So… confession: when my kids were little, I thought I had at least some idea of how their story would unfold.
In my mind, they’d grow up, find careers they love, build happy lives, and maybe—just maybe—live close enough that we could grab dinner without booking flights or military-level logistics.
Maybe you get that. We spend years trying to set them up to flourish — packing lunches, speeding to practices, trying to teach kindness (AND how to do laundry) — and then one day they’re grown, and the world invites them somewhere new.
And they actually go.
The “where” for my two has surprised me. I never imagined I’d have the privilege of working side-by-side with one of them — getting to watch their creativity, passion, and skill play out right in front of me. And I never imagined the other would live 700 miles away.
And – last month… the 700-mile child and his wife welcomed their first child.
A beautiful little girl named Syl.
She’s tiny and adorable.
And she’s 700 miles away.
So this week, I’ve been here — holding her for the first time, memorizing every squeak and stretch, trying to make sure she knows I’m the fun one. It’s been really cool and a time of great joy.
But, warning – I AM HUMAN!
Periodically, as the other grandparents who live literally within stone’s throw have their cuddles, or talk of future plans – there is a little tug-of-war in my head:
Lament… or gratitude?
Lament over the distance.
Gratitude for the gift of a healthy baby.
Lament for the moments I will miss.
Gratitude for the moments I get and for the relationships built.
It would be easy to camp out in the loss — the “what isn’t.”
But what I’m learning (slowly… imperfectly…) is that gratitude is not denial.
Gratitude is direction.
It doesn’t ignore reality — it just insists on noticing the good that’s also true.
That’s what our next series is about:
Choosing gratitude, even when life feels messy, complicated, or uncertain.
Because gratitude isn’t polite positivity.
It’s gritty.
It’s a practice.
Sometimes it’s downright hard work — which is why we’re calling this series:
Not Afraid to Get Dirty
Gratitude often means rolling up our sleeves and digging for the goodness buried beneath the chaos of everyday life. It asks us to look at the unexpected — the distance, the change, the surprises — and discover something sacred there.
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to:
Explore what gratitude actually is
Practice noticing goodness in real time
Learn how gratitude doesn’t just brighten our lives — it transforms them
We’ve even created a simple Gratitude Journal to help us do it together — one day at a time. I truly believe that if we commit to this practice for three weeks, we’ll find ourselves a little lighter, a little stronger, a little more awake to the life we already have.
Wherever you find yourself — celebrating, grieving, longing, adjusting, starting something new — you’re invited.
Not to pretend everything is perfect…but to look for the goodness that is still here.
I’m practicing it right now — from 700 miles away — holding gratitude and longing in the same hand, whispering thanks for this beautiful new life and the privilege of being her grandparent.
It’s messy.
It’s real.
It’s holy.
I hope you’ll join us. See you Sunday!
Grace and Peace,
Andrea