We celebrated my grandma’s 80th birthday last night with pizza and chocolate cake. The entertainment was provided by some local ducklings.

After Mom (ever the knowledgeable nurse with an applicable anecdote**) shared a true story about the dangers of blowing out birthday candles while hooked up to oxygen, she graciously blew out the flames for Grandma.

**As an aside, it’s because of all those horror stories nursing anecdotes that I opted to become a teacher when I grew up.

Every spring, I can count on getting a phone call from Grandma announcing the newest batch of ducklings after they hatch. There is something so exciting about new life…even when it’s a duck. And I find it interesting that every year there is at least one family of ducklings born in the courtyard of this nursing home.

Aging and death are daily themes at a nursing home. You can’t escape it. My grandma has been through the death of at least one of her roommates. It can be a dark environment with little hope for many people.

But then spring comes. And the place buzzes with excitement when the first duck egg hatches. The residents gather in the courtyard to just watch and enjoy the new life. God is good to give them that gift each year.

And I think for my grandma, she enjoys watching her great-grandchildren observe the ducks almost as much as she enjoys watching the ducks themselves.

Jake took over the camera to snap some close-ups of the waterfowl.

Luckily, there was no one waiting in line to ride the handicap-accessible swing, so the boys could swing to their hearts’ content.

Who knew the ride could be so thrilling?

We finished with a little photo shoot. Here is Grandma with two of her three sons:

Grandma with my parents:

Grandma with my bro and me:

And Grandma with the boys: