Sitting In the Treetops

May you live to see your children's children—
(Psalm 128:6a NIV)

What a wonderful week it has been!  One week ago to this very minute, Richard and I were in a hospital waiting room waiting for the birth of our second grandchild who would be born in only 20 more minutes.  It's funny how the discomfort of hours of waiting just melt away with the simple words, "She's here!"

With those words, our youngest child became a father.  With those words, I truly gave over my last child to adulthood.  Richard and I are just "Richard and I" now.  But we are more than that too.  We are "Opah" and "Kaymee" to two beautiful granddaughters.   We are the hug-givers, lap-makers, treat-carriers, toy-store-shoppers and ice-cream-trip-suggesters to eager-to-receive little girls. We are the calming voices of advice and encouragement on the other end of anxious cell phone calls to young adults trying to figure it all out in a more-complicated-than-ever world.  And we are the watchers and guardians as the continuation of our family unfolds.  I understand the symbol of a "tree" for mapping out family relationships better than ever, for I feel as though Richard and I are now on the top branches looking down as new branches begin to sprout.

There really is no end to parenting.  We are always there for our children no matter how old they get. And some things never really change.  I remember when my boys were learning to tie their shoes.  They would get so frustrated, and it would have been so easy to just jump in and tie them myself.  But I knew they wouldn't learn how to do it themselves that way.  As I watch Kevin and Chelsea take care of their newborn, I sometimes want to just take charge and say, "No, this way is better."  But I know they need to find their own style.  I won't agree with it all, but that's ok.  Richard and I will just wait for when our advice is asked for and then give it with room for them to use it while still expressing themselves and their own style.  

No matter where you are right now on your own family tree, give thanks!  Give thanks for grandparents, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and all the rest.  Take time to tell them you love them.  Make the effort to overlook their faults, because we all have our own that need to be overlooked.  Celebrate what God has made in your life.

Lord God,
Thank you for my growing family.  Thank you for much time spent with Richard and our children and grandchildren this week.  Time truly does fly.  Thank you for blessing us with Emma.  Amen.

Joys:  Grandchildren - the greatest joy of all; time in the mountains with Richard; my boys and their significant others.