Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

It's been a few weeks since my daughter and her two children have moved in with us while her husband is training to become a deep sea diver. I must confess that I thought I had this grandparenting thing down pat. After all, I've been one now for four years and have felt pretty good about the job I thought I was doing.

I was wrong.

My grandson Noah has proved to be quite skillful at pointing out just how much I miss the mark. He has sized up my weak points quickly and efficiently, and attempts to use them (in his own sweet and very charming way) to his advantage when I am not aware. Fortunately, my daughter Rachel sees right through this and prevents him from capitalizing on my inconsistencies or weariness.

I have also discovered that I just don't have the same level of tolerance for crying as I used to have. Chloe pointed that out to me last week. And I feel very, very badly about this.

One wonderful aspect of them living with us is that I can see first-hand just how incredibly competent Rachel is as a mother. She is light years ahead of where I was at her age. She reminds me so much of her mother.

Another wonderful surprise is learning just how funny and intelligent Noah is. I enjoy his company tremendously and am amazed daily at his capacity to learn. And our little Chloe has one of the most engaging smiles I have ever seen in a baby. She smiles and laughs with all of her heart. And I melt every time she does.

I am surprised at how well the children have adjusted to being moved across the ocean to live in a completely different world without their father present. I am painfully aware at what a poor substitute I am for Michal.

I am not surprised at how well Rachel has done. She is a fighter and a survivor like her mother. And, like her mother, she is very gracious about having to survive and adjust. Her children's happiness and well-being have not skipped a beat.

I am surprised by the constant joys that come my way by having them all here. I get to make up for some of the time they were gone. I get to share relaxing cups of coffee with Rachel while we chat about the latest charming demonstration by Noah, the latest diving adventures of Michal, the newest trick by Chloe, or the latest surprising elimination from the many reality shows that I must admit make up some of my summer fun.

Children are wonderful. They are full of surprises that we do not expect and are not always prepared to face. That is the wonder of children.

Changes....

I know it has been over a month since I have posted a blog entry. The month of June was a blur. In one month, my wife and I flew to London, Barcelona, Spain, Salzburg, Austria, back to London, and then finally back to North Carolina. Whew! I got tired just typing that. Our daughter, Rachel and her children have moved back to the States with us while Michal is in training to become a professional deep sea diver. My mind is spinning with the memories of the spectacular views of the Alps, the amazing and dazzling city of Barcelona, the beautiful shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the exciting and bustling West End of London, and the most INCREDIBLE sight of all: the beautiful, smiling and trusting faces of our grandchildren, Noah and Chloe.

Knowing that they live in the same house with me after two years of being an ocean away is more than I can take. Knowing that they can spend time with their cousins Braydon and Makenna is so fulfilling. Noah and Braydon have already become inseperable. Spending time with Noah as we play space ship in our makeship tent , have "carpet time" to read books he selects, or race his coches (cars) means the world to me. Each minute with him is a gift beyond measure and description. Seeing my beautiful red-haired granddaughter beam at me with her beautiful blue eyes brings me to tears at times. Our house is alive again with the sounds of preschool joys and infant discoveries, with early morning breakfasts, summer runs through the water sprinkler to make "muddy puddles", special trips to the store to pick up special treats for obedient little boys, the sound of a lively seven-month old jumping vigorously in her exersaucer, screams of laughter during bath time as Poppa creates water falls over Noah, sweetly-voiced pleas to come upstairs to "play together" (how could anyone ever turn this down?), and so many more blessings. I have discovered just how wonderfully exhausting chasing after them can be.

But I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything. Because I realize that the day will come only too soon when Rachel and Michal will move into their own home again and part of my heart will die again as I watch them all move on again....So for right now I will hold them every second I can and enjoy the gifts they freely give!