A Surprise Blessing!

My bride and I recently spent a week on vacation with our youngest son, his bride, and our two grandchildren. We had planned to take the grandkids to Walt Disney World since we first welcomed them into our lives in 2020, but between legalities and COVID, it was not feasible until after their adoption this year. In any case, we were able to travel with the kids in tow this month.

“When what should my wondering eyes should appear…but a little information we’ve been holding so dear.” Four days after the September 30 adoption, my wife’s phone rang. It was our son, asking that she place the call on speaker. We had been joking about when the call would come, and it was THE call. Our daughter-in-love had taken five pregnancy tests and four of them were positive. She was expecting! She suspected it before the adoption but waited until two days afterward to check. With a house and car too small for five people, (in their opinion,) they were in a joyful panic. We were sworn to secrecy. Eventually we were allowed to leak the information, but not to the internet. We were joyful…but without their panic!

Fast forward to our pre-scheduled vacation.

While standing in a cue for a ride, my son received the results of a DNA test they had performed to find the gender of the baby. He quickly asked a worker to take a look and see if the email showed a positive result. She confirmed it did. (I believe this young lady was as excited as anyone, having been let in on the secret.) That was Thursday….Thanksgiving Day. Our son kept the details to himself, leaving us to wonder…boy or girl? The pregnancy had yet to be “Facebook official.”

Fast forward two days.

It was Saturday afternoon. A worker carried a box from guest services to the central hub. Inside the box was the news we were eager to hear. Other than my son, the worker, alone, knew the results. A photographer waited, a crowd gathered, and my son’s family surrounded the box. Our two grandchildren tapped the box with souvenir wands they had received at breakfast. The tape on the sides of the box was torn and a blue balloon popped up. There will be another Garrett grandson! Our whole family rejoiced and the crowd cheered, but our grandson rejoiced more than anyone else. “Yesssss…..,” he said. He declared he had made a wish and it had come true…he is going to have a baby brother.

Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly. Do not wait until Heaven to have joy. Enjoy life this side of eternity. It is full of surprise blessings!