To my granddaughter:

In a matter of weeks you will be here, and our lives will again be forever changed.

In quiet moments I wonder who you will be. Will you have blonde hair and blue eyes like your mom and sister or perhaps a brunette with hazel eyes. Will you be a spirited risk taker or an introspective thinker of deep things. Soon enough your unique personality will shine through and we’ll be amazed at how much grander you are then we could have possibly imagined.

As you make your entrance from your mother’s womb, we’ll worry about your safe arrival. As we hold you for the first time, we’ll look into your glazed eyes and thank God that you’re with us. As we watch you sleep, we’ll measure every breath against our own.

As your mother nourishes you from her own body you will instinctively know that you are deeply loved. You are no accident – you were planned for, you were desired and longed for. Your conception was an affirmation that God is good, and the divine cherishes you, and  hears the prayers of your mom and dad.

My precious granddaughter, I declare you blessed!

You are blessed to have a big sister to live life with.

She will be your best friend and your biggest irritation.

She will hear all of your secrets and always be your shoulder to cry on.

You will fight, and occasionally say things to each other that you don’t mean, but you will forever be each other’s biggest fan, and greatest defender.

You are blessed to have a mom and dad who love and respect each other and will set a beautiful example of a safe and compassionate home. They will worry when you cough, and be frantic at your fever. They will rock you to sleep and sing your tears away. They will teach you right from wrong and how to be respectful and mind your manners. They will watch you struggle and want to intervene but allow you to learn the lessons that duress teaches. There may be a time when you don’t feel as close to them, but always know that they will give their very life for you. Your dad will fret over you, read you bed time stories, build forts out of blankets, and teach you to fish,  play golf and watch football. He’ll worry if you’re getting enough sleep, and when you tell him about a friend that makes you feel special, he’ll tell you that you can start dating when you’re 40. Your mom is a super special lady, and like you, she was and will forever be my baby girl. You were in her and she in you for 9 months before you saw anyone else. You grew in her and she grew in you, forming a maternal bond that is unbreakable. You recognized her voice, looked into her eyes first, felt most safe in her grasp. She’ll teach you everything – how to smile, how to crawl, how to walk, how to go potty, how to dress yourself, how to braid your hair, how to make friends, and how to be the very best version of you.

You are blessed to have the coolest auntie that a girl could ever have. Auntie will make sure that you always look your best and enter any room with the greatest of style. More importantly she’ll be your confidante, your go-to, your place to escape. One day you and your sister will drink wine with her and she’ll tell you stories of when you were kids, and you’ll laugh and cry and be thankful she was always there. Uncle Jay will forever be the super cool, super smart uncle that can fix your bike or teach you to ski behind the boat, or help you with your Biology homework. He’ll laugh with you and tease you, but you’ll figure out pretty quick that he’s just a big silly kid that want’s to have fun too.

You are blessed to be surrounded by the unfiltered adoration that only two sets of grandparents and great-grandpas can offer. You will light up our lives, and bring joy to every encounter. We’ll watch you grow in wonder and gratitude and wish the time had not gone by so fast. We’ll spoil you and swear that you are perfect. We’ll look closely to see if we can find a part of ourselves in you and beam with delight as we see the familiar gesture or knowing look.

We’ll do our best to not give unwanted advice, or tell embarrassing stories in front of your friends, but always know that our intentions are only the very best for you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it… you need only ask.

You are blessed in your heritage, as one from a long and distinguished line of strong, and empowered women. Your ancestors along with your grandmothers, your auntie, your sister, and your mom are blazing a new and profound trail to the sacred feminine. May you live in a world free of gender bias, glass ceilings, innuendo, and pettiness. May your voice be blessed as it continues to lead the clarion call for justice and equality for all humanity.

I declare with God as my example and this family as my witness, that you are indeed blessed. Walk in the power of the promise, and in the humility of this knowledge.

With a forever and grand love – your grandaddy.