Life is full of surprises.
They arrive when you’re caught off guard by the unexpected.
They arrive as a bouquet of flowers you didn’t order.
They arrive after a lap-full of three grandsons and seven granddaughters have been calling you Papa over the last seventeen years. 
They arrive after the baby crib set up at Papa’s house where most of his ten grandchildren have slept in, has been sadly dismantled for the last time.
They arrive after years of summer riding together on bicycles, most rescued from the side of the road on garbage day and shared among cousins, now bringing smiles to other children in need, as our grandchildren have crushed our hearts outgrowing them.
They arrive after a gentle rain of grandparent tears waving at their two remaining grandchildren recently graduating from Pre-k, on their first day of school.
They arrive after the resistance of a grandfather closing the chapter on diapers, pacifiers, of grandchildren teething, nighttime rocking, toddlers learning to walk, play-dates and weekends at Papa’s house.
They arrive after Papa still struggles with all these new beginnings.
Yes, life is full of unsuspecting surprises.
They arrive as an explosion of joyful confetti…
When daddy’s little girl,
Who always thought she’d only be a cool aunt in her lifetime,
Has called her father to announce she’s having a baby.
A little girl who wrapped her tiny fingers around a daddy’s heart from the moment he laid eyes on her, is about to experience this same miracle in a few short months.
A little girl whose smile and curls started the world around her smiling, will witness the same through her son.
A little girl who loved to go fishing, who risked a handful of blisters for the monkey bars, will one day enjoy these afternoons of fun with her baby boy whose name we have yet to learn.
While time refused to stand still in her growing up,
She remained her daddy’s little girl.
A father affirming his beautiful daughters in song on their thirtieth birthdays while celebrating his sixtieth; a well of emotion a brand new mother is about to draw from for the rest of her child’s life.
You are so Beautiful
Song Made Famous By Joe Cocker
(lyrics excerpt)
You’re everything I hoped for…
You’re everything I need…
You are so beautiful, to me..
Click on the movie ABOVE to hear a father sing to his daughters.
She always thought she’d be the cool aunt to her nieces and nephews, never imagining holding a child of her own.
But God knew…
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…
Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)
From the beginning of time, God already knew and wrote about the days of this child’s life; a precious gift from the Lord.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
All the days ordained for me where written in your book,
Before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:16 (NIV)
Children are a gift from the Lord,
They are a reward from Him.
Psalm 127:3 (NLT)
Daddy’s baby is having a baby.
Papa was overwhelmed with great joy when he revealed the news to me one evening after work.
While she’ll always remain daddy’s little girl;
As some things can never change.
But oh, what an explosion of confetti…
And a life full of surprises…
Apples of Gold Encouragement 