I am not going to lie, the first time I met you Paula I was nervous. REALLY nervous. Chris abandoned me in the foyer of your home; I was just standing there wondering what to do. Should I walk in and introduce myself, was that rude? Where the heck did Chris go?..Then you came around the corner opened up your arms and gave me a huge, welcoming, affirming hug. The first of hundreds you have given me over the years. In the kitchen I watched as you prepared one of your famous salads all of us girls love so much. All the good stuff, avocado, peppers, olives (we discovered we both loved olives) strawberries and big turkey sandwiches with all the trimmings. Finally Chris joined us again along with Steve. He said something like “hey Mom, guess what Rebekah just got a new tattoo on her foot” my heart totally sank. I thought, “dang this was going good why did he have to go bringing up the tattoo already?” you looked at me with wide eyes and a big grin and said “oh cool, I’ve got two let me see yours” It was awesome. Everything was just awesome. I never felt judged just love. The night Chris proposed, even in the midst of preparing for Thanksgiving dinner the following day you still took the time to create the sweetest party for us. Remember those napkins and plates that you bought at the party store. You cried when you said you got to finally shop the bridal aisle. You embraced me again and again and cried tears of joy over me. You always do that so well, make us all feel so special. You said I was going to be your first daughter and that you had been praying for me for my entire life. I cried too. We looked through those wedding magazines on Thanksgiving Day and you just kept telling everyone and calling everyone to share the news. I don’t know if I had ever felt that special before.
I loved the night little Simon was born. Your voice was so strong and positive when I talked to you one the phone. Things were happening pretty early and delivery was going to be soon. You just assured me that you were on your way, not to worry. You raced to the hospital and gave me another embrace and smiled when you saw the heart monitor “you know it’s a boy don’t you Rebekah” I think I did but hearing you say that I realized what an honor it was to follow in your footsteps and bring a son of my own into the world. Watching you hold your first grandson and cry tears of joy, the same tears you cry every single time one of your grandsons has been born. You hold them in your arms and just weep with such intense joy and love. It is so beautiful. I can almost imagine the look on your face each time one of your own sons was born. Sheer wonder and worship for each life given to you from God.
Paula, it is no secret how much we all love you and how much you all love us. You are always the one who jumps in and rallies the troops. You make sure everyone feels special; you stock all of our favorite treats for when we pop by and visit. You teach us all how to stick together even when we don’t all agree. There is never a question how much we are loved in your home, in your arms.
This next journey for you Paula is going to look a little differently. You might have to let others dote on you and love on you the way you have to each one of us. But you are a strong, wise, deep, beautiful soul – God gave you four boys cause he knew you could handle it. I am so confident that He gives us all what we can handle. I just pray that you feel as supported and bathed in love as your family does by you.
You and Steve have not only created an amazing family together. You have created a legacy, one of rich roots that run deep.And as you’ve said to me, let me repeat to you – I love you like my own.
Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Paula!
Love,
Rebekah
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