Last week we made a trip to Florida to visit my daughter Kirsten and her family. Swimming in the ocean in April was amazing - walking around in shorts with very white legs was awesome - lounging pool side while the kids splashed around was great - but I realized later when looking over the pictures that the most incredible thing was our group of kids.
Pictured above are five of my children and five of my grandchildren.
Can't tell which is which?
That's because when God sent along this last family to us, He decided to trick it up a little. My kids are a perfect match with my daughter's kids...same ages and best friends..... two with the exact same first and middle name and two born on the exact same day and year.
Is it harder to parent in your 30's or 60's? Kirsten has her youth and I have experience. All I know is that we were both tired at the end of each day and that we loved it!
This weekend was sleep-overs for the grandkids at our house.
Our house was blessed (and noisy) indeed.
The beach scene has taken a serious commotion up- surge and I couldn't be happier. The adult kids - the good ones that have reproduced - have all arrived and brought with them some of my favorite people in the world...grandkids. The kids got busy digging holes, jumping waves and being cute.
Having my daughter Kirsten and family next door for over a year now has been amazing. Sure, the other grandparents spoil the kids a lot more and can take them one at a time to special places and get them treats, but I have them right here. They have been part of the crazy fabric of every day life - in and out of the house, sleeping over, getting in trouble and waving goodbye to me each morning when they get on the bus. And once again, God has called them away back into ministry and they will be moving to Florida this summer.
I'd barely had time to get used to the idea of missing them when my daughter Lane and family bought a house in the neighborhood. And already Layla and Lauren are here, playing with the kids, swinging on the swings and just being part of the day. I'm sure they'll get in some trouble in no time and I'm happy like only a Grandma can be happy.
