How fitting. My latest granddaughter — Hayleigh Ilizabeth-Joy Siccardi — made her appearance this afternoon at 4:45 p.m., appropriately on National Grandparents Day.

Hayleigh weighed in at seven pounds, five ounces and stretched 20 1/2 inches. My son advises me she has the “Siccardi nose.” I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. Hayleigh, Mom and Dad and brothers Derrick, Timothy and Benjamin are reportedly doing fine, and Grandpa can’t wait to take a road trip to Massachusetts {not that I needed an excuse to take a road trip}.

This is actually grandchild No. 18, going along with two great-granddaughters, but the novelty never wears off. It never gets old or routine.

Babies are a gift from God … whatever the circumstances. They are a promise of the future, linking the past with the present. If you believe God is the author of life, you have to believe He has a plan. Hayleigh is His latest plan.

It’s hard to imagine an only child like me and a two-child family like Karen’s could produce five of our own and now 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. We have been blessed … maybe not in material ways, but knowing our God has entrusted this family with care of His own. My only regret is Karen is not here physically to relish this moment.

With each of my children, I lifted them up to God in thanksgiving. With each of my grandchildren, I did the same. To Hayleigh I utter the identical prayer. Lord, I thank you for this gift. Give my children the same strength and wisdom You blessed me with to raise her as Your special child, with potential and possibilities way beyond their belief. They will not be perfect and neither was I. She will not be perfect and neither were they. But, let us all remember whose child she is … Yours. May Hayleigh grow as a reflection of the One who made her all the days of her life.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: God, thank You for all my blessings. Amen!