Happy 14th Birthday, Genna Grace

In 1999, I was asked to teach a seminar at the Wedding Professional Photographers International in Las Vegas.  John and I were in our hotel room at the end of the day when the phone rang and I answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Mom! What’cha doin’”, Daughter # 2 inquired.

“Well, your dad and I are just recouping from a very long and tiring day.  What’s up?”

“Are both of you setting down?” She said.

“Well, actually, we’re stretched out here on the bed.  Is that close enough?”

She laughed, “Yea, I guess.  We just wanted to let you know that you’re going to be grandparents again.”

“OH MY GOODNESS!” was my initial reaction. “When?”

“In about eight months and we are SO excited and so are the girls!” she said.

Our two granddaughters had been begging for a brother or sister for ages and now their wish was going to come true.

So, fourteen years ago today, Granddaughter # 3 made her entrance into the world.  I had assumed it would take several hours for her to arrive so, while John had stayed with the little girls, I packed  books, magazines, etc. in a bag and headed to the waiting room in the hospital. I should have realized it wouldn’t take long for this grandchild’s arrival if she arrived as fast as Granddaughter # 2. The waiting room was near Daughter # 2’s room and it wasn’t long until I heard a baby crying.  I rushed down the hall to the viewing room and there she was; screaming at the top of her lungs with her daddy standing and looking at her.

“Isn’t she the most beautiful baby?” He said.

“She certainly is.” was my reply.

Very soon, we were joined by another set of grandparents, a granddad and two very excited little girls, who couldn’t wait to see the little sister they had wanted for so long.

Happy birthday, Genna Grace, you have truly been a delight for our family.  Your sisters have loved you and helped you learn a lot of things even though sometimes they wonder why they ever wanted another sibling.  All joking aside, you are such an outgoing, loving, talented young lady who loves the Lord, and we can’t wait to see what He has waiting for you in the future!

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

    you formed me in my mother’s womb.

I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!

    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

    I worship in adoration—what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

    you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared

    before I’d even lived one day.” Psalm 139:13-16 The Message