HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY ZABETH

Mommy and Bethany this year

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY ZABETH

It’s a bit early but that’s OK. I do trust that Saturday is a joyous day with three of your children, Kent, Baden and Bethany. I know that you miss holding little Josiah, recuperating from his recent surgery. You will see him soon again.

Newborn Josiah and Mommy

For the moment I want to focus on some reasons why we who know you salute you. In time your children will learn the strength of your character as well. They will thrive under its protection and will learn from its example.

What they will come to see more clearly such things as your love of learning, your creativity, your bravery and vitality, your kindness and love, your social responsibility and mercy, your appreciation of beauty and excellence, your gratitude and certainly your spirituality. They will naturally appreciate your music artistry which you have taken so long to perfect into piano performance brilliance.

A 2009 shot-mommy and her three loves

I confess that in speaking about you, I do so with only gathered impressions rather than a deep knowledge. Although we have been in contact to discuss the children’s custody case, I have not been in other situations that permits me to speak confidently about your full personality. Yet my impressions of you began after you asked me to officiate your wedding ceremony with Paul early in 2001. The impressions continued as we spent some weeks together in pre-marriage counseling prior to June 2, 2001 when you were married in Cloverdale United Church. You chose that sanctuary because it was quaint and intimate and reflected the simplicity that marked your values. Until in 2009 when I learned of your horror story that began in 2007, you had already plodded through such emotional heavy mud but you were remarkably strong. You had lost your children and your home and your livelihood. You were determined to put a stop to this erosion. You knew you needed to become an expert about shaken baby syndrome of which either you or Paul were suspected. You conversed with medical and scientific experts and read thousands of pages of information, gathering it into a useful online resource available to searchers everywhere. While neither of you had shaken the baby that you cherished, you shared the consequence of the apprehended children together. You have walked this entire long horrible journey together. You have been the primary spokesperson because that is an ability that you have. You will not be intimidated by muscle. You do not give up when facing formidable resistance. You are quite the woman and mother Zabeth.

Zabeth, I commend you, and I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day, and I wish for you the return of all four children in the brief months ahead.

Perhaps Dr. Bowden could learn about you from this entry today.