It’s late and I shouldn’t be up at this hour. But, I can sleep in tomorrow.

Since it’s after midnight and officially August 16, I wanted to note my granddaughter’s birthday. She turns eleven at 6:53 this evening. I remember well the night she was born.

I had a 7:00 meeting at school, as did her other grandma, who was an aide for the fifth grades in which I was one of the teachers. We both missed that meeting, but the other teachers and the principal filled in for us at the last minute, doing what we would have done on the program. They were all wonderful about it.

When we got the call, we were off to the hospital. Our daughter and her husband were already there. Let’s just say we didn’t go the speed limit!

After a short labor, M. was born, and I had the unparalleled gift of being in the delivery room when she came into our lives. After the nurse did the things she had to do, she wrapped little M. up, swaddled her in blankets, turned around, and handed her to my husband. His face lit up like nothing I’ve ever seen (I had the same pleasure when our grandson was born, two years earlier).

This little munchkin has been a dancer, a swimmer, a soccer player, a student extraordinaire, a pianist, and will this year begin middle school where she will be a percussionist in band. She flourishes academically and creatively, and as I write about her I know I am glowing.

She saves her money to give to causes like the Humane Society or Feeding the Hungry. She tithes to her church.

Not to worry. She’s a little sister, and that sometimes causes angst, as you might imagine. She likes to have her way, and can get moody, like the rest of us, but I choose to write about all that’s special and wonderful about her.

Oh, yes, one more thing…

God must love me very much to give me her as a granddaughter (and her brother as a grandson, and my other granddaughter as well).

Happy Birthday, M.