52 Blessings--Grace

In continuing on with the comments to 52 Blessings—Ande, it's Grace's turn . . .

I knew I would enjoy Grace after I listened to how Abe talked of her. He talked about her with such animation, hope, respect. And then we met her and discovered how adaptable she is too . . .

Last spring Calvin and I went back to Abe’s graduation a week early to be a part of all the ceremonies. Grace had just finished her job and was free to go everywhere with us. Calvin, Grace and I spent the week joined at the hip; you become very attached to your hips. You want them to do everything you want to do. Our motel one night had a warm, clean pool. Grace and I wanted to go swimming but she didn’t have a swimming suit. She didn’t bat an eye when I suggested that a pair of pink underwear would match her pink-striped camisole and make a cute tankini. She responded enthusiastically and the two of us went swimming. The man in the pool was none the wiser either. When Cali and Ande, recipients of many of my ideas, found out I suggested underwear to Grace they both yelled in a falling-off-the-cliff-echo, “Noooooooooooooooooooooooo! You DIDN’T suggest that to her. Oh mom, how could you.” I smiled and Grace said, “Really, it was just fine and it even matched. We had a good time.” How can you not love a girl that will swim in a make-do swimming suit?

Another night during that trip, Calvin, Grace and I stayed alone in an old home that “may or may not be haunted.” It had several rooms and three floors. As we got ready to go to bed, I asked Grace what room she would like, thinking she would welcome privacy after sleeping head to head for many nights. She looked at me carefully and said, “How about that room that has two beds in it? You and Calvin can have the big one and I’ll take the little one.” Later, after we’d climbed into bed and said good-night Calvin asked, “Hey, who left the light on out at the shed?” The property was surrounded by thick forests and there was a shed about 50 yards from the house near the trees.

I told him I had checked it before we went to bed and it was off. He said he had, too. And then . . . and then . . . he suggested that perhaps there were more than us in the house. Grace whimpered from the other bed, “Please don’t say that.”

Calvin got up out of the bed and went down the creaking, wooden steps to turn off the light. The minute he turned the light out the house was licorice black and silent. Nothing. After a minute or two Grace called out, “Calvin? Where are you, Calvin?” Nothing. Pretty soon we heard light scratching on the walls and then more silence. Then we heard soft noises followed by silence. Grace kept calling Calvin, but there was no answer. Finally I hollered, “Calvin, you better cut it out. You’re starting to scare Grace.” Still nothing.

After several minutes Calvin quietly crept back into the room and when he made his presence known in a loud way, Grace shrieked. Calvin laughed. Jane scolded.

Calvin crawled back in bed and we lay in silence for a bit and then from Grace’s corner we heard a timid, “Could I come sleep with you?” In less than two seconds she was across the floor and under our covers where she slept next to me the rest of the night. How can you not love a girl like that?

Grace loves gumballs. She reminds me of a gumball. She is colorful, sweet and can stretch a million different ways. Grace is a brand new blessing that has truly blessed our whole family not just Abe. I love Grace.