Where does a person start to describe the happiness I'm feeling in my heart tonight.
My daughter was born with a genetic birth defect that's known as Turners Syndrome. Because of the affect it has on her stature and physical features it turned out that she had a pretty rough time at school. Since school she's watched classmates get married and have children. And that's been a bit hard for her to watch because one of the effects of Turners Syndrome is that it causes the Ladies that have it to not be able to have children. She is our only daughter. We have a 33 year old son and his goal is to finish his education. He's excited to have a Master's in teaching in the next few years and though he dates once in awhile he's got no interest in having children. And my oldest son from my first marriage has 2 daughters and isn't interested in having another woman in his life after having two horrible failures. Both women were unfit to be mothers and we thank God all the time that they've left our area indefinitely. He lives approximately 170 miles from me and I don't get to see my Granddaughters often. Although I attempt to get up to see them at least once a month.
So as you can see I have 2 grandchildren that I love very much but seldom see. Though they're my youngest son and daughter's nieces they see them less than I do.
Now for the news, My Daughter and Son in Law announced tonight that they have started the process to adopt not only one child but are hoping to adopt siblings. They've already contacted the people who are in charge of the process and will be attending a series of classes soon. Then of course there are the interviews and inspections and financial requirements before they can adopt and may even become foster parents with intentions of adopting. They're pretty sure they'll have children by next Christmas. We're not sure how many children, the ages and the backgrounds of the children but for them to make that announcement tonight means they're certain they are able to meet the financial requirements and they have a beautiful house to raise children. They're extremely devoted to their Church and the Catholic Religion and both are working now, he's a buyer for a major business with global representation and she's an administration assistant at one of the businesses near their house. And they manage their own successful Financial planning business. This has been discussed since they became engaged and now they're ready to start the process and because of the closeness their Mother and I have with them we're certain they're serious and will make this work.
So though they're going to be parents I'm going to be a "GRANDPA" again. I can't wait to take them for rides in my Model Ts and let my Grandson borrow my Corvette for dates when he gets into High School and because of their excellent grades and wondrous achievements they'll need to add on a room to the house to hold their awards.
This is without a doubt the greatest day of my life. It's as good as when my three children were born. Oh crap, I gotta put up a swing set and a sandbox and new bicycles and wagons and teach them to ice skate and get them ready for hockey and make sure they become Minnesota Vikings fans because their Dad is crazy for the Green Bay meatheads and...
Yee Haw!!!
Wonderful! About all I can add is; Congratulations! Children are the most important people on Earth.
Most excellent Mike! Life is full of grand surprises.......Enjoy!
Wonderful news Mike! Congratulations in advance.
Mike Thanks for sharing your life with us. It is one of the parts of the forum that brings us all closer together and makes us into a family.
My wife calls it a "Community of people with like interests"
Our "like interests" just happens to be the Model T but it becomes a real community when we share ourselves.
I want to congratulate you. That's wonderful news! Although we have 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, we, like you see them very seldom since they live in other parts of the United States. It is wonderful to have the family together and enjoy things with them. Be careful about loaning your grandson the Corvette though!
Norm
Hey, Mike -- Congratulations in advance for having grandkids on the way. I never could understand why "old people" got so excited about their grandkids, until I became a grandparent myself. Now I understand.
Wonderful news, Mike!! Teresa and I have a daughter with 2 beautiful grandkids I'm going to see tonight in Black Hawk, SD. My second daughter has a learning difficulty, as does her husband, and Teresa and I know that, if they have children, WE will likely have to raise them. I understand some of the troubles you have had to go through in raising a special child.
Hopefully, the good Lord will smile on the lucky couple and you will have more grandchildren by this time next year.
Thank you guys. Suddenly my life has gained more importance. When I was married and my wife and I were in that age where having children was important to us I spent a lot of time evaluating what was important in my life and sort of redesigning it to be ready to accept children. I sold the '52 Harley and put the '56 Nomad away. I focused on being a better employee on my job and started a journey to become a process engineer at the Owatonna Tool Company. My wife started college. We knew we could afford one education and because she's very intelligent we chose her. My thing was if i was going to become an engineer I wouldn't be able to do it in college. So I studied and red and took tests and spent a lot of hours burning the midnight oil. Finally in 1984 I took my Certification test for Quality Engineering and focused on machining processes. And finally I worked my way into a level 3 engineer. I couldn't make level 4 because I didn't have a degree and the corporation wouldn't allow my manager to bring me any higher. So I went as far as I could go. However my wife continued on through her graduate studies and received her masters degree and became a Certified Nurse Practitioner. By then the children were 17 and 16 years old. In a matter of a few years they were gone. We'd both spent our lives preparing to give our children a better life. And it has happened but it's happening while they live outside the home. That's not going to happen with my Grandchildren. Though I'm not going to constantly interfere in their lives I'm always going to be available for the events in their lives. And now it's becoming obvious it's time to start looking at my spiritual beliefs and attempt once again to parallel what I feel to what the Catholic church presents. Though I'll maintain my belief in the Sun, the Wind and the Earth as the source of my spirit and provider of life. I'll also accept God as my spiritual lord and Jesus Christ as my savior. I'm certain this will make me closer to my entire family. And I'm also going to continue my quest to make my house Grandchild friendly. As I said my life will be focused on being here for my Grandchildren.
Good post, Mike! Sounds like we are close to the same age. I have six lovely grand children!
Congratulation Mike!
I have six grand children and one great grand son! My oldest daughter just turned 40 before Christmas. I guess we all started a little early. It was great having five generations (including my mom) together at Christmas.
Mike,
Congratulations! Kids and grand kids are so special. If they are adopting older children, I would recommend you also check out some of the local sources for information on helping to support the “new parents” in integrating the children into their families. There are numerous social services both state and private that offer courses, suggestions, recommended books and ideas to help the parents make the transition for both the family and the kids more positive. I’m sure they would welcome grandparents to the courses also. And while it may be new for you and your daughter and son-in-law, others have had similar experiences and there are some things that work better than others. And of course somethings that might be great with one child might not work well with a different child or even the same child several years later.
Again great news – thanks for sharing. And it is “T – related” as we want to introduce the next generation to the fun of Model Ts!
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Mike - That's wonderful news! Congratulations, and we share your enthusiasm for these new grandchildren. May you have many memorable experiences with them, both with Model T's and otherwise.
Keith
It sounds like more good stuff! Again, Good luck, and congratulations!
Do drive carefully, and have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! W2
Congrats Mike! Grown children and then grandchildren are God's reward to us for not strangling our children when they were teenagers.
Man Gordon, ain't that the truth sometimes. It hasn't been my youngest so much though my second son had his days but my oldest is 39 in a month and I seriously don't know how he made it so far. It's only the last 3 years that he's really come around but boy howdy. But then there's my two very precious Granddaughter's Trinity and Rhianon. And he for sure did it the right way with them. And now they're moved into a new apartment and for the first time in many years will be living together. It just keeps getting better.