My beautiful little granddaughter turned 3 years-old this week.  She is an intelligent, strong-willed little girl whose life is packed full of potential.  She knows what she wants and she is going to be dynamite when she figures out how to channel all of the willpower in the right direction.

How do I know that?  I’ve got a strong will of my own – that’s no secret to those of you who know me.  My daughter also has this strength so I have experienced first-hand the joys and the challenges of parenting a strong-willed child.  The challenges turn into joys when the child figures how to focus all of that powerful energy into positive things like learning and achieving.  Until then, each smile is a gift. 🙂

My constant prayer for my grandchildren is that God will orchestrate good things in their lives through the tragic death of their father.  I am holding onto this promise from God with both hands.  I have no idea how this will happen – I’m just going to trust his love for them and his love for all us while I continue to pray.

My own father died suddenly from a massive heart attack when I was 21 years-old.  He missed a major part of my life.  He never met my husband.  He wasn’t there to walk me down the aisle.  He never had the chance to hold my children.    I have always thought that I was too young to lose my father.

But now I know what too young really is.  Edie’s only memories of Davey will be pictures and our memories – that’s the way she will know her father.  

But Davey’s DNA is permanently weaved through her personality and we will be able to catch glimpses of him as she grows up even though she didn’t get to spend much time with him.  His fingerprints are on her life and we will see the characteristics she shares with her dad develop as she grows into a young woman.

Davey’s legacy of strength, fun, integrity, love and faith along with much, much more lives in both of his children.

What a precious gift to them ….. and to us.

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