There is Always Room For One More

Our home has been filled with the happy noise of children. Five grandchildren! Five different blessings!

Over the years, we have watched them grow into some rather interesting individuals.

KaeLynn Grace arrived in 2006. She has grown into a tall graceful young lady. She is great company and fun to do things with. We have spent many hours visiting flea markets and thrift stores. It will be a very sad day for me when she outgrows her grandma.

Nathaniel David Allen arrived in 2008. From the first minute that I saw him, I knew that he was a very special young man. He soaks up knowledge like a sponge. From the time he was two, everything took off with his vocabulary and creativity. To this day, he can get more entertainment out a plastic bag, a piece of cardboard or a couple sticks. Everything is an adventure to him.

Gavin William Henry arrived in 2009. There is a gentle sweetness about him. He loves to be outdoors and he is also very creative. He loves to fish with his daddy. And there isn't a creature that he isn't familiar with. I love to hear him tell stories.

And then there is Chloe Margaret Elizabeth. She is full of vinegar with a generous tablespoon of sugar. Chloe has been full of adventure from the very start. There isn't a slide in the park that she hasn't conquered. And her singing will always make you smile.

David and I felt that that our quiver of grandchildren was pretty full and then we found out that there was one more on the way. We believe that all children are gifts from God. Nonetheless, this new baby was coming into a rather uncertain world.

In 2016, Kristopher Brendan Lyle came into our lives. He recently celebrated his first birthday. We don't know what he will be like in the coming years, but I can say that he has left a multitude of miracles in his wake.

We didn't expect to be a huge part of his life, but his mother handed him over at three weeks to our son. He has been a catalyst to bringing unity in our family. Courtney took on taking care of a small baby without breaking a sweat. His other children are thrilled to have a baby brother.

It is not a perfect world, but the wonder of a baby makes you believe in the joy of new beginnings. All of our grandchildren have given us hours of joy and entertainment.

Being a grandparent is an important job in this crazy world that we live in. There are so many children out there that do not have the luxury of two parents or the security of continued relationships.

There needs to be a safe and warm place that they can step into and feel as though the cares and concerns of the world can be left at the threshold. To have someone who hugs them and makes them feel special. Who celebrates their triumphs and wipes away their tears.

Whenever I hear that children are denied the chance of life because they haven't arrived at a convenient time or the world cannot afford to feed more unwanted babies, I want to cry.

All babies are wanted by someone. And I applaud the people who take broken children into their homes. The teachers who try to make a difference to the children in their classrooms. I believe that we have the resources available to give each child a wonderful life.

What we don't have is a respect for the process of life. To say that one child is expendable over another is heartbreaking. To damage a tender soul with abuse or neglect because of the poor choices an adult has made. To say that a woman has a right to choose the fate of an unborn child while being outraged by the wanton act of murder of a pregnant woman.

Mother Teresa said it best. It is a poverty to decide to kill a child so that you can live as you wish.

Our grandchildren have been more than just a passing pleasure. Every day gives us moments of joy mixed with concern. The wonder of these little individuals have given us the opportunity of expanding our love to untold depths. I will tell you that having five of them in one room can be a little overwhelming, but bring on the noise and laughter! We are ready.