Friday, December 21, 2007

My dearest God,

Four little girls, ages 2, 3, 6 and 7. I filled my car with these granddaughters and all four of their car seats, backpacks, diaper bags, toys, papers from school, and more whatnot. The plan was to take them out for an afternoon, go to a playscape, out for dinner, look at Christmas lights, then return the little ones home and bring the older girls to my house for a party and overnight. What an adventure!

Stopping at the church to check on a church project was a major undertaking. The two year old had taken off shoes and socks. I carried her in barefoot. The three year old had removed her shoes so I held her hand and walked her in with just her tights. The 6 and 7 year olds had taken off their coats. When we got inside, they ran in every direction. The two year old can take a swipe at things so fast. The three year old is protective of anything she has and when anything is touched she growls like a baby bear. The six and seven year olds have so much energy that they love to scream their enthusiasm. In the one minute it took to talk to my administrative assistant, my office had nearly been turned upside down. My glass nativity was on the floor. My dolls in a basket dismantled, papers and crayons spilled. Stuffed bears and animals spread across the floor. When two had to go to the bathroom I had to grab the other two as they escaped out of the room. By the time we left I had to get the two little ones back in their carseats. It was when I had everyone in place that I realized I had not yet changed a diaper. Instead of carrying her inside and leaving the others unattended, I undid the seat belt, took her out of the carseat and laid her on the only uncluttered place, the driver's seat. When it was time to leave there was such a cacophony of sound that my head spun. It was then we began to sing Christmas carols. The two year old kept making sounds like Santa. "Santa say ho, ho, ho." A little chuckle followed each ho. At some point the smallest girls had glazed eyes just like their grandma's.

By the time I got home, I was so exhausted, I could hardly keep my eyes open. My arm hurt. My car was a disaster (do they always carry that much stuff?) And I still had to throw a small party for three. I let Tim Allen and Santa Clause 2 entertain us.

As I looked at those babies in my car squealing to the pretty Christmas lights, I thought of how blessed I am. So blessed. They love spending time with this grandma. Two call me "Grandma Andrea" and two call me "Grandma with the Curly Hair." We dance and sing, eat popcorn, say funny things, act silly, laugh and play. At sixty one everyone around me must think me crazy. Perfect description.

Freedom.
Free to be me.
Teaching my grandchildren
to be the same way.
Free to be themselves.
We dance at the store.
We wear silly hats.
We make funny faces.
We laugh outloud.
Love at its best.

Love, Andrea