Last month I shared that I was waiting, ever so non-patiently, for my granddaughter to be born. I am happy to announce that Kaylanni is here!

All the feels…

How is it even possible that such a perfect, brand new human can be contained in such a tiny little package?

What will this world be like for her when she grows up?

Did I mention how damn perfect she is?

Wait, do good grandmothers curse? Ummmmm…

What kind of a grandmother can I be from a thousand miles away?

After less than a month she’s picking up her head. She’s already advanced for her age!

In short, I have many of the same feelings and all the love that I had when my son was born. Without the sleep deprivation, thank all that is holy, because that really sucked.

For all the similarities there is the opposing beauty in being able to experience it from this different perspective. Less anxiety. More peace. More acceptance.

There is also a coming to terms with the cycle of life – the gratitude of experience, the knowledge that this is all meant to be and the abundant feelings that come with being able to be a part of it all.

The reality is that they are all miracles; my son, my daughter-in-law, my granddaughter. There isn’t a day that this gratitude doesn’t slam into me. None of it had to turn out this way; terrible things happen to the best of people. I pray for those I have not met, will never be able to meet. I pray for their health, their peace, their happiness, their acceptance.

Then I turn back to all that is contained in my little patch of the world with new determination to be present, to be whole for the entirety of this experience. This one beautiful life.