Our daughter Shanon was born during a challenging time in "our world." We gave her the middle name "Hope," to express to the extended family (in a time of strained communications) our affirmation of the good gift of creation, desire for wholeness, and optimism for the future. She and her sister Raquel have not disappointed us. Beautiful, intelligent, talented, capable, compassionate, caring, generous only begin to scribe these amazing women. Then they put the icing on the cake by giving us four grandchildren!
When the Nelsons from California visit, especially in summers, I get to take the boys hiking and camping and catch up on long times between visits. Raleigh is a little closer, so we see the Baggetts more often. Such is my pleasure this week.
Shanon is on the west coast with her sister, and I am needed (fortunately with the time) to help out in Raleigh. I get to fix breakfast, ferry to school, meet the bus drop off, take to piano lesson, watch a basketball game, prepare dinners, and who knows what others joys will present themselves before I return home next Tuesday. Forgive a point of personal privilege, but my grandkids (like yours I'm sure!) are absolutely phenomenal. The gratifying thing is---they are being raised to embody the values of their parents. They are becoming wonderful, loving human beings. This week is not a burden; it is a gift to me and I'm soaking it up!
Along with everything else, they are a constant reminder of my/our responsibility to give them a clean, safe, generous, accepting world in which loving and compassionate people and societies take care of the sick, feed the hungery, strive to eliminate poverty, and live by moral values that put service to others to the top of our priorities.
I look at my grandchildren and remain "hope-full."
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