My Three Munchkins

No, they are not munchkins, but they are out of this world special, each in his or her own way. They are my remarkable grandchildren.

Ella is number one, as in the first one born, and now, the only girl. Each time she sees me, she runs into my arms as if she has not seen me in years. She is wildly passionate, creative, warm and funny. Sometimes she seems wise beyond her years, and other times she is just a young girl. She always makes me laugh, in her stories and the way she looks at the world. She loves gymnastics and can spiral into a move in the middle of a conversation. She loves her beauty creams, but also reminds me, "to take care of saving an animal from extinction" when it is time to celebrate her birthday. She fills me with joy.

Jake, too, fills me with joy as the number two grandchild, and the first grandson. Though he is non-verbal, he has his own ways of communicating--wth his hands, his eyes, his board and his body. He, too, is funny, and makes me laugh because he has a terrific sense of humor. He loves when I read to him, and can listen to ten books at a time--too many for me, at times. He loves music and loves to dance to music, and is good at it. He has a special relationship with his "pop-pop," what he calls Ira. Jake is fearless, and when he goes on the rides with Ira, I feel like I am star-gazing at an extraordinary relationship.

Then there is little Levi, Samantha and Josh's four-month-old, the newest member of our tribe. He gazes at the world with wide-open eyes. When he is on his back, he kicks his legs in delight. Though he is so little, he, too, seems to love books and music and engaging with people. The word which comes to mind is delicous. I am eager to see what he will become.

I am blessed to have all three in my life. When I feel the darkness of these times fill my brain, I try to replace the negativity with the positivity of their special smiles, and I am reminded of all that is good, and why I should work extra hard to make this world one I would like to see them grow up in.