I have years of practice at this Mimi thing - 9 1/2 to be exact - but the wonder of it never wears off. In fact, each grandbaby adds a new chapter to the story I love telling most. Chapter 7 arrived in the last hour of my 59th birthday, on the night of a blood moon, with an intense West Texas dust storm brewing that would pack a harsh punch early the next day - the day I met my 7th grandchild - grandson #4.
Pappy and I traveled the 7-hour journey from our home to Lubbock, arriving late in the afternoon as Julie was in the early stages of labor. We dropped off some dinner for the daddy-to-be, getting a quick hug and update from him. I told him to be sure to let us know when Truman arrived - even if it was the middle of the night.
Much later - in the quiet darkness of our hotel room - my phone lit up with the greatly-anticipated text. Truman was here, Julie was well, and the new little family was sharing those first sweet moments of newness and wonder.
In the quiet of the night, unable to go back to sleep, I thanked God for answered prayers of a healthy baby and mama. As I laid there, my mind turned back to another baby boy who was born 32 years and one month prior, weighing close to the same as Truman, and possessing the same thick, dark hair and dark eyes. My baby boy who was now a daddy.
The next day, in 80-mph winds of thick dust, we made our way to the hospital. Caleb met us in the lobby and escorted us into the room, where my smiling daughter-in-law was holding her sweet baby boy. As she handed him to me and I studied his fresh little face with Caleb looking on, I was overwhelmed by this new little blessing.
Our first meeting was brief, but Pappy and I were able to return to Lubbock a week later. Pappy was only able to stay a few days, but I stayed for a week, and it was the sweetest of weeks! My main job was helper - I cooked, cleaned, did laundry, and ran errands. But my favorite task while there was holding precious Baby Truman. And we got some very sweet cuddle time!
Every morning around 5 am, the bleary-eyed new daddy would bring a very wide-awake Truman to Mimi, and I treasured every moment of those early morning one-on-one times we had together. I took in every feature of his face, inhaled the scent of him, felt his soft skin, and listened intently to each sweet breath, coo, and gurgle, trying to memorize it all.
When the week came to an end, it was hard to leave knowing that 400 miles is a long way, and he will change so much before I can hold him again. But I've learned something about this wonderful relationship of grandparenthood over the past 9 years from the four who call me Mimi and live 533 miles in the other direction - I've learned that it will be ok. I will always feel the "hollowness on the inner surface of my arms" and "the ache of longing" described so well by Anne Tyler whenever I look at them from afar. The daily text photos and weekly FaceTime calls can be bittersweet in that way. But how very special are those times I am able to share physical space with them - something that is always greatly anticipated with days counted down for and every moment of togetherness treasured and stored up to last until the next time. I'm thankful for my thoughtful daughter who makes a concerted effort to FaceTime with the children weekly and for my sweet daughter-in-law who is following the same pattern. And I love that two of my precious little ones live less than an hour away and I get to spend time with them so often - just last week we went to the zoo together, and I got to spend the whole day with them yesterday while their mommy worked. Noah and Lyla help soothe the ache I feel for the others.
As I reflect on each one of my grandchildren with their unique personalities, I'm overwhelmed by the deep joy that comes from being surrounded by so much love and innocence. As Charles Dickens wrote, "I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us." Not a slight thing, indeed. With every grandchild, I’m reminded that love multiplies, never divides—seven times over, I’ve fallen in love all over again. Though miles may separate us at times, love keeps us close in the ways that matter most. Yes, my arms may sometimes ache with longing, but my heart is full - overflowing with gratitude for this ever growing circle of little lives I get to pour into and be loved by in return. What an extraordinary blessing it is to be their Mimi. Only 53 more days until we are all together again!
