If you ask our eldest grandchild how old he is, he will proudly pinch his forefinger and thumb, leaving the other three fingers up and tell you, “I’m fwee.”
And “fwee” he is!
On that July 28, 2007, we huddled in the waiting room of the hospital in Fallbrook to await Jackson’s arrival. He was a bit premature, so there was concern for him and for Heather.
His daddy was premature, so I guess he felt a need to carry on the tradition.
There was a sliver of glass, not blocked by blinds, between the waiting room and the room where the babies are brought after delivery. At any given moment, you could find Jan, Jessica, or myself with our noses pressed against the glass, wanting to at least catch a glimpse of this latest England.
[I wonder, do the angels do something similar to that when physical death is our birth into our forever home? I'd like to think they do.]
Watching him grow. Watching Josh and Heather stumble through parenting (which we all stumbled through). Watching each stage of lifting his head, sitting up, crawling backward like a crab, crawling forward, standing, walking, talking, learning who we are and that we love him more than life itself, and then watching him become a big brother to Logan and Lillian.
What a journey!!
In fwee years Jackson will be 6 and Grindaddy (and Grinmama) will be 10 times Jackson’s age.
For now we’re celebrating his birthday and learning love on a level we could never have imagined. Fwee times over with Jackson, Logan, and Lilly!
Happy Birthday to Jackson!
He is Fwee today and one of our daughters is Fwee with an eight after it today and it doesn’t even seem possible. I know the joy and love of which you speak, I think grandparents are given an extra measure of it.
I like the image of angels peeking expectantly for those on the journey to their forever home.
Enjoy your day of celebration with Jackson, Fwee is a big birthday!
I don’t think we know just how eagerly we are anticipated arriving at our forever home. I’m sure it must be with the same kind of delight you have experienced with the arrival of your grandkids. (Maybe just a bit more, now that I think about it)
That’s a great picture – of the angels peeking through the glass and waiting expectantly for us. Thanks for the imagery.
And happy birthday to Jackson.
Happy Birthday Jackson England! You are blessed beyond measure. Little do you know, you bless your Grindaddy and Grinmama beyond measure! As you grow in life and in your knowledge of Our Lord and Savior, may you continue to be blessed and bless beyond measure. May you continue to grow in your love and in your relationship with God,as well as become a most Godly man that will bless all who encounter you. My prayers are with you
Happy Birthday to Jackson! Wow! Fwee years old!! What a grand age to be. My youngest grandchild – Kayci – is “fwee” and she is also one day younger than my first great-grandchild – Kiley. Wow, time goes by fast and grandchildren multiply.
Fun years, these are, with the little ones. My “just turned” five year old granddaughter, Hannah, told me Saturday that she is going to kindergarten this year because, as she said with great enthusiasm, “I’m all grown UP now!” Ahhhh, yes she is.
Thanks for the post, Greg.
Dee
I had forgotten his birthday was the day after Matthew’s. It is a whole new level of love….hard to describe to anyone who has not yet experienced it…
Thanks for the beautiful word pictures – of a little guy whose delighted to be exactly who and where he is, and of angels expectantly awaiting each of us as we arrive in our new home! Beautiful pictures help to sustain us through this sometimes difficult life!
We have four grandchildren. The oldest is 10 and the youngest is 2 1/2. We had no idea of the depth of love that we were about to experience. I wonder if this is just a small measure of the depth of love and emotion and and concern, etc that our Father feels for us? Wow. That just put a new spin on my response to Him. Ooooh, warm fuzzies all over me. Thanks for continuing your blog. You open new pathways and thoughts for me all the time.
By the way, Happy Birthday to Jackson! Fwee is a good age