mystery.

     This past January we prepared ourselves for my daughters birthday…her Sweet 16.  As I prepared for this special day  I tried my hardest to think of it as a wonderful day, but my heart was heavy and I just wanted the day to come and go. I kept on thinking of the dreaded what ifs……As I shopped for gifts I felt I should be buying her Uggs and looking at clothes at Pink…….instead I was in Target buying her Barbie Dolls, coloring books and shopping for clothes at Justice.  I did not plan an elaborate birthday party at a restaurant……just going out to dinner at her favorite restaurant with her dad, her beloved brother and myself.  My daughter woke up on her birthday morning all smiles and excited. We had a nice dinner together and then home for cake with a few family members and presents to open.  She went to bed that night thrilled with her special day.  After getting her to bed I came downstairs to spend some time with my husband.  I could tell by his face that he had something on his mind so I asked him if he was ok.  He looked at me with sadness in his eyes and said what I was feeling all day…..this day had filled him with sadness too.  My husband is not the type to let things get him down (he is the glue to this family that keeps us going with laughter and the push we all need to get moving at times).  We went to bed that night feeling sad, but knew tomorrow was another day and we would get over our heavy hearts….like we have done so many nights together.  The next morning I went to my daughter to wake her up for school….she looked at me with her big brown eyes and said, “ Momma I am 16 now!” My heart was instantly lifted and I knew all would be ok……..I knew I needed to stop thinking of the way her Sweet 16 was supposed to be………my daughter was thrilled with her special day and really that is all that mattered!!

     We did wind up giving her the beautiful ring from my mom………she wore it for about 5 minutes and asked if she could put it in her jewelry box…….the reaction I knew I would get…….We continued the tradition and I know my mom was smiling down from heaven knowing we gave it to her………even though it is sitting in her jewelry box and not on her finger!!!!

     So once again we as a family have learned and grown so much because of my daughter…..we made it over a tough patch together………as we always do…….and we made it threw with laughter and a smile………Onto the next life altering milestone…..We are ready for you!!

Live, Love and Laugh………The Grodens