LILLIE

Yesterday we had lunch with the mother of our youngest grandbaby. The circumstances of her conception were less than ideal, and my son is no longer a part of either the mother or daughters life (Amazingly, this is the third woman to have had a child with my son, and he is not really active in any of the children's day to day existence. I will refrain from commenting on just what a blessing I might think that is...) Still, no matter how difficult his road through life, and the total lack of responsibility he demonstrates, he must have great genetic material as his offspring are all beautiful. Shannon (Lillie's mother) had reached a decision that "too much love..." is an impossibility. So she asked if Gopper and Pop might like to meet and get to know their youngest grandbaby. We pondered deeply on this subject for all of maybe 5 seconds before anxiously let it be known we would love to love on another baby.

So we went to lunch, and visited, met Shannon and shared a little of who we think we are, and in general got to know one another. I got to give the baby a bottle, and she fell asleep on my chest. I am obviously hooked. I have never held a child that did not deeply touch my soul. Never. They are all precious to me. The experience never fails to illicit the deepest gratitude, and a quiet reverence. I do not remember feeling that way till my daughter was born. Becoming a Dad changed everything. I have never again heard a child cry that the experience was not deeply personal.

Lillie is a most friendly little one. Oh, she may have been smiling cause I have a funny face, or just because she is practicing moving facial muscles (come on, she is just a couple months old), but with each smile Gopper and I fawned. I did the inevitable. I put my little finger in her hand. As her little fingers gripped my little finger, she, as have her older siblings, grasped and took ownership of a part of my soul. She is welcome to it, and I give it freely. Please join me in giving thanks for another healthy and beautiful little girl. I promise to love her as much as my heart will allow. We were told she lacked for nothing, and we will do our best (as Grandparents are known to do) to ensure that she is perhaps just a little spoiled (my Grandmother insisted that none of us were spoiled, just "loved".)

Is she not precious................