Happy St. Patty's Day. 

Above is one of my favorite pictures of Natalie.  It was taken in the summer of 2005 at Grandpa Jones' farmhouse in Goodrich, MI.  We visited the farm after the funeral for Grandpa that July. 

This was another interesting week for us - especially Natalie.  She's had a rough few days....

It started with last Sunday when her brother whacked her in the face with his guitar.  Her two front teeth (only one of was already loose) were knocked out in one fell swoop.   It took a good 15 minutes to stop the bleeding (a wet tea bag on the gums does wonders....).  Her lip swelled to twice its size and she had to drink dinner with a straw that night.  The tooth fairy left her $20; she must have felt her pain.  Not a bad deal in the long run...  We visited the dentist on Tuesday and all is ok.  Her lip has since returned to its original size and shape.

But, as if being temporarily disfigured isn't enough -- I added to Natalie's bad week on Thursday.  I've been preoccupied this week (in fact, I turned Natalie down on her multiple requests to play.... I have been prepping for meetings & had other projects going).  I was helping a friend and planned to be home before the bus brought Natalie home from school that afternoon (Dom stays after for an art class & Marisa does work for a teacher after school on Thursdays).  So, my kindergartener, my shy & dependent child, was the lone Haight on the bus.  She got off and approached our house to find I wasn't home yet.  The bus driver asked her to come back on the bus and went to the next stop.  By that time I pulled in the drive to see the school bus down at the end of our street.  I ran as fast as I could to catch it -- and retrieved a tearful Natalie.  My heart broke.  The fear, that fear of being forgotten, is very traumatic to a child.  Everything worked out, I comforted Natalie and she stopped crying.  We talked about how Mrs. Jackson (her bus driver) wouldn't leave her alone and that I would do better to always be home when she gets off the bus.  I'm still dealing with the guilt of that whole thing...it may take a while.  I don't have a lot of time constraints with being at home -- except to be home when my 6 yr old expects me.

But, alas - today is a new day and so far a good one.  I just got back from my Saturday aerobics class and Dave has the kids at Dom's last hockey game.  As a family we are going to the Nature Center for "Maple Syrup Days" -- wahoo.  Dom and Natalie are "Junior Naturalists" - and take classes there once a month.  Afterward, it's dinner with Earl & Iole - corned beef & cabbage, of course.

I did find a poem I wanted to share -- I found it online Thursday night, it's from someone's blog (I don't remember her name - sorry that I can't give her proper credit....) I was poking around looking for sympathy for my "mother's guilt" about letting down Natalie.  Anyhow - her it is...

While she is sleeping, I'll send these words out into the night-- Let her dreams be full of hope and happiness. Let angels stand beside her bed. Wake me in the middle of the night when she is scared so I can comfort her. Make me strong enough to hold her when I can't even hold myself together. Make me good enough to love her when I can't even love myself. Make me brave enough to fight for her when I've given up on myself. Make me whole enough, make me kind enough, and make me everything she needs me to be. I know that life will eventually let both of us down, but when that happens, don't let us let each other down.

God, I would do anything for her.  And if I somehow fail, then You have to be there for her.  Let her wake in the middle of the night holding Your hand. Let her hear Your voice whispering through the wind in the trees.  Let her feel Your warmth. Let her know that no matter how she feels, she is never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever alone.  Amen.

The author who wrote it had a daughter who suffered night terrors.  Her writing made me realize that although I might occasionally disappoint my kids -- God will always be with them - and never let them down.  They can derive strength from that.  We all can, actually.

Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day -- and don't forget to hug, and then hug again, those special children in your life.  God bless, Michelle