Mixed Emotions, a Lifetime of Joy

This is Caleb, my great grandson. To be fair all my grandsons are great but Caleb’s mom is my granddaughter. This week,  I had the pleasure of going with him to his Halloween party at the Methodist church. The fellowship hall has been a part of our journey for decades. They left the concrete floors uncovered so the room can serve as a skating rink on Friday nights, toddlers ride their trikes around, and potluck plates can easily be cleaned up when they fall unexpectedly. 

Over the years this space has held many of my kids birthday parties, graduation events and even our son’s goodbye party. Ryan isn’t here to see his sweet, look alike grandson enjoying the space he spent a lot of his special moments. But here I am snuggling Ryan’s twin as his Noni. 

This didn’t make me sad but I did have to take a few moments to breathe. The fact that forty plus years ago I was told that I could not conceive a child. There were too many tears as I lost hope of being a mom. Then God formed our family through adoption. Here I sit with Caleb on my lap and I get to be his Noni. Our family is flourishing with littles as my kids grow their families. 

I thank God for my Ronnie B who never gave up on our dream of being parents. The adoption journey not only gave us the family we so desired but connected our lives to our birthmom’s families as well. Natalie’s birth grandma, Phyllis, and I have spent a lifetime connected. What a gift to have extended family through our chosen family.

So today I celebrate that I get to be a mom, Noni and that there are moments even in a place with mixed emotions where smiles erupt. Caleb is definitely Ryan’s mini me and I adore this sweet two year old. This last picture is of Ryan at three years old.

In Him,

Joyful

11-5-24