Kristen Grossman Prose

My baby girl was born in May, one day after my mom’s birthday. Sammy and Grammy make great birthday buddies since they are alike in so many ways. They both adore their family, can clean a house like nobody’s business, and love nothing better than an old-fashioned tea party.

No matter where our family has lived over the past fifteen years, my mom has made it a priority to celebrate her birthday with Sammy. We have lovely memories of tea parties in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California. However, since we have moved to California, the birthdays are celebrated in March, when Grammy and Grampy are on their spring vacation.

This year, amazingly, all three of our daughters had the same spring break. Even more miraculous, their spring breaks were to coincide with Grammy and Grampy’s trip to California. We rented a house in southern California and intended to spend part of a week on the beach near Los Angeles. That way, our son, still in the thick of college studies, could sneak away from campus and spend time with us.

Of course, a pandemic hit, and there was no California trip for Grampy and Grammy. There was no sweet time of making beautiful beach memories this spring. However, while nothing beats seeing loved ones in person–hugging their necks, drinking in the sight of their un-pixillated faces, and hearing their voices without an echo or delay–we have learned to adapt.

This week, Grammy and Sammy still celebrated their birthdays together in style. We set our dining room table, laid out the treats, brewed a pot of tea, and placed a laptop at the head of the table. Grammy and Grampy, safely tucked away at home in Wisconsin, did the same. It is a blessing to laugh together and make memories with our loved ones no matter how many miles are between us, no matter the confusion and uncertainty that swirl around us. For this, I am grateful.

 ^“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that one day soon we will be able to freely and safely return to our jobs, our activities, and our gatherings with loved ones. Thank you for walking with us through this difficult time. And thank you for the joys that we experience even in the challenges. Amen.