Grace

I am pregnant again, and this time I am sure I am due to have a boy. Dr. Morris says the head is big, the baby generally quite large ,so - here comes my third son....But...No...God has given us another little girl. Well, that is quite lovely, too. We will call her Grace Elizabeth. Grace because it is a nice name, plus we have become familiar with it in the "Little House" books, Elizabeth after Aunt Liz...All is well.

While still tiny, Grace is baptized by Mike Goheen. An interesting woman has recently called me to become acquainted with me and obtain friends for her son. I ask her to come to the baptism in order to get to know our family. I meet her while walking into the church. And thus begins my friendship with Nancy Pearcey - a rich one I am still enjoying. She is one of many people we have over after the service to celebrate the birth of our new daughter. We are cutting- edge in the entertainment we provide the children: we rent a movie screen, projector, and film from the local library. It is cumbersome, but keeps the children happy -and quiet- in the boys' basement room. And our event is a success, although Grace doesn't know it!

Grace is well-loved by the many big and little moms and dads that fill her life. There is always a hand to steady her, arms to hold her, laps to receive her...And she takes full advantage of them all. She is trusting and affectionate...our little Gracie - Face: Baby Grace, You've got the cutest little baby face. No one else could ever take your place. Baby Grace. Baby Grace...

After our return from Scotland, we settle into Ancaster. Grace is now old enough to branch out and make her own friends, and she does. She and Tanya are Bambi and Faline - by the hour, by the day, by any amount of time they can find. Tanya moves away and Nicole takes her place. She and Nicole play Barbies, animals, insect hunt - are always busy with imaginative play - again, by the hour, by the day, with any amount of time they can find. And they become sisters with interchangeable families. Then....Ashley arrives on the scene. And she will not take second place to anyone. In she squeezes and becomes sister number three in their trio. She is not sedate and demure like Nicole. No. And she brings out the naughtiness in Grace. Watch out! What are they doing now? Where are they?...And I often kiss an extra girl or two goodnight. Where we go, they go...To church, to the market, to the cottage...They become indispensable parts of our family...And then come Ashley and Alicia, Emily and Rachel...And so on...

Which illustrates Grace's greatest gift. She loves people well. She rejoices when they rejoice and mourns when they mourn. She observes and shrewdly understands, but always with grace and forgiveness. And many turn to her for sympathy, understanding and wisdom - which she gives fully and freely...

Is she stubborn? Yes. Can we butt heads? Yes. We have and we probably always well. But Grace, I love you and appreciate the fine, generous, and noble woman you have become. My life, like that of so many others, has been enriched by your compassion, common-sense wisdom, and humour. I am so glad that God decided, twenty-three years ago, that we needed a third daughter! And I can't wait to meet your own little one, our beloved tenth grandchild, in due time!