Today, is the 3rd Birthday of our first born son Brandon Jr., and for the last two years on his birthday we would visit his gravesite, and release balloons to heaven.  Brandon Jr. was born via c-section after 14+ hrs of labor and 4 hrs of pushing.  He earned his wings shortly after birth due to his lungs not being developed and oxygenating.  Although we aren’t in North Carolina today to visit his grave, we wanted to celebrate his life here with this poem below.  This poem encouraged me so much after we loss BJ at birth and you can see the pain on my face as I held him in the picture below.  I always wondered what makes a mother or if I was a mother although I didn’t have a child to hold in my arms.  I always felt like my labor was in vain, pun intended.  But, God will grant you the desires of your heart!  Now, we are blessed to hold Max in our arms everyday and see him grow to his potential.

Happy 3rd Birthday in heaven Brandon Jr.  Keep watching over us and your baby brother Max.  We will always love you and celebrate your short but purposeful life!

What Makes a Mother – a poem by Jennifer Wasik

I thought of you and closed my eyes
And prayed to God today.
I asked what makes a Mother
And I know I heard him say.

A Mother has a baby
This we know is true.
But God, can you be a Mother
When your baby’s not with you?

Yes, you can He replied
With confidence in His voice
I give many women babies
When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime
And others for a day.
And some I send to filll the womb
But there’s no need to stay.

I just don’t understand this, God
I want my baby here
He took a breath and cleared His throat
And then I saw a tear.

I wish I could show you
What your child is doing today.
If you could see your child smile
With other children and say

“We go to earth and learn our lessons
Of love and life and fear.
My Mommy loved me oh so much
I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom
Who had so much love for me
I learned my lesson very quickly
My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy oh so much
But I visit her each day.
When she goes to sleep
On her pillow is where I lay.

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek
And whisper in her ear
“Mommy don’t be sad today
I’m your baby and I’m here.”

So you see my dear sweet one
Your children are OK
Your babies are here in My home
And this is where they’ll stay.

They’ll wait for you with me
Until your lesson is through
And on the day that you come home
They’ll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother
It’s the feeling in your heart.
It’s the love you had so much of
Right from the very start!

Stay Super, Mighty, and Blessed!

~Erica