A PEARL OF A GIRL!!

October 26, 2021

 Dear Pearl, 

     You have arrived! A lady always knows how to make an entrance and boy! did you ever make an entrance! You are so worth the wait! 

     Your mom and dad arrived at the hospital about 8:00 P.M. on Thursday night. The next morning, after a good breakfast and shower, the nurses begin the medicine that would start the process leading to your birth. At first, nothing really happened. Pap and I arrived in the parking lot about 11:00 A.M. We had spent the night at a hotel in Florence, Kentucky, but because of Covid restrictions, we could not go to the waiting room, so your daddy put a pink bag in the window to indicate exactly where he and your mom were staying in the hospital. They were on the top floor, and we were in the open-air top floor of the parking garage; however, we could only see your parents with our binoculars when they waved from the window. They were that far away, but it was easier than waiting in Tennessee! Uncle Jay, Aunt Christy, and Emily arrived about 3:00 that afternoon. They all played “hooky” from school and drove up so they could be close by as well. We waited and waited, but still, nothing happened! About 6:00, we decided to go eat some “real” food although we had snacked all day. Uncle Jay suggested Longhorn’s Steakhouse, and when your daddy found out, he requested that we bring him back a plate. Still, nothing happened! 

     About 10:00 P.M., Emily began running laps in the parking lot to stay awake! At that point, her parents decided to return to the hotel and wait the night there. Pap and I continued to sit there, but the weather had turned really nasty, and since the parking lot was fairly isolated, we decided about 11:00 P.M. that the hotel would be a safer place to wait. Your daddy promised to call when something happened. 

    Saturday morning when I woke up about 5:30 A.M. – no text – no phone call. Still, nothing had happened. I tried to call, but your daddy didn’t answer the phone. I called Grammie – nope – she hadn’t heard either, so I did the only thing I knew to do – I prayed. “Please God – Please God – Please God.” Those were my only words. A few minutes later, as I was taking a shower and repeating that prayer, I heard a voice in my head and heart: “It’s gonna be okay – it will be okay.” And I knew then, without a doubt, it would be. 

     With any luck, you will never know first-hand any of the limitations, frustrations, or grief caused by a pandemic. Hopefully, Covid 19 will be only a period in history that your parents will tell you about like my parents told me about the Great Depression. As you get older, you will learn many of the details surrounding your birth. Because of Covid, instead of a waiting room full of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, the satellite was kept busy pinging away with updates that zoomed all over the air waves from Cincinnati to Chapel Hill, Caney Spring, Franklin, and Laws Hill. People who love your parents were praying and anxiously waiting for each update. Your daddy finally let us know about 8:00 A.M. that he and your mom had been asleep! The doctor had been in and given them the choice of “waiting it out” or going ahead with a C-Section. They were ready to see you, so they said C-Section. It was a long three hours! Finally, about 11:00 A.M. the text came through “Welcome to the world, Pearl Lyn Brown! 8 lbs. 3 oz. 20 inches long.” You were born at 9:55 A.M. on Saturday, October 23 and waves of joy and prayers of thanks spread like a blooming flower from Cincinnati to Middle Tennessee!

     Pap and I were allowed in the hospital one at a time to hold you on Saturday afternoon. Uncle Jay, Aunt Christy, nor Emily was allowed in due to Covid restrictions. Since you were born on Saturday, you did not get to leave the hospital on Sunday as we had hoped; therefore, they didn’t even have the opportunity to see you at your house. In spite of that small disappointment, we all agree that foremost you have arrived, you are healthy, and our prayers have been answered. 

     Today is Tuesday. Pap and I are back home. Uncle Jay, Aunt Christy, and Emily are back at school. You are going to your house today where a beautiful brand-new nursery awaits your arrival. You won’t really care about that. That’s for your parents. You have a closet full of clothes waiting too. You won’t care about that either. All you care about right now is that you are warm and full and dry. Your parents will make sure that you have those necessities. They will also make sure that you grow up knowing “You is kind; you is smart; you is important” (The Help). And most of all – we will all make sure that you grow up knowing that you are loved! Welcome to the family!

 I love you, 

BB

   

FOR NOW WITH EMILY

October 4, 2021

 Dear Emily, 

 The school year usually breaks down into quarters – fall break, Christmas break, spring break, summer vacation. And then it starts all over until you graduate and real life begins unless your chosen profession is teaching. Then your adult life will break down into quarter divisions as well. Currently, you are on fall break. You and your parents have taken a short trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Technology has allowed me to follow your journey through pictures, and you all appear to be having an amazing time. Last year on fall break, you toured St. Louis, Missouri and rode to the top of the arch – the Gateway to the West. I’m really excited that your parents have chosen to take you places where you can learn about the history of this remarkable country. Going to the beach is fun, but there’s so much more to see in the United States than the beach. Since you took a beach vacation in the summer, your parents are wisely introducing you to other places: spending time with you, teaching you, and having fun with you all at the same time. You are creating some delightful memories. 

 A few weeks ago, I bought you a set of clothes – size ten. To my dismay, the ten fit perfectly – too perfectly. I should have gotten a size twelve. Luckily, I was able to exchange the outfit, but it hurt my heart. Ten, although double digits, still feels young. You’re still my little girl. But twelve? Twelve is on the cusp of “teen.” I want to stop time, hold back the clock, and say “Wait.” I’m not ready for you to be a teenager with all the drama that goes along with those years. But ready or not – here it comes! That’s why I think your parents are wisely spending great quality time with you now – they too know those years are quickly coming. Soon you will become more and more involved with friends and activities, and time with your parents will become more and more difficult to squeeze in. Time is precious, so they are making the most of it.

 I want to make the most of it too. I want to spend as much time as I am allowed with you because I know the day is soon coming when spending the night at BB’s won’t be nearly as much fun for you as hanging out with your friends! And that’s the way it should be. That’s part of growing up. But for now, when you spend the night, it’s you, me, and Horsey in the bed together! For now, after gymnastics, it’s driving all the way to Sonic in Chapel Hill for ice cream. For now, on Wednesday afternoons, it’s picking you up at school for choir practice. For now...Thank you, God for now.

 Love, BB

WAITING FOR PEARL!

October 4, 2021

 Dear Pearl, 

 Excitement is running pretty high in the Brown family right now! October is finally here so we know that you will soon be with us, and we can’t wait much longer! Your mommy and daddy have known about you since January, but the rest of us didn’t find out until March. We found out your gender and name in April. We had a church baby shower for you in August, and your family from both sides joined together for a baby shower in September. All the things are checked off!! In late August, your parents moved to a new house in a new town in a new state: Union, Kentucky. It’s not the state where you will be born – you will be born at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio which is about twenty minutes from your home. A few weeks ago, Pap and I went to visit your parents and to see the new house. The house is very nice and in a very nice neighborhood. There’s a large backyard where you can have a swing set and a playhouse! There’s a side walk where your parents can stroll the neighborhood to exercise and to give you some fresh air. The nursery is all ready for you. Everything is pink and gray and all the necessary furniture items are set up and ready. You have a crib, a changing table, and most importantly, a rocking chair. You also have a really nice bassinet. The only thing lacking is you!! 

 When Emily was born, everyone was in the waiting room so we could see her as soon as possible: Pap and I were there, Emily’s other grandmother was there, Simon and your daddy were both there – even Mrs. Chunn was there: however, the covid virus has changed so many things that, at one time, we took for granted. Being allowed to visit at hospitals and hang out in the maternity ward is one of those changes – it is not allowed. We can’t anxiously sit in the waiting room waiting for your daddy to come out all breathless and excited to announce “She’s here!” and we all clap and cheer. So, we have to have another plan. Currently, we think we will know the day of your birth. The doctor will examine Mommy and declare that Pearl is ready for her debut. It will be on __________! Fill in the date. When we know that date, Pap and I will be packed and ready to head for Cincinnati. Your Uncle Jay and Aunt Christy will tell the people at their respective schools that they too are headed north, and someone else will need to be in charge for a while. Even Emily will be allowed to miss a few days of class. Your entire Brown family plans to set up in the hospital parking lot on the top floor because the maternity ward over looks that parking lot! We’re packing picnics and ordering pizza – however long the wait is until you are born, we’ll be camped out. I plan to be right there as close as possible so that later on, when you’re old enough to understand, you will have no doubt that your birthday was an exciting and special day. We all were there to welcome you! 

 Now, here’s the thing. Babies and God sometimes have their own special plans with their own special timing, and they don’t consult the parents or the doctor about those plans. That means there’s a chance that you will decide to come before the doctor assigns the date so that our current plan will need to be altered. That will be fine. It will just mean that we have to be a little more rushed, so I am making sure that the car stays filled up with gas, and my clothes are clean and ready to go! Your birthday will be an exciting day for all of us, but most of all, it will be the best day ever for your parents. They think they know (but they don’t yet) that the most amazing experience is about to happen to them – a memory they will treasure for the rest of their lives. Your birth. And with your birth comes an entire new life of joy, challenges and opportunities. Most of all, their lives will be filled with more love than they can imagine– for the rest of their lives. 

 See you soon! 

 Love, 

BB