As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Friday, June 12, 2020

Meeting Caleb!




It was a relaxing, baby-holding, baby-kissing, baby-snuggling, coffee-sipping, good eating kind of visit!


Less than a minute after we arrived at Kati and Andrew's house, I held Caleb in my arms. 
Be still my heart. 
I look a little travel weary, but the miles melted away when I met this precious boy! 

I told you in ~this post~ how disappointed I was not be able to travel to be with Kati during Caleb's first days of life. I had wanted to see him "while he was still red." 
So yes, it was HARD to wait . . . but he was so WORTH the wait!
(There is a spiritual lesson here!)

This is the first time Aunt Bekah held her new nephew.
(But not the last.) 

Kati and Andrew's dog Pepper stuck very close by each "stranger" who held Caleb. 
By the end of the week, she trusted us to hold him.

The first time that Ron held his new grandbaby. 






Caleb reached his ONE MONTH mark while we were visiting, calling for a little celebration! 


♡ Family life ♡






There is gray hair and baby drool on my shoulder . . . but I love this picture!




Hanging out.
Pepper, Papa, Aunt Bekah, and Caleb.
Never mind that one of the sofa cushion covers was in the wash from a baby mishap.
Life is good here. 














This is not the first time that we have had to wait to meet a grandchild. Ryan and Sarah lived far away from us when Nora was born . . . and even further when Peter was born. We met each of those babies for the first time when they were about seven weeks old. 

But before we ever met them, we loved them. 

I did not have to learn to love Nora when I met her. I already loved her dearly, because she was mine. 

When I met Peter a couple of years later, I loved him immediately because he was family, my very own grandchild. 

Before I met Caleb last week, I loved him intensely because he is the child of my child and he belongs to us.

I loved Nora, Peter, and Caleb, whom I had never seen, with a deep, rich love.

And one day, when we who are the Lord's get to Heaven and we meet for the first time, I don't think that we will have to learn to love one another. We will love one another with a deep love . . . because we are family, because we are His. 


35 comments:

  1. Awwwww...what an ending.

    There are so many delightful pictures to comment upon. I am most particularly fond of the photo of Caleb giving his mother his full attention and of the on with the *R🐯AR* shirt. Adorable expression. And I loved seeing all the wonderful expressions on the adoring grandparents' and auntie's faces.

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    1. my fingers aren't working this morning...it's one, two, miss a few, all over the place...

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    2. Oh my goodness, I love that one too . . . the one where Caleb and Kati are interacting! Precious moments. I am grateful that we were able to soak up some of those moments together. We are all in love with Caleb, that's for sure!

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  2. There is nothing like snuggling a little baby! Great photos!

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  3. Caleb is so precious! So wonderful to finally meet in person. Cheryl, your pictures are beautiful and I especially liked the last paragraph in your update. One day, Soon, when we all meet in heaven, we will deeply love each other, right away...for we are Family! Maranatha....how I long for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Linn

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    1. Even as earthly joys fill our hearts, this world is a dark place. Our truest longing is to be with the Lord! Thanks for your encouraging words, Linn!

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  4. Such a wonderful post and sweet pictures! Glad you finally got to meet your brand new grand! Now I need some grandbaby snuggles-have to go see our 5 month old granddaughter soon!

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    1. Thank you, Jan! It was wonderful! And oh, I do hope you are able to get those grandbaby snuggles soon!

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  5. This is so lovely! All those beautiful photos, including the ice cream ones (wink), of that beautiful baby. Thank you so much for sharing these moments with us. Blessings on you all.

    Brenda xox

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    1. Thank you, Brenda! They were such special moments spent together. Time is a valuable gift. (Baby snuggles, together times, and ice cream . . . luxury!)

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  6. Aren't grandchilden just the best and such a blessing? Our youngest is not seven, and I so miss having a baby around. Guess I'll have to wait for great-grands! Love all the pictures. Blessings . . .

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    1. Thank you, GrammaGrits! Indeed, they are such a blessing! I'm sure you miss having babies around . . . don't they grow up so fast?!

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  7. Ahh, so sweet. Thank you for sharing. God's blessing on your family.

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  8. Such a delight for you all to be together with that gorgeous baby. And ice cream too!

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  9. These are such wonderful photos. Caleb is well loved by many. I can just imagine the joy you felt when meeting him. There's nothing like cuddling a little baby.

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    1. Thank you, Lorrie! Caleb is indeed well loved!

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  10. What a wonderful, happy post, filled with much love. Thanks for sharing with us. ~ FlowerLady

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    1. My pleasure to share that sweet boy, Lorraine!

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  11. Very happy for you to finally see your grandson. He certainly is not at a loss for cute outfits! I love how the dog is so protective.

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    1. Well loved and well dressed! ~smile~ Thanks for sharing our happiness, Joy!

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  12. I must say I am in tears at your last words, dear Cheryl! All of you are so happy with that darling new grandchild. Mama and Daddy look just like new contented parents. It's wonderful see all the joy!

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    1. Martha Ellen, I am happy that those thoughts moved your heart as well. It is something that I have pondered and it moves me as I think about it!

      Oh, indeed we are all happy with Caleb! He has been a wonderful blessing in troubled times!

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  13. Oh what a joyous time! You have captured your first meeting with little Caleb so well...he is SO precious. Kati and Andrew look so happy and (as do all of you). I love how you closed your post. What a day that will be! Hugs & Blessings to you.♥

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    1. It was a delightful time! And yes, what a day that will be!

      Still praying for you, friend!

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  14. Beautiful post and words, Cheryl. I can imagine the joy and love and peace that was shared in your little family circle while you enjoyed seeing all the little moves of Caleb and hearing all the sweet sounds and cries. Also seeing your sweet Kati as a mom for the first time, seeing how she and Andrew care for this precious one, too. Happy for you! So looking forward to sitting down at the Marriage feast of the lamb.

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    1. Ellen, thank you! I think you imagined it well; you captured so many of my feelings in your words!

      I am looking forward to that too!

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  15. Replies
    1. Awwww . . . isn't he wonderful?

      P.S. What else would a Gran say, right?

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  16. What good photos, Cheryl. So many precious pictures of Caleb and all of you loving on him and admiring him. :) And I loved what you wrote at the end of this post. Beautiful words.

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    1. Thank you so much, Becki! It was hard to stop taking photos of that little boy . . . so, of course, I didn't stop!

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  17. Of course he's already a Clemson fan! Enjoyed of these photos of your glad meeting. He is a cutie. Katie's house reminds me a bit of yours--no surprise there either!

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    1. Thanks for enjoying our visit vicariously! It certainly was a glad meeting in so many ways. Of course, meeting Caleb was the highlight, but it is also a joy to see your child grow and change and "be" in their new life.

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