Grandma's Prizes

I haven't written in awhile as, like most of us, feeling in a funk. This piece was easy and rewarding to write. Please feel free to add comments to anything I have missed or your own observations. 

What being a grandma means to me:

·             Seeing the circle of life unfold right before my very eyes

·             Watching the growth of an individual knowing the child wouldn’t be there without me giving         birth to their parent

·            Having the chance to see my child develop into a loving caring nurturing parent

·             Finding the laughter of a child and the tears forever change me and melt my heart

·             Finding that the depth of love has no bounds

·             Being able to play with a child I love and give them back when I tire!

·             Hearing the nickname you are given (grandma, gammie, nana, etc) and it never getting old

·             Possessing the wisdom of years and having an attentive ear to your lessons

·             Being able to step back when discipline is needed and forward for all the accomplishments

·            Adoring eyes are mutual

fja    Learning some of the best things in life come in small packages

        Seeing seeds take root again with lots of love and acts of kindness

·            Knowing I am leaving a lovely legacy of my life behind

Beautiful Boys

Sometimes boys get a bad rap. All the little girls get showered with praise full of the compliments on their girly looks, the clothes, gifts of doll babies.  Left out of all these stereo type cultures we live in are the little boys in the world with their trucks and blue jeans. I will never forget reading Cinderella Ate my Daughter by Peggy Orenstein who was bound and determined when she had a girl, she would fall not fall into that trap. Lo and behold, she did.

Having grandchildren it is different. Each and every child is so special, there is no chance of being smitten by the girls are sweeter and pink is more fun to shop for, at least in my mind. I have gotten past that as I have aged because each little individual brings their own uniqueness to the world and to my life; I love them all beyond words.

Recently, on a trip to my son’s house, my husband and I took two of our grandsons to the park for an afternoon. It was a beautiful day, and as I watched them play, I noticed how much they had grown. It was one of those epiphany moments where you sit back, as a grandmother, and have pride in that your little ones are beginning to be more independent. Yet, as they adventured about, we had to follow them steadfast because they wanted us right behind them to share in each and every adventure! So refreshing to know, even with independence, we fill a spot in their hearts even as they grow up. I hope, long after we are gone, they remember afternoons like this, memories at the park.

I told my husband I wanted to attempt to capture that afternoon, somewhat, in pictures. One can truly never really get the feeling in a digital image, not the emotion but I was going to try.  Truly the boys are beautiful.  Jake and Ty look quite alike in many ways and yet, personality wise, could not be more different! Attached is a video if you care to watch it, done to John Lennon’s song Beautiful Boy. He wrote it for his own son whom he was never fortune enough to see grow up.

May you find those moments in your life when you can sit outside or venture to a park and watch children play. There is such beauty in all young people’s faces and passion for discovery. I am forever grateful for the moments I too can sit and observe the beautiful boys in my life.

Click Here for the Video Link

Gift of Ty's 7th Birthday

No flowers  

   But so much joy

       Loves to laugh
           But not into toys


               Always so loving
                   A special little boy


                                         Stands a        part
                                             Steals your heart

                                                      His name   it's Ty
                                                      I know he can fly
                                                           No way his autism will hold him 
                                                                                                                down
                                                           Ty will always stand his ground


            He is wanting more
                                        and seeks and tries opening doors
                                                   
      
          Our God watches him from above
          And me, just grandma, wants to always  
                                                              s
                                                               h
                                                                 o
                                                                   w
                                                                      e
                                                                        r
                                                                         him with my love. 
Click for YouTube Video

God's greatest gifts are the mysteries in life that we seek to understand and that grow learning from, in the process.