I know it has been a long time since I've had a blog entry and the only reason that I can give is that I just did not 'feel' like it.  We received some news the week before our vacation to Tennessee that yes, rocked our world.  And, I just did not know how to express how I felt about it when it happened.  I mean, what do you say to your 37 year-old daughter, divorced mother of 2 when she tells you that she is pregnant with no plans of marriage in sight?  How do you comprehend how life-changing it will be for everybody? What do you say to your husband, her father, when he won't speak to his daughter after that announcement; when you think the bond that took years to rebuild after the days of hell when she was in her early twenties?  How do you show your anger and disappointment but still want to give her a hug and act excited about being grandparents again...when it just does not feel the same as when she had her first two (while married) and her sister had her two?  How do you go to the craft store and pick out yarn to knit the baby blanket that you have knitted for all of the other grandchildren with a very troubled, worried mind; not really giving much thought to what color would be perfect?  How do you react when other people find out and say  "Congratulations".....when what they are really thinking is WTH is wrong with  this woman?

I'll tell you how.......you just DO it!  You do it because this is your daughter.  You do it because sometimes your kids do stupid, senseless things without thinking but they are still your kids.  You do it because there are also two other little girls involved whose lives will change and they certainly do not need to be hearing negativity from Grandma and PaPa.  To them having a baby is suppose to be happy event, not a time to scream, holler and cry. You do it for them and you do it for the grandchild that is now on the way whether he or she was meant to be. You do it because you know that this child will be loved and cared for just like the first two by one of the best mom's I know.  But most of all, you do it for yourself because if you don't lives will change forever, love will be lost and a family will be broken and I can't live with that alternative.

I don't consider myself a religious person but I am a firm believer that God has a reason for everything.  It's not our job to wonder why, when or how but just to accept it.  Since that first phone call, her father and I have accepted it and will give her all the support that we can.  It has not been easy to get where we are today but we know we are doing what we have to DO.

Yes, Shelly made a mistake (a huge one) but she is not the first and will not be the last.  What really matters now is how we all move forward with love and acceptance.

Grandmother of 4 with the 5th on the way..........