10/21/2024
I have something very personal to share. I recognize that, on Facebook, we aren’t really encouraged to share the nitty-gritty of life. But it’s there. It never isn’t. In this instance, it is the good nitty-gritty.
Yesterday I witnessed God. It was actually one of the most beautiful things I have ever been part of. I flew around as a drone, watching the incredibleness of what I was seeing unfold.
My daughter and son-in-law were blessed by their friends/family with a baby shower for my new grand darling Gretchen. God gifted my daughter and her sweetheart with this little miracle September 1st. Let me just say, as any grandmother would, that she is incredible and already changing this world!
I share this grandmother experience with Rowdy’s mother and with Kim McCoy Watson. Yesterday, all THREE grandmothers proudly enjoyed the attention others so generously gave to our sweet Gretchen.
My daughter and her husband are incredible people. Gretchen was so perfectly placed with them. Their inclusion of all three of us is indicative of Gretchen’s future. One full of more love than she can handle. There can never be enough.
As I surveyed what was going on in the room, I was able to see how fully I have been blessed over these years as life moves along. Most of the time we don’t even notice it, don’t fully inhale these experiences. Yesterday I saw a small cross-section of how life ripples outwards like rocks thrown into a pond.
I saw my sister Donna Dickerson celebrating with me. My dear, dear friends Lexi Bissett and Russell Bissett celebrating right along with me and sharing their love for me all the way down to my grand darling. I looked again at my blessings and found Michele Taylor. My heart is always filled and my soul equally poured into when I see this powerhouse of a person. She was right there pouring herself into my little grand darling. I can never fully state the life-long bond I share with Mike Hoover and Brenda Hoover. These two were as much aunt and uncle to my children as their actual aunts and uncles. There they were, spreading their love right on down to my grand darling. Years ago I was blessed beyond measure to meet two parents of students who still minister to my heart all these years later, Turtle Lee Moma and Mr. Jimmy, standing in the gap with all of us and pouring out love to my little darling.
My mother in law, Gwen Watson was there. What an incredible woman and such an inspiration to me. She adores her grandchildren and I will try my best to duplicate so many of her ways. Her dear friend Virginia was there as both of those ladies stood in the gap for our Gretchen.
Allan Wells Watson and Jerid Watson never could have guessed that the bond they shared as little children would later become one of being uncles to this little gift from God. It was nice to see Allan standing in the gap for our Gretchen with his wife and their own sweet baby in attendance as well.
I cannot convey the sheer amount of encouragement and love being showered onto this new family. God knew exactly what he was doing when he took J and R back to Hamilton. He knew they would need the love and support of all of the friends they have and the closeness of R’s family to help nurture them and stand in the gap with sweet Gretchy-Pooh.
I look forward to seeing what God has planned for this little family. I am grateful for my tribe that loves me and Joe Dan and then loved our daughter and now our granddaughter. So many of you sent gifts, encouragement, love. How incredible. I am blown away by all of the “ripples” that I never really recognized were even being formed.
The people, the players in our lives, those we meet along the way, THAT is where the awe lives. The intertwining of our lives and the energy we give and get in return is the nourishment that feeds our souls. I witnessed God yesterday and it was a beautiful, incredible experience. There are millions of people out there and I have had experiences with such a small number in comparison. But, those of you that I have run across, have been the greats. I am so very blessed by each and every one of you and am grateful for who God has placed in my life.
Going forward, as I enter this next stage of my own life as a grandparent, I want to slow down and fully inhale the experiences I have with others. Time marches on, things we didn’t even recognize at the time reveal their true magnitude during life’s special occasions. I now understand the flow. I am blessed beyond words for all that I have met over the years who have poured into me from their own vessels and I humbly thank you for the exchange. ❤️
