The weekend was gone so fast. Sitting in her room in the quiet aftermath of her granddaughters' departure, she closed her eyes and thought about the past 24 hours. She smiled to herself. She was tired, but she was content. More than that. She was happy, really happy. Maybe more than she had been in her whole entire life.
She hadn't wanted grandchildren. Grandchildren were for old people. She never wanted to be old, although, she reasoned with herself, being old would be better than dead, the only two choices to be had. She had to laugh at her crazy thoughts sometimes. As if she could choose between the two.
However, the day her daughter had called and told her with great joy that she was having a baby, things had immediately changed. From one second to the next, she went from almost empty nest mom to grandma, and had never looked back. She hoped beyond hope that it would be a granddaughter and the very day she found out they were having a girl, she had gone shopping for pink baby dresses and ruffly socks. And then a second granddaughter, to boot! She was the most blessed of grandmothers to have two little girls to adorn in ruffles and frills.
They were three and six, now, and a laugh a minute. Growing up fast and a handful. Arya was finishing her kindergarten year of school, and Claire would be starting preschool in the fall. They were her heart.
They had come on Saturday afternoon for Easter pictures and they would stay the night and go to Easter service the next morning at church.
She had their dresses ready when they arrived, both birthday and Easter. Arya had turned six in January, and Claire would be turning four in two weeks. She and their Momma had had a powwow about the pictures and decided to do it all at once this year, in between the birthdays. The room was in a flurry, as dresses slid over little heads, and little girls regarded themselves in the full length mirror, in all of their finery. There were little shoes to match, and bows for the hair that matched the dresses. It was a wonderful chaos. Great Grandma had dropped off Easter baskets for the girls and they were full of wonder, as they sorted through all the goodies.
Then it was outside for the pictures.. There were props to make the experience fun. Flowers, culled from a silk flower arrangement, and real ones from a spring bouquet on the table. A crown of flowers with lots of ribbon strands from a leftover souvenir of the riverboat ride she and the Mr. had taken last month. She had thought of the girls when the Mr. bought it for her, knowing that she would have to use it in a photo shoot of the girls some day. That someday was today. And at the last second, on the way out the door, she had grabbed a bottle of red glitter, just to throw in the mix.
She had hung Easter eggs on long ribbons from the tree behind the park bench, just as she had every year since they had started taking pictures with the girls in the spring. Arya was two the first time she had done it. After Easter, every year, the eggs stayed up through the summer and until the first frost. They never faded and they looked so pretty. She just couldn't bear to take them down until she absolutely had to.
So today they piled out to the "Easter Egg Tree" and the girls settled themselves on the bench with their baskets. They were funny this year. They stuck out their tongues. They made funny faces. They grimaced and laughed and smelled the flowers. They shrieked with happiness and she reveled in it all. She loved every minute of it.
After a while their Momma had to leave and it was time for the little ones to go in. Fancy dresses off, and now it was play time. She opened up the door to the magic closet of toys that she kept for them, and soon they were making "tea" and serving her and Grandpa plastic cupcakes on tiny plates. They played for a couple of hours, and then, after a rousing game of "Grandpa, EAT ME!" (hiding under the covers and grandpa eating their toes) they began to drift off to sleep. Arya was first. One second she was hiding under the blanket on Grandma's bed, and the next she became still, eyes closing. Then she was out. Claire was soon to follow. She laid down on the bed, Grandpa put on Bluey, and in five minutes her beautiful brown eyes were hidden behind those beautiful closed lashes. All was quiet.
She did a little cleaning up around the room, and grabbed a quick shower, and then set things out for the morning. Easter baskets and Easter dresses. little shoes and socks. Then she slept for a little while.
Morning, and it was time for breakfast. Waffles, and bacon, and scrambled eggs. They were enthralled with the Easter baskets. The Easter bunny had brought them jump ropes! And ceramic Easter eggs to paint! And so much candy!
But first, off to church! Back on with the fancy dresses and into the car. They dropped Claire off in the nursery, but Arya was too old for nursery. She went in the big church with Grandma and Grandpa. She sat between them as the preacher talked. And then the church stood and the people began to sing. Arya became overwhelmed. She did not like the volume. She had her hands over her ears, and was literally shaking. Sensing this, she sat down with her granddaughter in the pew and took her in her arms. She held her close. The shaking stopped. Arya became relaxed and still as her grandma sang softly with the song. For a few minutes all the other people faded away. It was just Grandma and Arya and Jesus. Jesus was very much present in that intimate arena. It was the best few minutes of the entire weekend.
Then home for lunch and to make deviled eggs, and time for the girls to go home. On the way home she glanced in the rearview and saw that both granddaughters were completely out. Eyes closed, all quiet. They had had quite an exciting weekend, and there was more to come. Mommy and Daddy had a the bounce house up and running, and cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents were everywhere! The Easter egg hunt was underway and their was lots of laughter. It was a lot to take in. There was music and there was food, lots of food.
Finally, it was time to go. She and her Mr. had reluctantly taken leave, just as the sun was going down in the western sky. They talked as they drove along, of the weekend, of the girls, of the sermon. There was such a quickening in her heart. These were the best of times. She had never been happier, in her whole life. 
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