Living Grandparents & Great Grandparents

Family has become more important to me since having children. I think it’s such a unique thing that our children get to grow up knowing and being known by some their living grandparents and great grandparents. Growing up my grandparents meant so much to me and the role they played in my life made a difference in who I am today.

I can only imagine how they feel to have seen generations of their own fruit extended down. To watch each child grow into who they were called to be and maybe even some going the opposite of what they were called to in this life. Grandparents are tender, gentle reminders that God’s grace is sufficient and his love for us extends beyond the experiences of this world. There are hard times but there are some really good times as well. The wisdom they hold through their own experiences that they can pass onto us and our children. They have seen and know things we have yet to experience and that knowledge is like a well I desire to drink from and to raise our children to desire that same drink.

Meet the Grandparents

Meet the Great Grandparents

As you can see, there is a lot of diversity in both sides of our family. There is also great loss. With that, comes a lot of grace, love and understanding. Lord willing our children outlive their grandparents but in that they will inevitably experience great loss as well. Some that they might remember, and others that might feel like a distant memory or have pictures/videos to look back on and stories from us telling them all about the joy and laughter they experienced together. Writing that makes me feel like I have a heavy weight on my chest because even that day for us will be extremely hard. Grandparents and especially Great Grandparents are the foundation of a family system. Given that they are healthy examples for the family.

We are so thankful for our living grandparents and great grandparents and to see our children growing up alongside them. I couldn’t ask for a better support system for them and am just so proud.

Family Update: I wrote this over a week ago before we knew what this week would hold. It is with a heavy heart that I write this… yesterday, March 26th, we laid to rest Tryce’s Papa and the girls beloved great grandfather. It was an honor to know and be loved by Coy Marlow. We will miss him terribly and will treasure every moment we got with him. We love you Papa Coy.