Em Imad (Mother of Imad)

My sweet mother in-law is the kindest woman I have ever known. She has the purist heart and a true faith in good. She puts all her faith in God and he is put before anything and everything. After God is her family.

HER FAMILY!

I think back to the time I had the pleasure of meeting my in-laws. I had been married almost five years before I met them. We had sent letters and gifts back and forth but I had never been able to speak to them or sit in the same room as them. Jasmine was 9 days old when we got the call from Imad's brother Ayad. He called to let us know that my in-laws were coming for a visit and we needed to pick them up. He gave us a 4 day notice. I had just delivered a baby by C-section and now I had company coming from another country, I had never met them and needed to give a great first impression! My house was not up to par as my sweet hubby was the responsible party at that time because I was still quite sore! I remember being excited, nervous and frustrated all at once!

They Arrived, oh what a blessing. Jasmine was now 13 days old and Ali was 3. It was such a blessing to have them here with me! They stayed with us for one full year! My home became her home. I am a firm believer that there can only be one queen per castle. I stepped down for that year and let her wear the crown, I was OK with being the princess! She needed that. She needed to do everything she could for her son since it had been 10 years since the last time she had seen him. I am secure in my relationship with Imad so to let him be a mommy's boy for a year did not bother me it was actually entertaining to watch!

I was a stay at home mom during that time. I am so grateful that I was blessed to stay home and get to know her and my father in-law! We did everything together. She taught me more in that year than I ever expected. The most exciting for me then and still is now~She taught me to speak Arabic. I wanted to learn so badly just so I could communicate with them. I now speak almost fluent Arabic. She became my best friend, I adore her! I thank God everyday for her and my father in-law! I am so grateful for the beautiful man I married and I have them to thank for that. My children have amazing grandparent's and have experienced a love like no other! There are so many things I admire in her and strive to be like. She is a kind, sweet, stubborn, frugal, Strong, smart, God loving, BIG HEARTED woman that we all are blessed to have in our lives.

This beautiful woman has suffered a stroke. She is not doing well. She has lost her speech. She has a major blockage in her Carotid artery and will also require stints. I pray for her. I pray that she heals, that we can sit with her once again. We all need to see her and her us. It has been four long years since we went to Lebanon for many different reason and right now none of them seem justified! I pray that the strength I admire in her pulls her through this!

Please pray for her and our family......

I love my mother in-law, my best friend!!!

Jasmine Class of 2011

Jasmine has started her Senior year officially today! It seems a bit bitter sweet! I thought that I was okay with all of this. Until, until I took her LAST, first day of school picture this morning. It made me look back for a moment and recollect the past and all of her first days of school. How she has grown from a little girl into a beautiful young woman.

I am looking forward to sharing this amazing year with her, but I can say for now I hope it goes really slow! Happy Senior Year Jasmine ~ I Love You

Jasmine's Birthday

So the princess is having a Birthday! Jasmine Marie Imad Jaber is turning 17!




She was a surprise and a blessing! We had lost our first daughter a year and two months before she was born. I was thrilled to be pregnant with her but I was so scared! We had suffered so much pain already and as optimistic as I wanted to be in the back of my mind I had fear……On August 14, 1993 we were blessed! We were given a gift~ Our Jasmine! Oh the joy we felt on that day and every day since! She is full of life and vigor! Jasmine is a sweet kind hearted young woman and my best friend!

We are so Proud of the young woman she is growing into. She is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!

Jazzy will be starting her Senior year in the fall. We are looking at colleges and all that goes with what hopefully will be the best fit for her. She is still cheering for her All-Star gym and this is her last season which will definitely be a major adjustment as it is something she loves and I must say one of her greatest pleasures! Cheering has been good to her and for her! This next year will be filled with memories and fun and we look forward to sharing it all with her.





~Happy Birthday, Jasmine~

Happy Birthday Ali

On July 24, 1990 Ali Thomas Imad Jaber was born. It was one of the wonderful days of my life! There is nothing I cherish more than my family and he was the beginning of a wonderful adventure ~ Life as a Mom :) It is by far my favorite, and it is not a job it is a Lifelong Adventure. A journey with Hills and Valley's and I would not have wished to miss one of them! This Saturday, July 24th will be his 20th birthday...He is leaving his teenage years and I could not be prouder of him. I look at him and know that he is a good man! I thought I would put a few photos to recollect~








































I am so proud to call him son!

Happy Birthday, Ali!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

How Many Lives Do You Touch?

Last night we were at our second Wake in less than a week. Our very dear friend that lost his son last week, lost his uncle this week. Imad and I knew his uncle, Imad knew him much better than I did though.

We paid our respects to the family and sat down to reflect and pray. As I sat in the pew I thought first about the guest book that we had signed. Would his children know who we were when they saw our name? Probably not...But what they would know, was that he touched our lives. That he meant something to us and that we had come to show our respect for him to them. Which then made me think how many lives do I touch? Some day I shall pass too. My Headstone would have my name, the date I was born and the date I died. In between those dates there will be a dash symbol. My birth and death are not nearly as important as my dash. That is my life and how I lived it. My beginning, middle and end.

Never take life for granted it is a true gift. Enjoy everyday you have doing something you enjoy. It doesn't have to be a major trip it could be something small. It could be a call to your mother to catch up, a trip to the mall or sitting at the lake for lunch. I used to say to my son "I Love You More Than Life", after we lost our daughter, it made me re-think that statement. I now say "I Love You as Much as Life!"
Live, Laugh and Love!!!

Live, Laugh, Love...A LOT!!!

My Family

First let me say I love them all so much! My family is my world,so saying that means things in my life can sometimes be complicated, exhausting, stressful and yet at the end of the day I wouldn't want anyone else to be my family!

I married the most amazing man anyone could wish for and I am so blessed to have him. He is the love of my life my soul mate. I have often spoke of the my mother and father in-law and the wonderful people they are. I will never be able to thank them enough for raising this amazing man I married. I will be forever indebted to them. They took me into their family and loved me like I was their daughter never making me feel anything less! I adore them :) Yesterday we made our usual Semi-monthly call to them. I was so excited to be calling as Ali was home and not working which would make their day because they would finally get to talk to him! Just to hear the kids voices brings both of them such joy. My mother in-law did get to talk to both Ali and Jasmine and it did brighten her day. However, when Imad asked to speak to his dad she had to tell us he cannot talk. He is very sick, there is a bad infection in his lungs that he is fighting. What made me the most worried was when i asked what was wrong she said, "he's tired, he tired"... That made me worry more than anything to know my father in-law the little pistol is to know he doesn't get tired! He is always on the go! In the past couple of years we have actually had to worry about him because he accepts no limits! He got stung by a scorpion while drying wheat on the roof of a house and he has fallen out of a tree TWICE picking olives! He doesn't get tired!!! I am very worried.....I pray he heals and we get to see him again sooner than later, my husband needs that! So for now we wait for information praying that we get much needed good news!

God Does Not Make Mistakes

On Friday of last week we went to a funeral. It was one of the hardest things I have done in a long time. Some very dear friends of ours were mourning the loss of their very sweet son. He was a beautiful young man that adored his family. He was born with Downs Syndrome but I don't think it was a handicapp in many ways. Obviously he was delayed in most areas of his life but the most important things in life he was ahead of most! Family, friends, doctors, nurses and classmates all were in attendance. It was a true testament to the life he lived and shared with everyone that came in touch with him. He brought out the best in everyone that knew him! He taught love and laughter :)



The Minister was giving the Eulogy and spoke of the handicapp that this young man was born with. He reminded us that God does not make mistakes! That we all have a mission on this earth. It made me think of our Briana. How perfect she was, there was absolutely nothing wrong with her. Listening to him reassured me that she was chosen. No mistakes happened the day she died. NONE!!! I believe God knew how much we loved her and that we were chosen to give our precious angel her wings.(I know mom it's a figure of speach she does not have wings, no angel does, lol!) Without the gift of life, body and spirit being united she could not be resurrected. She could not serve the Lord. I will forever miss her but I will be FOREVER Grateful to our Heavenly Father for loving me and trusting me with one of his special Angels!



In listening to him I also thought of my brother. I thought of the sweet heart he has and how much I love and miss him. It reminded me how things could be so much worse than they are right now. He is a good man that made some bad decisions. Everyone deserves forgivness. I will wait patiently for the day he is home. I pray that he has the strength to go the distance one step at a time. I know this is the beginning of a long journey with him and his family. I will walk with them one step at a time. My brother has made some mistakes along the way but he is not a mistake! GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES!!!

Jaber Family Update

It has been a roller coaster ride for the first half of 2010 and I am very happy to say things are settling down a bit.

Mr. Imu has found a job that he is very happy at. He feels at home and comfortable there while excited about new beginnings. I am not sure if I have ever seen him this relaxed about life. I think he feels more appreciated now in the short time he has been there than he did at his previous employer of 25yrs. Maybe he is the fresh new face they were looking for. All I can say for now it is a breath of fresh air to see my honey happy and excited to go to work! It is not a bad commute in fact I am a little jealous. He rides by the ocean on his way there and home everyday That itself would make me want to go to work! I see many new accomplishments in his future. He loves to set and achieve goals. I am proud of him and so happy for him!

Jassabella, She is finishing her Junior year! Oh my where has the time gone? I cannot believe we are looking into colleges and discussing all the things that go with that. She has grown and matured so much this past year. She is ready to be a Senior and all the fun that goes with it! I am so blessed to have her in my life. She makes me smile :)


Alooshi, proud to say he is plugging ahead. He is working and going to school. I believe his Major has been declared. Psychology, definitely his mothers son! I think he has chosen a good fit. I do believe it is a career choice he will enjoy! He as you all know is my pride and joy! What a beautiful person he is!


As for myself, I am happy! I am happy because they are all happy. We are in a good place now and I pray we are blessed to keep it this way for a long time! I can finally EXHALE! :)

Time to Celebrate!!!

It appears Imad's time at home is coming to an end. It is my pleasure to announce that the AMAZING Man I call Husband has accepted a position at a company that is actually in the state of Massachusetts's!:) Some of you may know that he was looking at a few other companies that were not even a little bit close to home and the kids were clear that neither of them planned on re-locating. With Ali in college and Jasmine only having one year left of High School it was a good possibility that we would live in different time zones. We have been Blessed that this position became available! Imad is thrilled and looking forward to this new opportunity. Ali and Jasmine are relieved that we will not have the hardship of being separated. Their dad is staying home here in Massachusetts! I proudly support him in his decision and again I am very excited to see where this journey is taking us.

Looking up and Forward

The mood in our home I must say is one of hope, faith and courage. Imad has many doors opening for him, which he deserves! He was very discouraged at the beginning of this new adventure in our lives and now he is holding his head high and moving forward. Our time together has been such a blessing :) I see his time at home coming to an end in the near future, thankfully! I look back and I am so grateful for everything that he had in his old position, but now the time has come to Look Up and Move Forward in Our New Journey. There is nothing we can't do!!!

Thinking of our Angel

I am not sure why but for atleast a month now I have been recollecting the birth of Briana Imad Jaber. How much I still miss her, and how blessed I feel to have known her for the short nine months that I selfishly wouldn't give to anyone else. I was able to feel her life and energy that no-one else knew. We gave her the middle name of Imad so she would take something of her daddy with her. I wanted him to have that attachment. The day we lost our sweet angel was the single worst day I think I have ever experienced. We are not supposed to bury our children and yet there I was a young mother planning my baby's funeral. The healing process started from that moment and still continues today. I think of her everyday, I love her more than words can express and yet I only knew her for the nine months I was so blessed to have been pregnant with her. I carried her and knew her for a lifetime her lifetime. Briana Imad Jaber was one of my greatest blessing's. She taught me more in her short little life time, she is my blessed angel. She taught me to live, love and laugh everyday. She taught me that there is something positive in everything even the lowest times in our lives have something positive. She made me be a better mother and wife. I feel privledged to be the mother of someone too perfect for this earth.

Briana would be looking forward to her 18th birthday on 6/20/2010. She would have been preparing for graduation anad college in the Fall. She looked just like her sister as a baby and I often wonder what she would look like today. Would she have cheered like her younger sister or maybe she would have been like her mom and been the athletic type involved in sports. Would she have been a mommy's girl too or would she have attached herself to her daddy? What would her favorite color be, or her favorite food?

What I do know is she was beautiful. She is an angel, my angel, our angel. Imad and I love her and miss her. Ali remembers all of the events from that time in our lives. He is an amazing older brother and son! Jasmine has been told everything we know to help her understand she was blessed to have an older sister. Jasmine and Ali have a fun, close relationship. They are best friends :) They make us laugh everyday and remind us how blessed we are to have each other! Families are forever, and I do believe we will be together again someday. Until then I live life, I enjoy life and I live for what I do have not for what I don't. I am grateful God blessed me to give birth to one of his sweet Angel's.

Grandparent's

Sunday was my grandfather's birthday. I thought of him quite often that day and everyday since. It has made me ponder of grandparent's and how special they are. My grandpa (papaw) was the kindest gentlest man I have ever known. He loved me like no other and always made me feel so incredibly loved! I remember sitting on his lap and going for pony rides on his back! I remember the sweetest kiss on my cheek that was usually ten in one. But mostly what I have always been able to keep with me, I knew I was grandpa's Angel! He told me every time I talked to him. Trust me, I was no angel but I was his angel! He made me feel special and that has stayed with me my whole life and helped me to understand how important it is to feel special. To feel loved. To know that someone cares about you and cares for you. Someone that knows of the potential you have. He taught me that education is the most important gift we can give ourselves and our children. Everyone has someone in their life that no matter what we don't want to disappoint. He was that person for me. I wanted him to be proud of me and my accomplishments. He was a man of honor and accepted nothing less from the people he loved. He was one of the most special men I have had the honor of knowing. He passed on his birthday. I knew that he was in the hospital and he had been intibated waiting on a decision to operate which he was willing to do. I called the day before his birthday to check on him. He was doing as well as expected for the condition his heart was in. I knew I couldn't talk to him. I asked the nurse if she could do me a favor. She said sure, what do you need? I asked if she could give him a message. She said sure what would you like to say? I said, "Please tell him Grandpa's angel said hi and she Loves HIM!!" I waited for her to return to the phone. She came back and told me that a tear rolled down his cheek when she told him. It was a comfort that I was able to tell him! The next day was his birthday. I was on the phone with the florist ordering his flowers when the other line rang. I asked them to hold while I answered it. It was my sweet grandmother. She was calling to tell me that my Grandfather had not made it. I miss him everyday of my life he was the best of the best and truly one of my heroes! I have no greater memories than the ones of him.

Choose the Right

I feel like I have been through the most trying time of my life in the past year! I look back and cannot believe the series of events. I am honestly having a difficult time figuring out what is the best plan of attack or path to take. What advise to give or not give. When to bite my tongue and when to speak. I know that no matter what I do it may not be right. I know no matter what I say it may not be right. I also know that I have been given the biggest responsibility God gives, Motherhood...

I have a obligation to my children for the rest of my life to teach and guide them. I also know that I have to trust the tools that I have already given to them and trust that they will put them to use.

With all my heart I love my children and my husband, I pray that no matter what I can look back with no regrets!

When I was a young girl I went to a Sunday School class. The title of that year long class was Choose the Right "CTR" for short. I wore a ring as a reminder that had the initial "CTR" on the front of it. Every time that I looked at my hand I was reminded to Choose the Right. I wish that every young person understood the meaning of that today. I wish that I could make them understand the senseless pain they cause each other. I want my children to look back with "No regrets"! I want my children and their friends to "Choose the Right"! I want each and everyone of them to understand it starts with one. It may become contagious!

Surprise!

The eagle has landed!

And brought her little Chicky........

They are here a week early to see my little Chicky, I know she will look like this when she sees them!

Which will make her CHEER!

Mr. Aloosh will be very happy to have his best friend home for a couple of weeks!

These two are so glad the surprise is finally out and they can celebrate her arrival ;)

This grammy is going to be blown away with joy! She has missed them so much!
SURPRISE!!!

Soon Mr. corey will be here too:)

and...........
The family will be complete!

I love SURPRISES!

Forgiveness

I am definitely not one of the most religious people you will ever meet. I am however, Spiritual! I can also say that the act of forgiveness is probably one of the most important things we can use in our lives. We have many things in our lives that anger us or hurt us and make us feel violated in one way or another.

As many of you know my family has been through a lot in the past 3 years. Some of which had happened to me and most of which had been done to another sibling and my parent's. I think the most anger I felt was for my parent's! How could anyone do the outrageous things that they had done to them? How could anyone hurt my mom and dad? I don't know to many people that are more pure of heart than my parent's especially my mom who never likes to put a bad thought out there and completely with all of her being loves her family! She is one who accepts everyone for who they are and tries to find the good in everyone. I felt such hurt and betrayal for them. I wanted to protect them at every cost. I tried but failed miserably I thought......

It took me sometime and a lot of looking within myself. The anger and hatred I felt for another human being is not anything I had ever known before! I didn't like the way I felt and knew I had to do something about it. I thought about it long and hard and realized that everyone deserves to be forgiven! Everyone deserves a second, sometimes third or fourth chance. My mother had always called me the "Peace Maker", how could I help create peace in my family if I was one of the one's contributing to the HATRED??? I needed to be an example of love and compassion in order for my family to move on. So I forgave! It is the most wonderful feeling! I feel FREE, I feel empowered once again. It is making a difference already, I can feel it. I do not think it will all happen overnight but I do think in time everything is possible.

I love my WHOLE family and I know with all my heart everyone will come to the same conclusion I have, when there is forgiveness there is HEALING!!! We all need to heal and we ALL need to love and be loved!!! It starts with one and it becomes contagious!!!