Some of us in our family do rather like games and quizzes:
Quiz clues
Italian
diminutive for the mother of the grandchild’s parent.
Daring
youngsters leap off this high rock into the sea at Grandes Rocques.
Jesus
started off in this world as one.
He went with
Charlie Bucket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory
Due date is
during the penultimate month of the year...
They produce
offspring.
Diminutive
for Catharine, a feline.
Answers: Nonna;
The Grandfather; baby; Grandma; Grandpa; November; Parents; Cat.
It is hard
to know where to start: still slightly shocked by the unexpected news that Cat
is pregnant and expecting a baby in early December. I have, however, had a few weeks to get
accustomed to the thought of grandparenthood: Cat told us nearly three months
ago, but we have been waiting to ‘go public’ with the news until now.
It has been really, really hard to 'sit' on it, keeping quiet. She said I could tell just one person: but I did have to ask several others for advice...and one friend asked me outright if there were any grandchildren in the offing: I couldn't lie, now, could I?!
It has been
a little bit of a shock as we just weren’t expecting this wonderful event. Not
quite so soon, anyway. Cat had only just
completed one year of her contract with MedAir in Iraq and seemed quite set on
continuing. She and Andy expect to leave MedAir at the end of August, when she
will be 24 weeks along, to return to New Zealand where they hope Andy will find
work; and get settled – in New Zealand – before the baby arrives. They might,
however, be returning to MedAir...or go somewhere else, still working in aid and disaster relief: who knows?
Amazing
news, but so many issues and puzzles thrown up in my heart and mind.
Firstly: it
has been wonderful to have them so much nearer us. We have spent several weeks
with them twice this year: on safari in France last summer, and then when they
surprised us with a long visit at Christmas. Their imminent departure for New
Zealand has generated feelings of loss in me yet again...they will, once more,
be at the opposite end of the world.
Secondly:
the timing! Cat and Andy were due to visit Jonny and Adele in May: we wondered
if they couldn’t, depending on how safe it would be for her with the risk of
malaria and Zika fever. How disappointing that would have been for everyone. Still, after several weeks of anxious
consideration and much prayer for
protection, they decided to go ahead with the visit and all had a
brilliant time together. And stayed healthy!
Thirdly:
'Grandma' does not sit well with me.... so I explore a variety of names from other
cultures I have connections with: Mormor (Sweden); Yaya (Greece); Cũcũ (pronounced Shosho) (Kikuyu);
Bibi (Kiswahili, Kenya/Tanzania); Dani (DhoLuo); Nonna (Italy, from my own childhood 'Nonna')... I
could even go to my French or German ancestry with Gra-Mere, Mémère
or Oma... but whatever we all – and, especially, Baby Dow – decide: I will
NOT be called ‘Grandma’, for reasons too painful to go into here... (not a big
deal, actually, but a really, really strong preference.)
My personal favourite
is from our dear friend Mary, who refers to her own mother as ‘GladMama’. Now
that, I like. I am certainly GLAD.
There is
more... but a definite sense that we need to pray and wait and trust God for
the outcomes of many uncertainties....
Meanwhile:
we rejoice. I make cake. Celebrations!
