God’s First Mother’s Day Gift…
Since its Mother’s Day I have chosen to write about my first gift from God, my daughter Rachel Ann. It’s funny when she was younger she didn’t like to be called “Rachel Ann”, but now she does. How time changes things!
Everyone says she looks exactly like me, but I think she is the perfect combination of both her father and me. Sure our features are alike, but there are subtle differences that make her a unique beauty.
I am talking about my first and oldest child, Rachel. When you catch a first glance of her you notice her beautiful long hair and then as you get closer you can’t but happen to be mesmerized by her big, beautiful, almond-shaped green eyes and long eyelashes.
Rachel was our first child and the only child for 15 years until Josh came along. When Rachel was born she was the first Haggerty girl in 25 years. Everyone was so excited!
When my doctor came into the delivery room, I overheard him talking to the nurses. He was saying, “Boy we have a big crowd out there today! Looks like they all slept here overnight. Do we have that many women in labor today? There was a policeman handing out donuts too!” The nurses started to laugh.
I had to chuckle too because it was my family and the policeman was my brother. Rachel was an early baby. She was 4 weeks early and labor lasted on and off for about 27 hours.
After 2 ½ hours of hard pushing, she made her debut. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. Head full of black hair, chipmunk cheeks and pretty pink coloring. Right from the start we knew we would name her Rachel. It was such a biblical name and I loved it from the beginning of my pregnancy.
Her eyes weren’t always the beautiful green they are today they used to be a strikingly blue grey until they changed. Her eyelashes were always very long. I am so glad all my kids turned out with long eyelashes. (I have short ones).
Rachel was a precocious toddler, creative and loved to color. She could sit down and color an entire coloring book in just one afternoon! When we were outside she just had to blow bubbles and chase the dog around the yard.
Chewie was our first beagle and they had a love-hate relationship. Chewie would follow Rachel around because she always was dropping her food – cookies, Cheerios, etc. But when Chewie had enough of Rachel, she’d run up the stairs where Rachel couldn’t go and make her cry.
Eventually, she would come down and sit by her. They loved looking out the front window of our duplex to watch the cars and school bus go by in the afternoon. Rachel would sit in her little chair and Chewie would sit on her hind legs and put her paw on the window ledge. It was the cutest thing!
Just hearing her talking away to Chewie was priceless. The dog was her playmate.
Rachel was a loving youngster, who was very trusting and good-natured. She was the favorite niece and cousin. Everyone loved her and still does today.
When Rachel was about 11yrs. old, my brother-in-law, his wife and two young kids took her to Disney with them on a family trip. Their little ones just loved having her on the trip and argued each night to see who would sleep next to Rachel.
It is still that way today when she comes over to visit Cate and Josh, but now they have one more to compete with for her affections – the dog, Sophie!
Rachel’s teenage years were filled with competitive dancing, high school dance team and cheerleading. She had it rough when Hurricane Katrina hit, but she chose to be a survivor and made her way through it unscathed and mentally sound.
I have to give it to her, she never fell apart. Considering she was torn away from her friends she had known all her life, her high school, boyfriend and community she just picked up her life and went on. How she handled herself was amazing.
My mother adored Rachel. They had a unique and special relationship and I was happy for it. I remember when my mom would come and go to mass with her when she was in Kindergarten and Rachel would take a nap on her lap.
In her older years she would drive Rachel to school, cheerleading practice and home from football games. She trusted and loved my mother and my mother reciprocated those feelings and more.
Honestly, I was glad that she got to spend some quality time with my mother before she passed away so quickly from pancreatic cancer. I know her death was hard for her as it was for all of us, but of all my children she got to spend the most time with her and I am thankful for that.
Being a mother brings many wonderful moments to treasure. At this moment, I am enjoying the adult she is becoming – independent, confident, talented and responsible. She is still very beautiful and has not lost that loving and giving nature. Josh and Cate just love their big sister and so do her father and I.
It’s hard to let go of your kids when they get older, but you have to trust that they will make the right choices and remember the lessons you have taught them in life. I miss not having her around, but I know she loves her independence and the silence! (What 22 year-old wouldn’t?)
It’s great when she comes to visit and we hate to see her go, but know she is only a phone call away if we need her.
Rachel was our first gift from God and we count her as the first blessing from above. She is so unique and special in so many ways. I applaud the woman that she is becoming and wish only the best in life for her.
As a mother I am proud of who she has become and I hope that one day she will have a daughter of her own so she can understand how truly precious the bond of love between mother and daughter can truly can be.
Thank you Rachel for being my daughter and letting me share your life as your mother. I love you!
Your biggest fan,
MOM ❤
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