Purposeful Perspectives: Grandparents Day

A Legacy of Love: Honoring My Father on Grandparents Day

As I sit down to reflect on Grandparents Day, a quiet realization washes over me: my father never knew he was the reason I began the journey to become a parent when I did.

As an adopted child, I always knew I would one day open my heart to adoption. My parents’ unconditional love was a gift, and I longed to give back as I had been given. Yet it was during my mother’s funeral in December 2005, through the fog of grief, that three truths crystallized for me:

1. God gave me the best mother ever. I was heartbroken, yet I felt whole and complete, with no desire to search for a birth family, because I had already been given all I needed in her presence.
2. Friends make everything better. I watched in awe as my mother’s closest friends showed up for her in death in ways that conveyed how much they loved her in life. As I walked out of the church that day, I drew three of my best friends close and told them how much I treasured them.
3. Now is the time. I was saddened by the fact that not I did not make my mother a grandmother; I resolved not to let that regret persist with my amazing dad.

In January 2006, I began the adoption process. I longed to be a mom, and I wanted my father to know the joy and love of a grandchild, for him to see his legacy continue and bloom in another generation.

Originally, I planned to adopt a little girl. I was a girl, my dad was a girl dad, and as a single woman, this seemed like the right path. But as time passed, my prayers shifted: I wanted to adopt a son—a grandson for my father. As an only child, it mattered deeply to give him the laughter and bond of a boy in the family.

Then, as life unfolded, I fell in love and married a wonderful man who supported my dream of adopting. Together, guided by faith, we opened our arms not just to one child, but to a sibling group—two vibrant toddler boys.

When the boys came home, I called my father and invited him over to meet his grandsons. The youngest dashed to him without hesitation, exclaiming, “Hi, Granddaddy! Mommy says she named me after you.”  A few days later, my older son asked if he could also carry his grandfather’s name. From that day, my boys and my father were inseparable: weekly barber shop visits, afternoons spent learning to ride bikes (and eventually drive cars), weekends with the three of them captivated by old westerns on TV, and quiet moments filled with life lessons.

Though we never formally celebrated Grandparents Day, we lived its essence every day. My father wasn’t just a grandparent in name—he was the heart of our home, woven into delicious Sunday dinners, spirited weekly pool tournaments, heartwarming holiday traditions, and everyday laughter.

One memory always lingers: the Sunday my boys and I surprised him at church. As the youngest slipped into the pew beside him, they held hands and my father’s eyes shone—the love between them was unmistakable, filling me anew with gratitude for the prayers that had been answered exceedingly and abundantly above what I imagined.

In recognition of Grandparents Day, I honor the bond my sons shared with their grandfather. I remember that my prayer, years ago, was for a son to be loved by my father. God answered, twice over. My boys carry his name, his lessons, his laughter, and—always—his love.

A note of gratitude to all the grandparents that provide life shaping encouragement, guidance, support, and profound care to the children across our great state.

Happy Grandparents Day in heaven, Daddy. I hope you have told Mommy all about the boys. Your love shapes our world.

As an organization dedicated to supporting children and families in crisis, we recognize that holidays can be a delicate and nuanced time for many. In this series, Purposeful Perspectives, we asked our staff and board members to select a season, month, or day that is meaningful to them to share with our CASA community. Thank you for joining us as we take a deeper look behind the celebrations that fill our lives.