I gained a whole lot more family members when I married Mr. FixIt. One of my bonus granddaughters plays softball for our Alma Mater and the league tournament began this week. They lost their first game to our arch rivals. They won their second game and, since our rivals lost their second, we played them again last night. Our girls came out like the fighters they are and it was touch and go there for a while. But, ultimately the rivals won and ended our granddaughter’s season. She’ll be a senior next year and that will be the last WV grandchild to graduate high school.

How quickly those growing up years seem to fly…when it’s not you doing the parenting. You never feel like it flew by till it’s over. While you’re in the midst of it all, it seems to last three lifetimes. You think you can’t wait till all those travel games and practices are over…until they are. Then you mourn the loss. 

It seems to be that way with most things in life, doesn’t it? When you’re young and just starting out, it feels like forever till you’re your parents’ age. Then, all of a sudden, you have great grandchildren and you wonder how in the heck it happened in the blink of an eye. I really enjoy being the grandparent watching my grands growing up and achieving big things. Daughter #1 will be here with the girls at the end of the month. She’s taking Big to look at colleges. Wasn’t she just in kindergarten last year? 

I love watching my daughter parent her girls. I love when the lightbulb goes on in her mind and she “gets it”. She used to complain that we let her little sister get away with MUCH more than she could. Now she realizes no two kids are the same and what worked with one, doesn’t necessarily work with the other. I love when she turns to me for advice, or a recipe, or to confirm the date of her great-grandma’s birthday. (Which she got right, by the way.)

I look back over my life and wonder which part was the best. Was it when I was young and ignorant of the ways of the world…newly married and living in England? Was it when my first child was born there and my mom flew all that way to come see her? Was it the lean years with Hubby #2 as we worked hard to put him through medical school…or was it the fat years when he practiced medicine and Daughter #2 came along? Was it becoming a grandmother for the first time? Was it when I married Mr. Virgo on the deck of my favorite restaurant overlooking Mt. Sopris in the distance, surrounded by family and friends? Was it when I went into the wilderness of Colorado as a new widow and came out a different and stronger woman? Was it living on the farm…the home of my heart? 

I think, in looking back, EVERY time is the best time. I know for a fact that NOW is the best time. I’m married to my best friend. I live in the country on five acres. I have an amazing family. I have a camper, my health, and the means to live a comfortable life. Getting to watch a softball game in person or watching a swim meet online, or hearing our great granddaughter say, “I love you, Gigi!” Yep…this is the best time of all!

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“May you live to see your children’s children….”

Psalms 128:6 NIV