It is with great excitement that I get to announce that Elizabeth and I are officially grandparents. Sam and Sierra’s baby, Malachi James Evans was born on September 4, 2022. Parents and baby are doing well and our crew at Green Valley has really stepped up to hold down the fort while they have been getting Malachi adjusted to life. Sam has started back to work, and we are looking forward to Sierra returning soon-at least part time.
Holding a newborn really puts life in perspective. Our priorities quickly change, and we slow down a little. Things that seemed important before quickly fall to their proper place. Everything seems new and fresh, and you seem to get a burst of energy. Now that’s a grandparent speaking—not a parent who experiences all of that along with, sleepless nights and endless questions (crying baby—is he hungry? Poopy? Have gas? Bored?).
Being a grandparent for the first time also makes you reflect on life-a lot. Besides getting old, the first thing I think about is when I was young. I have shared about my grandma before, about her doing the food in the old barn for the auctions, how I would walk through the cow field to her house, and about the impact she had on me from just being present. I think of my own kids and their grandparents.
My parents living close by, were present. Sunday afternoon became a time to watch football with grandma; visiting granddaddy meant playing on the pool table or a game of whiffle ball.
Elizabeth’s parents, living almost 3 hours away didn’t have the luxury of being present; however, they gave the gift of being intentional. They were at every birthday party, graduation, and other events through out our kids’ lives. Most recently being at Ryan’s 20th birthday dinner. When Scotty and Ryan got a little older and started playing basketball, their Paw Paw went out and bought a portable basketball hoop. Every time we visited, he would use the tractor to bring the basketball hoop into the yard.
More recently, we have been watching our friends from church model being present and being intentional. They are Godly role models not only for their grandkids, but for everyone they meet.
We are fortunate to live within walking distance of Malachi and to work together, so being present won’t be a problem. Being intentional will be our priority though. Eventually we will probably have grandkids growing up elsewhere. Maybe across town or across the country. We are looking forward to being intentional and being present for all of them. I pray that we can be a Godly role model for Malachi, his parents, our other kids and any future grandkids. Hopefully, one day when Malachi holds his first grandchild, just maybe, he will fondly reflect on his grandparents.
0 Comments