Ahem, introducing...

Rily Lokomaika'i Ke Akua

AKA

Rily Grace

Welcome Baby!

Beautiful filly!
Hi guys!
Can I have a little kiss?
Wow, she's finally here! Ginger's baby arrived on May 24th at 8:15 am. We had been on foal watch since Sunday night, so we were really glad to finally meet her. 11 months is a long time to wait! She looks just like Ginger with a beautiful blaze and Ginger's rich copper coat. Yesterday she had about 10 visitors in addition to the 12 or 13 folks who have been living at the Dawson's since Sunday. Jessi, Alex, Hannah, Sammie, Amanda, Jessica, Samantha, and Peggy were all present for the delivery in addition to myself and Vicki. We had a couple of little complications, so the vet has already been out for the first visit, but overall, everything is WONDERFUL. I will have pictures up on Flickr in the next day or so, so keep an eye out for those. Thanks for all of y'all's prayers, excitement, and overall encouragement, and a special thanks to Tracy, Keith, Jacqui, Rich, Diane, and Dale, who lent us your children this week. It wouldn't have been the same without them!

She's due in 7 days...

Ginger's foal is due on May 23rd. It could happen anytime now, really. I try to go out to see her every day. My heart just swells with love every time I lay my hand on her big, awesome, belly. It is amazing to think that in just a week or so, we will all get to meet the baby inside. 11 months is such a long time to wait. Talking about how big it was as the weeks went by. "Now it's the size of a beagle, now it's about as big as a lamb, now it looks like Zoey." This is going to be one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. I've been around lots of mares and babies born, but they never belonged to me. I want to share it with everyone. The foal watches will begin soon. Just a few more things to do to the stall. I've thought about the actual moment of birth. I hope I will be there, but I hope even more, that Vicki will. She has taken such wonderful care of this mare of mine for the whole 11 months. The foal will belong to us all, but the bulk of its care will fall on Vicki. I love her because I know she loves doing it. Like she loves doing for all of us. I guess I hope most of all, that we will BOTH be there together, sharing the moment and looking forward to all that will follow...

Jessi wrote this amazing poem...

My Beautiful

As she gallops across the field,
I stare in awe
For she moves with beauty and grace.

She feels free
As her silky mane blows in the wind
And her radiant coat shines in the valley’s sun
She takes advantage of whatever chance she gets
To impress me,
For she does it quite often.

Her blaze shines bright beneath the deep blue sky
And her big belly full of foal.
Ten days until she is due to give birth.
She looks so beautiful today
As she always does.

My grandma turned 90 last week.

She is the most amazing women. Still lives at home, still cooks for her grandbabies and great grandbabies.

She makes the most delicious chocolate cake in the whole world, known far and wide by even the most extended and unrelated family. One year at a family reunion, I tried to hide the cake on top of the refrigerator because of course there was no way enough for everyone, so wouldn't it be better for her FAVORITE grandchild to be able to enjoy it with a few others after the crowd dissipated? After about the 10th person came in asking "Where is Grandma Ruby's chocolate cake?", I gave in and fessed it up.

Two years ago, Jessi, Zack, and I flew into Tampa on the red eye, with plans to go visit with Grandma for the day, and then head on up to my mom's house in Inverness. Jessi said to me on the way from the airport, " I wonder what Grandma Ruby is cooking us for breakfast? Do you think there will be BISCUITS?" I gently explained to her that Grandma had just recently returned home from a lengthy hospital stay, and that we might better not expect breakfast since it was only about 6:30 am. We walked into the house to the smell of sausage, the sound of eggs sizzling, and a big pan of grits on the stove. Ten minutes later, out came the buttermilk biscuits! Jessi just looked at me with a whole, "How can you doubt, Mom?"

When I joined the Army 25 years ago, I remember getting on the plane in Tampa, for Germany, having just came from Grandma's house, thinking, "Grandma's getting older, will this be the last time I see her?" I thought that again, when Mark and I took off for the Philippines in 1990, and then again in 1996 before we left for Okinawa. I don't think that anymore. I trust that Grandma will be here on earth for as long as God sees fit to keep her here, and that will be more than any of us can have ever dreamed, or deserved.

Grandma lived through World War I and II, working as an aircraft maintance person in WWII. This for a woman who never drove a car in my memory. (I think she had a license once very briefly). She was divorced at a time when divorce was not considered, yet she held her head high, and raised her family. She married another man carefully, knowing he would be all of our's grandpa. He was!

Our whole lives are wrapped up in my grandma. She is the glue that holds us all together. She sewed our clothes until we got to "old and sophisticated" to appreciate the love and effort. So, then she made us quilts with scraps of material from all of the clothes she had sewed for us. She still remembers every birthday and sends goodies for Christmas when she is able. Mississsippi Mud Pie and Cheese Bars. When I was home in January, she made me my own chocolate cake. I shared with everyone I could, (but I did hide the last piece!)

I love you, Grandma, you are the wisest, most wonderful woman I know!