When I was in my mid-twenties, trying to figure out life, who I was, who I wanted to be, and why...mom and dad were wondering when they were, if they were ever gonna be grandparents.  My generation tends to wait a little longer than my parents generation did with the whole get married and start having children thing.  Little did we know that it would be Heath, that would start the next chapter.

Ella and Anna came into our lives at the perfect time.  Dennis and I wanted to have our own children, but had no clue what that even looked like or if that was even in our cards.  So being an aunt and uncle first was a blessing (silver lining).  However, seeing how much my mom and dad loved the girls, made me reeeaaallllly want to experience that with them as well.  

The first time I met my beautiful sister in-law Katy, I knew she was the one.  When she told me she had 2 little girls, it sealed the deal for me!  As for my parents too.  I knew they were excited to have grandbabies and do all the fun things grandparents do.  I can't share details of the memories Ella and Anna have with my dad because they are not my memories to share.  But what I can share are the long conversations I had with my dad before Alzheimer's took over where he told me how much they mean to him and how proud he was to be their grandpa.  I can share with you how I witnessed his face light up watching Anna dance ballet and how he had a good laugh every time he retold the story of taking Ella to a carousel where she went around and around asking each lap,  "One more time Ony, one more time?"  I can share how I saw him go back into time remembering my childhood watching Anna perform in show choir and Ella play basketball.  I can share that he was always so proud to introduce the 2 of them to anyone around.  He was and he is proud to be their grandpa.   

I know there will be many moments yet to come where our heart aches that dad won't be there and I just don't hate that for myself, I hate it for my entire family.  Looking back through pictures, I found so many of us laughing, having fun, and being together.  And we are still making memories like the picture above.  Ella giving dad a haircut.  It is probably not the same as doing it at the house and dad probably doesn't talk as much or asks Ella as many questions as before but a memory is still being made.  

So the silver lining is this...I have many.  I found many, many pictures which tells me that we are blessed to have had so many moments together.  We have had many years together and I am so thankful for that. And I have many thanks to give to my beautiful nieces who not only were my dad's first grandbabies, but the ones to make him so proud.