Each of our four grandchildren have more grandparents than one expects to have. A long long time ago that may have seemed an oddity, but unfortunately, today, is quite common. Since my first marriage ended in divorce, my two children from that marriage ended up with a new set of step-parents on both the paternal and maternal side of their family. This creates a need for unique names for dad and mom. I remember being called "Daddy Paul" so not to be confused with "Daddy Don." When my children had children, I rapidly stood first in line and took the name "Grand Paul" which was not really original. Grand Paul is the common name for grandpa in France. With a name like Monsieur Ezelle, it worked fine for me. They all call Sharon "Sharon" as she probably will never fit into that "grandma" image.
I'll have to agree with countless thousands before me that life would be much simpler if we could just fast forward to the grandparent part of our life. Grandchildren are our true reward for not eating our young as so many in the animal kingdom do. God knew best when he created man to be separate from animals. I know you think your grandchildren are the best, but that is simply because you don't know mine.
Here is a "more than a baseball card" rundown of the greatest kids to ever breath air (From oldest to youngest):
PAYTON BROOKE FULFORD
I thought my daughter Jennifer Lynn was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen when Dr. Marston came out and got me from the waiting room at St. Joesph's Hospital in Tampa and escorted me to see my first born for the first time. She glowed with a radiance beyond description. She was as perfect as one could expect a newborn to be, beautiful skin, excellent tone, incredible physique, and my little girl. I knew she was a gift from God even before I knew God. she spoke her mind, even with her first cries that still ring so joyously in my mind. She has always brought me joy, but none so much as my first grandchild Payton Brooke.
I was out of town when Payton Brooke was born (doing that Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle" thing) and had to rush home to see this bundle of joy and happiness. Holding her for the first time was again a confirmation that God was good (and this time I did really know God on a personal basis). It was obvious He knew me too and blessed me once again. Sorry Jenn, but PB (peanut butter)passed you by at first sight and became the new apple of my eye.
Like her mom, PB is very intellectual and achieving scholastically. She has incredible ability to recite anything from Bible verses, to songs all the way to full-length plays. Her first acting job at Cottage Hill Baptist Church was a little tedious for the other actors as PB not only learned her lines, but theirs too, and reminded them when they deviated from the script. She had to learn what improvisation meant before she drove everyone batty. I will not be even slightly surprised if she becomes and actress. If that happens, she won't qualify for the "dumb blond" rolls. I'm sure she will also be more concerned in glorifying God than in pleasing the world.
I am convinced there is nothing PB can't do. She is extremely athletic and excels at any sport she tries, and she has tried them all with the exception of organized football. She will soon be a black belt in Taekwondo and, like Mr. T., I "pity the poor fool" who believes she is dainty. Like the best of those trained in martial arts, she has incredible restraint and probably will just let them think she is dainty.
Some of the greatest times of my life has been the time we share together in golf. She is my reason to be a golf coach. The first time she set up to hit a golf ball was a picture of the perfect stance and posture and could have been published on the cover of Golf Digest. She has an incredible ability to repeat her swing exactly the same way each time, which is a major factor and key to greatness in the game of golf.
Amazing opportunities are available to female high school seniors who can shoot in the low eighties. Many colleges will offer them full rides just to get them on their golf team. I believe PB will be in the low seventies and will have all the big schools salivating over getting her on their roster when she gets to the twelfth grade. Not only will she have a great college career, she will be playing in the LPGA one day, just you wait and see.
TRENTON GRIFFEN FULFORD
Infectious: "Tending to spread from one to another." (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary)
Infectious Smile: "See photo of Trenton Fulford" (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary)
No joke, his smile is the most infectious thing we've every seen! Our combined medical experience encompasses 67 years of experience...that is time enough to see many infections.
He also has mastered, at a ripe old age of six, when to incorporate the smile and when to throw down the "Mr. Pitiful" expression. He plays Sharon and me like an X-box, 24/7. Of course, that is okay because we allow ourselves to be playable (to an extent). He genuinely runs in the living room when we visit and yells at the top of his voice "Grand Paul and Sharon" and makes us feel most welcomed.
He is a good boy, with the biggest heart and best personality. He loves to laugh and lets me know when I am and am not funny. He is the kind of kid that you can lay in the grass with and make hundreds of imaginary images from the clouds filling the sky. You may not see what he sees, but he really does see them and it is just fun watching him create.
He has a future that will be hugely depended on his intellect. He will probably outshine my son Jay, who was a prodigy entering college at 15 and law school at 19. I would not be surprised if Trenton does not even start out as a clerk in Jay's law firm. Like Jay, Trenton loves to read and is inquisitive about everything.
Unfortunately he has great charm too and already is a "chick" magnet. This is being called cute now at this age but we pray that his focus turns to be a lover of God and vowing to be pure in His eyes. Any Delilahs out there need to know that our little Samson's strength in not in his hair but in the God we love.
HELEN EZELLE
The first recipient of the Turner-Ezelle Brain Trust is this incredible gift from God who captured our complete attention the minute we first saw her. Unfortunately, we just don't get to see her often. We cannot comprehend those grandparents that complain about being used as babysitters by their children. We would love the opportunity to see our son's children that often. Actually it is a rare treat for us to get to visit and the time is always way too short. We love the fact that both our daughter and daughter-in-law choose to be stay at home moms and pour their lives into our grandchildren. Caroline is an incredible role model from Helen and if Helen grows up to be like her it will bless our hearts tremendously.
We replay Helen's every move over and over in our minds when traveling back home from Birmingham and then view instant mental replays on a daily basis thereafter. I have a feeling she will be invited for a command performance either to the White House or some foreign king or queen as she has that presence, a command performance presence. When you are in her presence, she commands your full attention and embraces you with exquisite grace. The world is her canvas and she will paint quite a picture with her life.
TURNER EZELLE
Turner is a group of genetically identical cells cloned directly from his dad. This was a legal form of cloning. If one could chose the cells to use to clone a son, then Jay's cells would be the premium selection. Jay was the perfect child from the day he was born. He, in fact, slept all night the first night we brought him home from the hospital and continued to never be a problem all his life. He is the son that you turn to God and say daily, thank you Jesus, what did I ever do to deserve such a gift from you. You overachieves in all he does and brings joy continuously.
Turner, so far, has mimicked Jay. Our only time in his presence was shortly after he was born and in that "sleep 23 hours out of a 24 hour day" mode. The rest of our knowledge is secondhand, but reliable. His pictures say much. He will be an incredible child, boy teenager and man. It is going to be fun to see him tackle the world with the same enthusiasm as Jay. Watch out world, here he comes...
