Family and Collin at the Table

Collin At The Table

We moved to be closer to our son and daughter.  Adam is a 2 minute walk away and Ginny is about 5+/- hours away in GA.  This is sure better than 10 hours way when we lived in KY.  The joy of being closer, as I think most retirees feel, is to be with their family and watch the kids grow.  For us, it was a little late but we have seen them grow and mature since they were in high school.  What a joy for us.

We see Adam’s kids (two college graduates and one will graduate a year from June) more because of their close proximity. We have Adam and Elizabeth, and what ever kid is in town, over for dinner once a week. To sit across the table with them can be entertaining, informative and just exciting to listen to.  We have been able to see many of the activities they have been in, as well as cheered and celebrated with them as they have achieved their goals. We have also shared in some of their hurts and pains, their emotional ups and downs. We would have just heard about it from a distance if we had not moved. It was Ainsley, who would, upon our departure from their home say: “I love you” which has become the mantra for all of us now. and to receive their hugs is a great gift.

Ginny and her family are a little more of a challenge to see on a regular basis. We visit each other more but since they have busy schedule now, we drive to see them a few more times each year.  Its doable.  This summer they will be moving the NC and will be closer to us and Adam’s family.  But until then, engaging them on a regular basis is limited. We did go down and see Allie Grace reaffirm her baptismal vows. Her dad, Craig, did the honors of immersing her which was absolutely great. What a celebration and now she is headed out on a short-term mission trip in March. We watched our grandson, Quentin, build his own business with success all the while attending the university and his brother, Collin, play basketball as a forward at Maryville College.  He may not get an offer to play in the NBA but from our perspective, he is simply a great all-around player.  

But one brief event of our visiting with Collin makes me think of all six of our grandkids and the joy we have with each one of them.   

We traveled to Maryville College, TN to watch Collin play basketball.  Since we had a few more than just the two of us, we rented a B&B for two nights.  One evening after the game, Collin came by and brought with him two of his teammates.  We enjoyed them so much.  Hearing them talk, laugh, making fun of each other’s gamesmanship that night, was a blast. At that time of this writing, they were tied for the top seed in their conference.  But what we saw was friendship, genuine care and feelings for each person on the team. They felt free to laugh at their coach and his coaching shenanigans, but at the same time respect him as a person and one with outstanding coaching abilities. And then, the showed all of us, rather old, and traditional folks kindness,, respect, and appreciation. But we really appreciated the high regard that his friends gave to Collin’s mom and dad. That made for a great evening.  In fact, it made our trip. 

To be able to experience this and other moments like this makes being away from Kentucky, the state we love so, worthwhile. The respect that each of these young adults have for their parents is something we do not see often in other families.  So, we were gifted with Ginny and Adam and now with their wonderful kids.  

We do not know, as the years transpire, what the future holds nor how they will handle the future as it becomes their present reality. But what they have given us, simply being who God created them to be, has blessed us richly and that is our present reality. Thank you God for family.  

Quentin

Sharecropper’s Inheritance