Digital Grandpa

I have become a digital grandpa!

Since our only granddaughter lives 7.5 hours from where live, we do not get to visit much. We were there the day she came home from the hospital and spent some time with her. While she was just a little thing, I think we bonded.

Then, when we returned from a conference in Santa Fe this past summer. we saw her again, changed her diaper, bathed her, clothed her in some real cute baby clothes, rocked her, listened to sleep in her new crib, held her until her mother said it was time for her to go to bed.

Then, we saw her again when she was blessed. Oh, she was so beautiful in her blessing dress--really her mother's wedding dress from which her grandma made her the most beautiful blessing dress ever. Plus, with that cute headband that she really didn't want on, she probably was the most beautifully dressed baby ever.

The biggest event was at Christmas when we were able to spend a good week with her. We played. We rocked. I taught her how to drink out of a sippy cup although she drooled more than she sipped. But she like to chug it anyway. We stared at each other. We rubbed noses. We had our pictures taken together. We giggled together. Sometimes, she cried. I took pictures of her, probably more than I should have, but she is soooooooooo....cute, just like her mother and her grandmothers. Yes, we had a ton of fun together over Christmas. But, alas, that was almost over a month ago. Now, we just chat via the video webcam...

Now, we can play peek-a-boo via the webcam, but I think she wonders who is that guy staring out at me on the camera. We talk, and sometimes she talks back or at least says something incoherent that I take as, "Hi, Grandpa! How are you doing? When are you going to come visit me again? I miss seeing you! I want to come to your house." For some reason, my daughter doesn't hear the same things that I do. She says it is mostly child gibberish.

I don't think they are coming until Easter unless we decide to trundle there, which is a very long trundle and getting longer every time we drive I-80, especially when it is snowing and blowing and the big semis run thick like salmon on their way to spawn. So, it's the webcam or nothing.

Even if I only get to see her via the webcam, I am okay with it because I am, at least, able to see her and talk to her. I don't want her to not know her grandfather. Via the webcam, she can see me, hear me talk to her, and understand that I am a real person although I appear only as a "digital" one.

Sometimes, she reaches out and tries to touch our faces on the screen. Deep down, I think she remembers us and wants to touch our faces and know that we are real. I am sure she remembers that one picture that I have now in my office of just the two of us--she sitting on my lap, her hand reaching out to touch my face or the other picture where we are both just staring at each other, wondering who will blink or look away first.

Yes, she loves her grandpa, even if I am a "digital grandpa."

Emiline Rose Johnson

The time has finally arrived for Joanne and me, a time we knew would be coming our direction. We are now grandparents for the first time. Anna Rose and Christiaan had their first baby and named her Emiline Rose Johnson. She is beautiful and precious. We drove over to Provo and have spent the last couple of days with them. What a wonderful opportunity--yes, privilege and honor--to sit with her and hold her. Just watching her--her precious face; her little ears; her Johnson lips; the periodic movement of her head; the brownish, maybe redish tuffins; her maybe blue eyes; her long, skinny Hammon feet--all of it is just pure beauty.

Early this a.m., I held her and rocked while whistling and humming "If You Could Hie to Kolob." Amazingly, she perked up and literally looked around. Tears came to me eyes. Yes, she is recently come from her Heavenly Father. We are sure that He misses her. We are so glad, though, that He allowed His precious daughter, one He saved for the latter days because of her strength and courage, to come to earth. We are glad that Anna Rose and Christiaan will have the opportunity/privilege to raise her in righteousness.

Emiline, we welcome you to our family. We love you very, very much.

P.S. Check out more pictures on my Facebook.

Easter, Waffles, and Daughters

Happy Easter, Everyone! Our basket came early--Anna Rose and Hailey left their husbands studying and completing BYU projects. Christiaan will be graduating at the end of the month, and we will be there to applaud his grand accomplishments.

Meanwhile, the girls are here, and we are having a great time, trying to figure out how to do blogs better and more efficiently. Plus, we had a great breakfast this a.m. I made Hailey's favorite: waffles, totally encompassed with strawberries and whipped cream and yogurt--quite a treat, wouldn't you say?

Oh, by the way....did I say that Joanne and I are going to be grandparents? Anna Rose is expecting a baby girl in July! Now, that is exciting. We cannot wait to greet the little one--name not disclosed at this point although we are having fun coming up with potentials.