Fifteen years ago
@1creekgirl (41447)
United States
May 11, 2020 4:12pm CST
Yesterday was Mother's Day, May 10, 2020. It was also on May 10 that our daughter in law died fifteen years ago.
Rachel and our son were married and had a sweet baby boy, our Nathan. Rachel had a massive heart attack two days after Mother's Day and three weeks before Nathan turned two.
I've written here how Nathan lived with my husband and I while Robert worked. He couldn't take care of a baby by himself, but he was as involved with raising his son as any daddy could have been.
Our boy is now 16 (17 in a few weeks!) and we're so proud of him. That boy is Robert's life.
Nathan had a few strikes against him; he was a preemie (two and a half pounds), had major back surgery at the age of four, and several other things to overcome. But he's healthy, tall, loves Jesus, is doing so well in school (planning to take college courses the last two years of high school) and is a handsome young fella.
Most years he and Robert take flowers to Rachel's grave, but didn't get to this year.
The second year Rachel was gone we let Nathan release some balloons with a note to her. He told me what to write and said it was going to her in heaven. I think we all cried.
13 people like this
11 responses
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
11 May 20
Even though Nathan was too young to remember her, he thinks he does because of all the photos and a few videos he's seen.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
12 May 20
@CarolDM He loved gardening with Papa. He was such a perky, fun little boy, even though there was a sadness about him at times.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
12 May 20
@1creekgirl Photos and videos are priceless. Oh wow, I just saw the photo. Adorable! 
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
12 May 20
Happy Mother's Day. I'm so sorry it's a painful day, too though. Sorry for the loss of your daughter in law. That's so sad. I'm happy Nathan had you guys there for him. He sounds like an exceptional youngster. I hope your son is doing ok too, I imagine that sort of loss isn't something one ever recovers from completely
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
13 May 20
I appreciate your kind words, Faye. We're very proud of Nathan like most grandparents are! Robert remarried when Nathan was nine, but it only lasted two years. Thank the good Lord. But they're both doing well now. Right now all of Robert's efforts are for his job and Nathan's future.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
19 May 20
@1creekgirl So welcome. I know life isn't always easy. I'm sorry Robert's second marriage didn't work out, but, then, I guess better than being with someone who isn't right for you.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
19 May 20
@FayeHazel It didn't take long to see she wasn't the right wife and mother for our boys. It would have been easy for me to want to still make the mothering decisions for Nathan, but I didn't. I wanted both of them to bond. Thank God it was over in two years.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
12 May 20
We feel so blessed to have been able to help raise him. He's my boy!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178870)
• United States
12 May 20
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt memories. I'm so sorry for your loss.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
13 May 20
Thank you, Linda. I guess it's good we don't know what the future holds. But so many times we can look back and see God's hand working for our good.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
11 May 20
I know she'd be proud of Nathan. She was a good mama and called him her little man.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
13 May 20
It sounds like you and your son did a wonderful job raising your grandson. Job well done
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
14 May 20
@1creekgirl I got to mama my eldest grandson as well, my son got divorced and got custody when Danny was almost 5. He stayed with me for about 10 years. My son went to nursing school so I spent a lot of time with Dan Best years ever!! This is Dan and his little sister Syd.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
14 May 20
@BelleStarr Oh, you experienced a similar situation! What a handsome fella and a pretty little sister. Did people ever want to feel sorry for you raising a grandchild? A few people here did, but I made it clear that we were so blessed to be able physically to take care of our grandbaby and wouldn't have let anyone else take him. I loved every moment he was with us. Even if I was the oldest "parent" at his Scout meetings! Nathan is close to becoming an Eagle Scout now.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
13 May 20
Thanks, Belle! Robert has been a good daddy, he loves that boy more than life itself. I was so thankful I could be "mama" for seven years.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 May 20
@1creekgirl I can only imagine! Did she have any kind of heart condition?
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
19 May 20
@1creekgirl Yes, you would think it would have been discovered then. It's all so very sad.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
14 May 20
Thanks, Sharon. She was 34 and the heart attack was a complete shock.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41447)
• United States
12 May 20
I know it's frowned on now, but back then it meant a lot to little Nathan.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33385)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
13 May 20
@1creekgirl Bummer. I know it did. I'm glad he was able to do it.
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