"When a child is born, so are grandmothers and grandfathers."

Okay, so it's official.  Today begins a new phase in our lives.  We are going to be grandparents! 
In a room filled with almost the entire family (a rarity in and of itself),  my son tries to get everyone's attention-his wife looking at him with an anticipatory smile as he shares that she is pregnant.   As if life couldn't get more exciting, God presents us with this moment of wonderfulness.  And, as with any death-defying moment, my life flashes before my eyes.  I am overwhelmed with emotion, thoughts and feelings.  My heart races, then stops and restarts, my mind jumbles with a myriad of thoughts colliding and bouncing off my brain. Then, simple joy overtakes the chaos in my head and I stand back and watch in contentment,  my insides still fluttering from the rush!   I watch the congratulations going around...hugs & love, questions about due dates and how mom is feeling.  I hardly have the words to express my feelings.  All I can do is to join in the revelry and express, face-to-face, arm to arm, shoulder to shoulder, to both Sean and Lizzy, my most heartfelt congratulations with big hugs, fighting back the tears that threaten to change the celebratrory mood.
Now, I am to become what I've known since childhood would be the most wonderful and precious phase of my life~that of grandparent. I had a wonderful example of grandparenting in my Grandma Mimi.  Her hospitality and her selflessness were wonderful examples to me.  In the months to come, as I ponder this new role, I will share moments and memories.  One will know the richness of my childhood through them.  I can only pray that I will be the grandparent she was to me.  My heart has the desire and I  trust God will handle the reality.