Saturday: SO ... how on earth is this possible?!?!?! TWENTY-THREE? You know what, though? I am learning (very slowly and reluctantly) that I just have to let go. This may seem like a no-brainer to some folk--but it is NOT to me. As incompetent as I am as a mother/parent/grandma--my intentions, hopes, prayers, interactions with my "descendants" are at least honorable. I TRY to do the right thing, and I think I have grown in building relationships over the years.
But still--letting go is ... really hard.
Emma is my first grandchild. And a GIRL! Girls are not often born in the Pahman line, although Jim's brother David had two daughters and zero sons ... so there are exceptions! I was in the hospital room at the moment of Emma's birth when she let out her first little wiggly "cry" ... and felt forever joined to her from then on!
She has been grown up now for a long time and I don't often or regularly hear from her. I was super surprised to receive a text from her almost two weeks ago asking if she could celebrate her birthday with a few family and friends at my place. At my little place?! I shed happy tears over just being asked!
Since Chris has already returned to Olivet, he couldn't be here with us (we missed you, Chris and Ella!)--and Matthew didn't respond to Emma's texts, so we didn't expect to see him either. When I got a text from Matt on Emma's birthday saying he would be over by 3:30 or so, I was super pleased. YAY!!! And Emma was happily surprised as well. What a blessing!
And Matthew DID drive into my driveway at 3:30, 90 minutes before Emma, Koda and KT arrived. I haven't had one-on-one time with Matt in a LONG time. We had such nice talk. Honest. Genuine conversation. I found him to have grown up so much in this last year. He has a very good job, is living completely on his own, drives a nice vehicle ... but more than that, Matt is kind. He is very smart, too; but he doesn't come off "arrogant" or unapproachable with thoughts that might be outside of his experience or knowledge. We talked about a lot of personal stuff, along with God and His purposes, and reminisced a little too.
Also ... as we were sitting down to eat the pizza that Emma and Koda brought over, I was uncertain if I was going to have a piece of pizza or not ... when Matt asked me where my food was, I responded that I needed to make sure everyone had enough before I served myself and he said: "That's not how it's done, Grandma." He absolutely was not going to take a piece of pizza until I had served a piece for myself. Thankfully, there was plenty of everything and this was not a problem. See how thoughtful Matt is?
It was good, too, to get to know Koda a little bit better while we ate and played a game together. And Kaity! I love having KT at my house. She doesn't come over any more to see me--so I go over to Jesse's to see her once a week. KT is 13 now. Did I mention that Matt is 20? It's rather shocking to have grandkids this old!
It was super sticky HOT at the Beach House tonight. I have decided that by next year, I am going to have an air conditioning unit that will at least cool the main rooms down. We've had a rather brutal heat wave this summer. These guys stayed THREE hours in the heat without complaining even once. Emma opened her gifts: a pretty dress, the entire "Anne of Green Gables" book series (!!!! my favorite AND Emma told me she has been listening to the series via audio books while she is at work!), and an insulated lunch pack for her work lunches. All of these items were listed on her Amazon Wishlist--which is a very handy way to birthday shop for her!
We had gotten too full from dinner to have our birthday cheesecake, so we decided to play a few games and give our stomachs a chance to settle down. I was telling Emma and Matthew about the game "Fox and Geese". Emma remembered playing this game on a Checker board, and it is played a little differently there. On this "board" I have not found a single person who can beat the Fox! UNTIL ... I was describing it to Matt and he decided to PROVE the Geese could win! And he did it!
We also talked Koda into a game of "Worst Case Scenario" but I didn't take any pictures of us playing it. It's a very fun game and a good way to get to know each other's worst fears and learn interesting things about each other while having fun.
THEN it was time to eat the cheesecake. I am not much of a chef. I think in my younger days I actually made the fancy baked kind of cheesecake that is very firm in texture. But I actually like the no-bake kind better (for many reasons). I have a good recipe that makes a very creamy and delicious cheesecake, so that's what I went with.
Here is dear and beautiful Emma blowing out her ONE candle. She did not want me to put candles on the cake itself ... so she just held one candle while we sang to her.
I love Emma so much. It was SO NICE to have her here on her birthday. What a gift to ME!
After we stuffed ourselves with the cheesecake, we visited for a little while; but everyone was dripping with sweat and finally left for cooler places. As they left, my heart was so full--so happy--so thankful for the joy of being a grandma to these dear ones. Thanks so much, Lord.
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