She Grew Up Too Fast!

I can still remember the evening our first granddaughter, Hailey, was born. We were staying at the Escapees Raccoon Valley RV park just north of Knoxville, Tennessee. That was before the days when everyone had a cell phone, so we would go to the campground’s laundry room and use the pay phone to call home to Arizona to check on the progress of daughter Tiffany’s labor. Because there were other people there wanting to use the phone, we couldn’t talk long before we had to get off and let others make their calls. Then we would call back until we finally got the news that we had a beautiful new baby granddaughter.

It was a few months before we actually got back to Arizona to meet her in person, but it was worth the wait because it was absolutely amazing to hold her for the first time. She was so tiny and perfect. I can’t find any of her baby pictures, but here she is on Halloween when she was just a year old.

She didn’t stay tiny very long! Before we knew it, she was a toddler exploring the world around her, and she never stopped. She always loved the outdoors and nature, looking for worms and grubs.

Yeah, she was that kind of little girl. Whether it was frogs or snakes or birds or puppies, Hailey loved them all.

Growing up in northern Arizona’s White Mountains, she loved all four seasons and became an accomplished snowboarder, among her many talents.

Hailey never lost her love for animals, adopting ducks and dogs and anything else that needed a home.

Along the way she also fell in love with horses, and the things that petite little girl could do while sitting in the saddle atop an animal that towered over her on foot was amazing.

I don’t know when it happened, but one day I realized our little tomboy had grown into a beautiful young woman.

We were delighted to be able to go to Arizona for her high school graduation last year.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it back to our old hometown yesterday when Hailey passed another milestone, marrying the love of her life, Toby McIntire. At least we were able to watch the nuptials by live stream. And while we weren’t there physically, you can bet our hearts were with the young couple as they pledged themselves to each other for life.

Congratulations Hailey and Toby.  We love you and we wish you well as you begin this new chapter of your lives together. If you are even half as happy and devoted to one another as Grandma Terry and I are, you’ve got it made!

Thought For The Day – A successful marriage requires falling in love over and over again with the same person.