Life Is A Surprise

by Maria Theresa Maggi on November 21, 2022

This little purple alyssum in a pot in my backyard wanted nothing to do with blooming this summer when all the other flowers were taking their turns. I would water it when I watered all the others, because we had a very dry summer here at the coast, and look at it mournfully when it refused to bloom. Finally it made a few haphazard pale flowers that were a shadow of what it once was. I gave up on seeing it the way I had loved it.

Then the end of October came and with it rain and storms. For a while the coast was drenched in wet weather. And the other day, when I was picking up Cotton’s business after our morning jog, I stopped dead in my tracks to see it all abloom, a week or so before Thanksgiving, when all the other flowers had long exhausted themselves, alight with these deep purple flowers. I can’t think of a time in my life with gardens that I’d ever seen such a thing. It really expressed a love song in flowers even at this late hour, to the long awaited rain. I love when life surprises me this way.

And that’s not all. This summer, when I was watching for the deer, another surprise was unfolding that I had to keep private at the time. Now I find, when I finally have the go ahead to do so, that it’s hard to find the words, or even the will to describe it in detail. So I will hope a picture substitutes for a thousand words:

"Ultrasound," chalk pastel by Maria Theresa Maggi

“Ultrasound,” chalk pastel by Maria Theresa Maggi

This is my biological grandson in utero at 20 weeks. As my daughter-in-law so aptly put it when she posted the original ultrasound on Instagram, after a long long silence: “It’s been a long journey getting to this point, Baby boy Theo will be arriving March 2023!”

Out of respect for their privacy, I will let that stand, but add it’s nothing short of a miracle. So please share my joy as I anticipate the arrival of our newest family member, who is indeed, as my cousin said, “a miracle baby.” I’ll also note I deeply felt the spirit of my foster grandbaby play a generous role in encouraging Theo’s spirit to come forward to incarnate. Things don’t work out the way we wish they would sometimes, but it’s also true that they work out in even more grand and glorious ways than we can ever imagine.

My foster grandbaby will always be, as my son so perfectly put it, “our first.” And we are ever grateful for our time with them We miss them still, and every day pray they are safe and well loved up close and personal. And now we prepare for the next biological generation to make his appearance. As my son so sweetly told me when they had chosen the name, without a trace of his usual fall back on sarcasm or snark, “Mom,Theo means ‘beloved by God’.” How perfect. And by us, too, forever and ever.

Maria (moonwatcher)

 

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Nasreen Kabir November 21, 2022 at 5:25 pm

Glad to know the news all the best

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2 Nasreen Kabir November 21, 2022 at 5:40 pm

Glad to know the news all the best. How could I have written it before I have never commented here using this email

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3 Maria Theresa Maggi November 23, 2022 at 11:02 am

Thank you so much Nasreen! Glad that you did! πŸ™‚

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4 Judeen November 22, 2022 at 4:57 am

Pure love and beauty. Thank you.

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5 Maria Theresa Maggi November 23, 2022 at 11:02 am

Thank YOU, Judeen. xo

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6 Olwyn November 22, 2022 at 6:42 am

Blessings on you all! Theo – beloved by God. How perfect Maria and such a hopeful email bringing so much promise! Thank you for sharing your heartfull to bursting, with us!

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7 Maria Theresa Maggi November 23, 2022 at 11:02 am

Thank you so much, Olwyn–my heart is full with your kind words.

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8 Lee November 22, 2022 at 1:28 pm

Maria, so happy for you! Congrats on your grandbaby-to-be! Sending you the warmest wishes. πŸ™‚

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9 Maria Theresa Maggi November 23, 2022 at 11:01 am

Thank you so much, Lee! Big hugs to you!

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10 Debra Maslov November 22, 2022 at 7:58 pm

Congratulations to your whole family Maria! What exciting news! And what a lucky baby Theo will be, surrounded by boundless love!

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11 Maria Theresa Maggi November 23, 2022 at 11:00 am

Thank you so much Debra! My heart is full with your loving response.

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12 DONNA BETTS November 23, 2022 at 10:38 am

I have missed your view of the world — I needed your gentle spirit this morning – -thank you —
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your beautiful family —

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13 Maria Theresa Maggi November 23, 2022 at 11:00 am

Thank you Donna–you all have brought tears to my eyes this Thanksgiving Eve morning xo

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14 Maria Theresa Maggi November 23, 2022 at 10:59 am

Thank you my dearest readers! Ya’ll sharing our joy is literally bringing tears to my eyes. So grateful for your generous replies. Much love–

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15 Margaret Evans November 23, 2022 at 11:57 am

omg so much love. thank you friend

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16 Maria Theresa Maggi December 2, 2022 at 9:40 am

Oh Marge, yes! And thank you for sharing it!

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17 Veronica November 28, 2022 at 11:38 am

This is such wonderful news – congratulations! I also love the surprise blooms; a cheery spot of hope. Sending you much love and warmth as you celebrate this upcoming joy! xoxo

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18 Maria Theresa Maggi December 2, 2022 at 9:40 am

Thank you. Dear Veronica! So good to hear from you and share this with you. And love that you appreciated the surprise blooms too. xoxo

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