Mother's Day and Happy Birthday

Since today is Mother's Day and Jared's birthday, I thought I would share his birthing story.

Jared was due (according to my doctor) on Friday, May 6, 1988. I went to the doctor that morning for my weekly check up. I was hoping the doctor would tell me that the time was near.  Instead he said all was well and to come back in a week. So I waddled to my car and went home. My son, Adam, was almost two years old so we had a busy afternoon exploring the world and doing all the things little boys like to do.

On Saturday, our family was invited to a crawfish boil at a friend's house. We had lived in Louisiana for a few years but this was our first crawfish boil. We arrived and started eating soon after.  Picture this: a very large pregnant woman sitting at a picnic table covered with boiled crawfish. The crawfish mound was at least a foot high (or at least that is what I remember). Oh, boy! The crawfish was yummy and I ate and ate and ate.



Dad, Mom and Jared

We went home later and put Adam to bed. William and I followed soon after. I awoke during the night and my tummy was not feeling well. I thought it probably had something to do with all of the crawfish I ate so I didn't think too much about it. I went back to sleep and soon started dreaming I was having contractions. Around 7:00, I realized it was not a dream. I jumped up (or rolled) out of bed and we started timing the contractions. Soon we knew our baby was on the way. William and I started getting things together for our trip to the hospital. We called William's parents to let them know it was time. They were coming to stay with Adam while we were in the hospital. Our best friends lived next door so we called Doug and asked if Adam could stay with him. Rhonda, his wife, was out of town but was on her way home.

William and I took Adam next door and then left for the hospital. We arrived around 9:30 thinking it would be a while before our baby arrived. We were put in a room and the nurse came in to check our progress and said we were already 8.5 centimeters (you only need 10). We were surprised but happy to hear that our baby would be with us soon. Everyone started prepping for delivery. By this time, Rhonda had arrived at the hospital. She had a camera and was ready to take pictures for us. Things progressed and then we heard the doctor say, "IT'S A BOY!" We were thrilled. Adam had a new little brother... Jared Michael Sangster. A special gift from God on Mother's Day. He weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and had a head full of black hair. He immediately stole our hearts...


Mom, Dad, Adam and Jared - First Day Home

Jared would be 28 years old today. I sometimes wonder how things would be different had he lived. What would he look like now? Would he be married? Would he have children? Questions that have no answers. But one answer I do have is where he is right now... Laughing in heaven.  No fear. No pain. No sorrow. William and I went to the cemetery this afternoon. We looked at his grave and we remembered. We remembered his great smile. His sweet spirit. His caring heart. His desire to help others. And his love for Jesus. We are thankful for the years we shared with Jared. We miss him but know that we will see him again one day. One sweet day.