Opa John!

“Opa” is Grandpa in Dutch. Opa John…that’s me!  Alex and Sophie made Deb and I Grandparents for the first time earlier this month.  Beautiful baby girl Bella born healthy and happy in The Netherlands. Family and friends tell us “it’s the greatest!”, many of whom have had a good head start on us and speak from Grandparent experience.  We are overjoyed…to say the least!

I’ve seen what happens to otherwise “normal” adults. Granddads especially. I’ll call it “the softening”. Without naming names, folks that are (were) sometimes uptight tough guys, disciplinarians, suddenly becoming pushovers, softies, lovie-dovey, tolerant Grandmas & Grandpas.  I’ve been watching you spoil your Grandchildren as you rarely did with your kids. Is it biological? Is it psychological? Is it Spiritual? Is it just because you’re older and wiser? I dunno…but I’m anxious to experience it for myself.

Deb and I are Grandparents? My Dad is a Great Grandfather?  My son Joseph is an Uncle? My little boy is a Dad? I already see that Alex is going to be a great Dad. Those instincts started kicking in before Bella even got here. The priority shift is sudden! Honestly, part of me is like “now you’ll understand why your Dad was so bananas”.

For us the distance is an added challenge.  We want to be there, close by, for every stage, but Bella is European, she will be bilingual. Alex met beautiful Sophie while in college in Chicago. She’s Dutch, they moved to Holland 8 years ago. Dual citizenship? I don’t know. But I’m hoping her first word is “Opa”! For now pictures and video calls have to suffice. That’s been a little tough. However our travel plans to The Netherlands are made and we can hardly wait. Wait till Lil Bella gets a load of us! Here’s Praise for His gifts and many Blessings!

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