Family Growth & Acceptance

Granny and her great-great granddaughter

This picture seriously melts my heart....and for more reasons than I can probably express. The above picture shows almost 99 year old Granny with her first great-great grandbaby on her lap. From what my sister said they had quite the conversation between the two of them!

I had yet to mention this newest addition to our family circle as there have been mixed reactions (truthfully among everyone) as to her journey into this world, as her parents are younger than the age one hopes their kids, grandkids, nephews, etc might be ready to reproduce. (At 27, I'm a great-aunt!) The pregnancy was a difficult one for the mom and lil babe spent some time in specialized medical care, but here she is at 4 months thriving, healthy, and bringing joy to many. And babe's mom does a great job of meeting babe's needs.

What this picture demonstrates to me is the unconditional love and mutual understanding across generations, and I'm hopeful it brings a little more forgiveness and remembrance of our family bond into the hearts of many of us still struggling to understand how the course of life can turn out so differently than hoped. If anything babe should feel love and sense expressions of joy, as Granny so successfully demonstrates (just like she always does!). The saying is that it takes a village to raise a child, but I think it takes an extended family to show the child the way to appreciate that village and her role in it.

Truthfully I'm overjoyed to see babe looking so healthy, so strong, and so settled. And I find myself proud and in awe of Granny's joy, relaxation, and appreciation. A picture...of family...and a picture of health. Here's to many more happy and healthy times for both of them and hopefully a renewed sense of family in us all!