Expectancy

I'm going to be a Grandpa next month! My wife and I are expectant, our son-in-law Cole is expectant, and our daughter Katie is very expectant! I just got back from visiting them in Cleveland where I helped build a room in their basement. (NO, not for the baby! It's for Cole's band to practice in.)

I had some ideas of what we would see and do, some expectations of how the trip would go. And just for the record, it went great! It was the perfect balance of work and play, productivity and relaxation, getting things done and socializing.

But there are things we should be looking forward to. To not have a sense of anticipation about the birth of my first grandchild would be to miss out on the expectancy that fills me with hope and excitement.

Katie and Cole knew I was coming to Cleveland weeks before I got on the plane in Seattle. They were having thoughts, forming ideas and making plans of what would happen the week I was there.

Cole:

- wanted to make sure it wasn't all work.

- had in mind some favorite restaurants we could go to

- where to get breakfast

- a local butcher shop where we could buy "the world's best beef jerky!"

(that's how Cole talks)

Katie had her own ideas:

- how the work in the basement would progress

- a special speaker we would go hear

- a short list of things that "I'm sure my dad could fix."

(that's how Katie talks)

They both knew why I was coming and for how long, so the three of us negotiated what to do, where to go, which task to tackle next. An important part of expectancy is communicating and compromising with those closest to us. Because expectations we place on others can become demands. (see blog from 1/30/2017):

Having thoughts and plans, hopes and dreams about the future, be it next week, next summer or next year, allows us to say, "Wow, that really lived up to my expectations!" Without a chance to look forward to what's coming next our emotional engagement and investment is not the same.

I'm back home now, thanking my wife for getting those cheap tickets to Cleveland and sending me to "help the kids." She gets to go next month when the baby is born! At this moment I am counting my blessings while reviewing memories and photos; reminders of expectations that were met while visiting Katie & Cole. Their home is a haven and their lives are full of hopes and dreams. Yes, they are expectant!