I Saw God Today

This celebration has been nine months in the making.

It all began on a long ago night in November when our Katie confirmed that the double lines on a pregnancy test were proof positive that she was expecting.

My first reaction was to jump up and down and shout with joy for this news meant that I would be a grandma. Then the reality hit -- first we had to endure the 9 month waiting game.

As each month went by and our daughter's belly grew, so did our excitement. The fun of shopping for baby clothes and planning the shower took up some of the time. Then, when her due date came and went, I found myself asking hopefully if every ache and pain was a contraction. Big mistake! They say a watched pot never boils. We found out that the same is true when you're waiting for an overdue pregnant woman to "pop."

The soon to be grandpa and I decided to get our minds off of the impending birth and take a trip to the zoo the next day. And then, in the wee hours of that next morning, the phone rang. It was Katie.

She told her dad she couldn't sleep. Then she asked to talk to me. I was careful not to mention the dreaded C word, as in contraction. She casually asked me what I'd be doing for the next 12 hours. I told her I didn't know and then I asked her what she would be doing. I got the answer I had been waiting for when she announced that she had been admitted to the hospital.

This was it!

I quickly showered and jumped into the clothes I had picked out to wear weeks ago - -a soft pink shirt and comfortable pants. Soon we'd be meeting the sweet little baby girl who has become so much a part of our hopes and dreams.

Avery Lauren Wiselogel made her grand entrance into our world on a bright sunny afternoon, 4 days after her due date. She weighed in at a hefty 9 lbs, 1oz.

Emotions ran high in that hospital room that afternoon as weeping for joy became a family affair.

Words cannot begin to describe the feeling of holding the tiny hand of your granddaughter only minutes old. Or seeing the brand new daddy, the man who loves your daughter with all his heart, cradle his infant baby while sharing the precious moment with his beaming wife.

A fitting song kept playing through my mind -- a song that Bill and I have been listening to for months. "I Saw God Today" is a country tune crooned by George Strait. It tells the sentimental tale of a father witnessing the birth of his baby girl. It gets me every time, never failing to bring tears to my eyes.

That day in the hospital as I witnessed my first grandchild being born I can't help but remember the sounds of her very first cries that blended with the happy sobs of the new mommy -- my own baby -- and I knew that I would keep that memory in my heart forever.

Even as I write this, the tears still fall so easily, especially as the last line of George Strait's song continues to touch my soul. "My brand new baby girl, she's a miracle. I saw God today..."

I am now the mother of a mother and I hear that nothing in life is as special or fulfilling.

As Katie cradles her in her arms I see Avery attempt to focus as she looks right into her mommy's eyes. I am so proud and elated to see my daughter in this new role.

I can't help but notice that Avery cuddles up in the crook of her mother's neck the same way Katie use to cuddle in mine. Safe and secure, no worries or fears. What a blessing we can raise our own little ones and then, when they are grown with babies of their own, we have the opportunity to cherish those days as we experience them once again, this time in a grand way.

Thank you God for the awesome gift of grandchildren.

Thank you for this second chance to welcome another generation where new life is born to our family -- re-birthing all of us to the miracle of your love.

~ Kathy Whirity ~

Kathy is a newspaper columnist who shares her sentimental musings on family life. She is also a contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. She and her husband, Bill, live in Chicago. You can visit her website at: http://www.kathywhirity.com

[ By: Kathy Whirity Copyright © 2008 ( kathywhirity at yahoo.com ) -- {used with permission} ]