My Life as a Grandma

I think it can't be avoided. There are going to be a lot more photos of Danny on my blog. I can't stop taking pictures of him!

This has been a fun Christmas! It is my first time in 31 years to celebrate Christmas in my own country. It has been a very special treat from the Lord.

I am soaking up memories of Danny to take back to Manila with me. His cute half-smile, his soft skin, his sweet smell, his little gurgles and coos . . . I will surely miss it.

It has also been a great time to be with Matt and his girlfriend, Adela.

I've enjoyed getting to know Jim's family better too. His parents and siblings are here too, and we have had so much fun together!

Our highlight was when all twelve of us went for a walk in the woods on Christmas day!

Daniel James Albright

He is here! Baby Daniel arrived this evening at 6:33 pm. Jim and Michelle are so excited and happy. Actually Michelle is mostly exhausted after a long day of labor, but still excited and happy too. Jim is a very proud dad. And Grandma is totally delighted! Join us in thanking God for this very precious gift.

Waiting in Texas

This is the part where we wait . . . and wait . . . and wait . . . I got here four days ago, eager to meet my grandson. All systems are go, it seems to us, but Baby Danny says it's not time yet. And so we wait. My feelings are jumbled these days, mostly because of jet lag. I am tired, but at the same time, so eager for the baby to come. I feel like the days are slipping away, and I will have to go back to the Philippines in January, so I want to spend as much time as possible WITH the baby, not WAITING for the baby. But I know that God knows what He is doing, so I am leaning on that.

I am grateful to God and to my colleagues at IGSL that I can be here. They are covering for me, handling my responsibilities while I am gone. I remember when my kids were born, how I longed for my mother to come and help me. I was not even that close to my mother, it's just a time in your life when you really need help! I have helped many IGSL mothers when they gave birth, far from their own mothers. So it's a very special privilege for me to be able to give my daughter the gift of my help at this time. God is gracious.