I Love Remembering…Mason’s Birthday

My grandson Mason turns 1 year this month. Happy birthday little Mason! He is such a little man with a great big personality. He smiles like a Gerber baby and has twinkle eyes. I just can’t stop looking at him. He is getting tall and starting to lose his baby fat. We had a family dinner the other night where he showed me—“Nana”—how good he’s walking. My, what a difference a year makes. Life just goes by so fast. It seems like yesterday that he was born.
I love to celebrate Mason’s birthday because I am reminded how lucky, how blessed, I am to have it all. Last year in September, I was in Park City for our annual Close To My Heart Advisory Board Retreat with my executive team and eight incredible women on the board. I love this getaway because we are in a beautiful setting with the people I love so much. These eight ladies are handpicked to serve and help with the initiatives, programs, and products we intend to roll out during the following year at Close To My Heart. We have such a great time. On the first day of our retreat, my son Jared called about 9:30 a.m. and told me that Leslie, his wife, was in labor and was at the hospital. He said I should get there as soon as possible. I was so happy to go because I would be able to meet my new grandson soon. However, I became a bit concerned because at 1:30 p.m. that day I had a live radio interview with Danielle Diva at the Craft Lounge. Well, I’ve always been a mommy first and that extends to grandmommy, too. I would have to play this day by ear. Thank goodness for cell phones.

I excused myself, and my team sent me excitedly out the door. I waited in the labor room with Jared and Leslie until about 11:30 a.m., then quickly swooshed out the door and waited with the other grandparents, David, and my other children. As excited as I was, I couldn’t help but think about what I was going to do about the radio show. You know, it’s a woman thing to think of a million things at the same time. But I brought myself back to what Jared and Leslie were going through. I kept thinking about our new baby and I was so nervous because my son was going to be a father. At about 12:30 p.m., I entered the delivery room where I saw a new mommy and daddy with their new little healthy son. Even though they were a bit tired looking, they were celebrating the fact that they became a new family when Mason was born. It was a magic moment. And now it was time for me to hold Mason. All I could do was cry for joy and thank my Father above for giving me the blessing of having Jared, Leslie and now beautiful little Mason in my life.

At 1:20 p.m. I slipped out the door and set up my computer and phone in a hospital storage room that I was told I could use for my interview. I sat among the extra beds, bedpans, and boxes. It was a little warm and was not the usual place I would give an interview, but I was happy nonetheless. I was happy to talk to Danielle about National Stamping Month and our incredible promotion. I always love talking to her. We had an energized conversation and that’s exactly what I needed. When the phone call was over, I went back into the room to revel in this beautiful moment in time. How grateful I am to have been able to experience this day with my very own baby boy.

Later that evening I returned to my friends in Park City where I recounted my activities minute by minute. It was a beautiful day and every day I think about it I am reminded that life is very good. We all have our definition of what "having it all" means. This is mine: doing what I love with passion. Thank you, little Mason. Every year your birthday will bring me a big smile.