I'm Gonna Be a Godmother!

You guys! Guess what?? I'm going to be a Godmother!

My nearly one year old "niece", Riley Grace Osborn, is in need of a fairy Godmother, and I'm it! Hurray!

I got a phone call from her mom last night and she told me that of all the people in Riley's family and in our circle of friends, I'm the one she trusts to guide her daughter in times of need, to nurture her and strengthen her faith when times are good, and that if anything ever happened that required Riley to find a non-family person's help, she trusts me to keep a level head and to help her daughter out. Woah.

Talking with her about what being a Godmother to Riley really means was like coming home. To uphold someone in their faith by guiding their actions and easing their minds is a huge responsibility, but honestly, it doesn't seem like anything less than what I'd do without the title. Maybe that's why my friend chose me to do the job. Whatever her reason, it feels right. I was designated an honoree Aunt, but as an only child this still didn't sit too well. She's got real aunts. What'd she need another "fake" one for? Still, I was happy to be included that way, and have enjoyed all the bits of time I've spent being auntie Jillian.

But this - Godmother - this is for real! I have my own Disney character! Of course, when she asked if I'd do it, I started bawling immediately, as is my custom, and we joked about how I'm great in a crisis - after I cry for five minutes.

Riley's mom knows this about me. She knows that I love my people - blood relatives and chosen family - with my whole being. When they're hurt or in trouble, it hits me like a ton of bricks.

When Riley was born, I nearly lost my friend for good. Truly. She went into renal failure, the docs. had to do an emergency c-section, and Riley was premature by three months. Scary, no? I held it together pretty well when I found all this out from my mom, but when I hung up I immediately called my friend's hospital room and just hearing her voice when she picked up made me totally lose it. I had to hang up after about five seconds and a blubbery "You know I love you, right? Everything's okay, right?" and a chuckled "Yes, everything's fine and I know you love me. Now stop crying." from her.

After I'd reassured myself that she was okay, I calmed down and began to think. My friend gave me the task of helping her and her husband come up with a good middle name for Riley that would reflect her dramatic origins.

Hannah: Hebrew for "light" or "grace"

Thus, my surrogate niece was named. She was, of course, in the NICU for a long time, but a week after she was born I managed to take time off from work to go visit her. She was so tiny, you guys. She was about three pounds and had tubes in her nose and monitors everywhere and we couldn't touch her except through the incubator thingie - but her eyes - BIG, BLUE, sweet, sweet eyes. That buggy-mug was it for me. I knew when I saw her kicking away and blinking at everything that she'd be just fine. I had faith, I guess.

This is why my friend tells me I'm to be her Godmother. I'm still awed and a little scared, but no one's ever chosen me for something like this. I'm honored. I'm floored.