There’s an unsettling contrast in the hustle and bustle of a 6:30 am airport arrival, especially for someone accustomed to quiet, calm mornings. Yet, after eight days immersed in the lively chaos with my grandchildren, I’ve grown fond of this very different kind of hustle.

In my daughter’s home, where the guest room sits on the entry level, the main living area is one floor up, with the family bedrooms above that. Each morning of my visit, the pounding of small feet racing down the stairs stirs my heart with excitement—they’re awake!

Normally, they come to fetch me, but if they don’t, I quickly get ready and head upstairs. Often, my nearly four-year-old granddaughter is the first to greet me with a cheerful “YiaYa!” My six-year-old grandson, ever so quickly maturing, rushes over to give me one of his fierce hugs, making my heart dance with a wild joy for these little ones who bring pure bliss into my life.

This morning, the house was still when the taxi arrived just before 6:00 to take me to the airport. We had exchanged heartfelt goodbyes the night before, complete with hugs and an emphatic “I love you” from an almost-four-year-old with a flair for the dramatic.

Now, as I sit waiting for my 8:30 flight, my heart feels full and my body weary. Despite the chaos of the airport’s morning rush—from the bag drop to the security line and the long queue for my much-needed coffee—I made it to my gate with relative ease, settling into the calm of the waiting area.

As people pass by, dragging suitcases or carrying children, a group of young men chatting in a language unknown to me catches my attention. Their laughter, loud and infectious, fills the air, reminding me that laughter, like love, knows no boundaries. It connects us across languages, cultures, races, and religions.

It was a joyful, albeit mostly rainy, week spent with my grandchildren, daughter and son-in-love. My heart is overflowing with the language of our hearts, dispelling any sadness from my departure that might be attempting to seep in. In the memories of our time together, the weariness from the constant activity fades, leaving only space for love and laughter.

I am so grateful. I am truly blessed.