Big Sis, Little Sis: grandchildren

Showing posts with label grandchildren. Show all posts

July 25, 2012

Think, Write, Delete

Dear Little Sis,

Today I did something for the first time, I wrote a letter to my grandson. Oh, I've written him many times via Facebook and Texting, but this is the first time I've actually written him a letter. I had to. He is now stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and is in his first week of Basic Military Training and the only way to correspond with him is to write a letter. I had already begun to "create" his letter when yesterday I received his address from his mom.

The reason I use the word "create" is because it was more than a letter, I decided to write it in a newsletter format. You know that I've been doing newsletters for the past 10 years at my employment, but this newsletter took on an importance beyond all those I created for my work. My husband couldn't believe how much time I spent writing, searching for graphics, and looking on my Thesaurus for just the right word, all the while imagining how happy he'll be when he receives it. Often these young recruits will read and reread letters from home since its the only communication they have for weeks while they are being tested both physically and mentally for the first time in their lives. All these thoughts ran through my head and challenged to even work harder on my project.

I decided to keep my Newsletter to one page, since I was purposing to make this a weekly issue. After writing about family news events I had a few inches at the bottom of the page. I wasn't sure what to add, maybe a picture, a joke, or leave it blank. Then I thought about the opportunity I had before me...a chance to share my heart and leave my grandson with some of my thoughts that he might even remember, so I entitled the article "Granni Thoughts". I decided to share my thoughts on the significance of writing a letter and how permanent it can be in the world where most correspondences are shredded or deleted. Below is "Granni Thoughts"

* * *

In the old days, everyone who was separated by distance would write letters. I remember my mom telling me of when my dad was in the army and the letters they would write each other. These letters kept them in each others thoughts, made them feel close & were kept for a lifetime. Imagine that, words and thoughts remembered years later. In these days of Texting, Facebook, Chatting, etc. where all our communication is instant and then instantly gone with a click, none of our thoughts, ideas or expressions remain in the future, all “deleted”. Writing letters is a wonderful experience, it teaches us to think about the words we are going to use because we know that they will last. Maybe this experience will also help us to speak more carefully, for those words can also last a lifetime. You’re always in my thoughts & prayers, and I’m looking forward to your letters that I will keep for a lifetime! Love you much, Granni

May 30, 2012

"For The Boy's Sake"

Hey Big Sis,

I'm so glad that you got me up and running again on our blog site....It's been way too long since I've posted anything!!!

Well, I'm officially retired....at least, I thought I was. Actually, I have substituted my weekly hours of work with being a full-time grandmother/caretaker to my youngest grandsons, 4 and 5 years old. My son was just awarded temporary "primary" custody of the boys and a court date is set for this coming Friday. Divorce can be so ugly but I find a mother who is "unfit" and who puts her children's lives in danger to be even uglier.

There are so many incredible women out there who would give their right "limb" to become a mother and can't. And there are so many who take the responsibility of having children "too lightly" and are undeserving of having these precious "gifts from God"... These are just my personal opinions and observations that I'm expressing from a "wounded" grandmother's heart.

It's the little ones who are doing the suffering and their lives are turned upside down right along with their parents. They are totally confused so they "act out" and understandably so....These are my new challenges and struggles of being a different type of "grandmother" to my suffering grandson's emotional distress....I have good days with them and suffer right along with them on their bad days. My role of being grandmother has changed so dramatically. As confusing as it sounds, my role has reverted back to "mothering"...loving, nurturing, comforting, teaching them manners, playing games, reassuring, reaffirming that they are loved above anything else. We will weather this "storm" together and hopefully they will come out of it without too many scars.....Along with the many heartaches I have witnessed the little ones going through, I feel that they know one thing for absolute certainty; that I will be there for them, always! A grandmother's abundant love runs deep and overflowing! I know my house is their "safe haven" just as I know my "Heavenly Father's House" is the same for ALL of us.....with HIS abundant love for us, always...

I pray that God continues to give me the strength I need to fulfill this opportunity to reshape/remold these young grandson's minds with all of HIS goodness/love at Bible School on Sundays and by my unconditional love/example on a daily basis. It is the solid foundation that will carry them throughout their lives. I also pray for my son to continue to be a loving, positive role model in his son's lives. He definitely has stepped up his responsibilities by being a very proactive parent. Big Sis, please keep us ALL in your prayers for strength, wisdom and guidance for the sake of the boys....God Bless!

Love, Hugs & Blessings,

Little Sis

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.......

Psalms 127:3

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it....

Proverbs 22:6

August 22, 2011

Camp for a Lifetime

I was so thrilled when I got the Facebook message from my granddaughter on what a wonderful experience she had at Hume Lake Christian Camp. The money I had invested in paying for her week was definitely spiritual seed that had been watered. She truly met God there. It had always been my dream that one of my grandchildren would return to the same camp where I had experienced God in a real way.

Years have not dimmed the wonderful camp experiences from my memory. A girl I went to school with had invited me to go with her church camp at Hume Lake. We didn’t know each other that well and as I look back, I find it amazing that I went. Imbedded in my mind are the sounds of the clanging bell summoning us to the dining hall, the lake, the cute boys, sitting at a picnic table reading the Bible with my cabin mates, but most of all, my cabin counselor.

I don’t remember her name, her age, her facial features, or body type. All I remember is her light brown hair falling over the front of her face, covering it while she prayed. I had never heard someone pray as if they actually knew God. I don’t remember her words, only how they made me feel, as if God was present. It’s incredible that five days with someone can bring a lifetime impression that models your Christian Life, but this counselor did this and she never knew.

I can only imagine that one of the joys of heaven, where everything is revealed, will be when I will see her again. To recognize her, I’ll have to ask her to bow her head, have her hair fall around her face and then I’ll say, "Yes, it’s you, you impacted me my whole life to live for our Savior and walk in His ways!"

May 13, 2011

"It Was Refreshing"

Sometimes it all comes together...the Sun, Moon, and God's Will, and more often than not, without our effort. It was one of those times a couple of weeks ago when my teenage granddaughter called me and said "I really want to visit you". There was a sense of urgency in her voice and because I follow her on Facebook, I had an idea it was about a recent breakup between her and her boyfriend.

When I picked her up, my intuition was correct, she had broken up with her boyfriend. She has been wearing a purity ring for about a year and when she came to the conclusion that he didn't have pure intentions, she took a stand and broke it off with him. I was so proud of her, but her tender heart was still hurting for as she told me of her decision her eyes filled with tears.

Mother's Day was around the corner and my daughter-in-law and I were making plans for the special day. I discovered that she was attending a special woman's event the Saturday before Mother's Day at her church that was geared for young women. She suggested that maybe I could bring my granddaughter. Although I thought it was a wonderful idea, I found myself struggling with the idea of driving for over an hour to the church and back, taking my granddaughter home that evening and then I would have to drive back home again. It would be a lot of driving...and would she even like the seminar? Mother's Day I had another event and even more driving. I really balked at all the effort I would have to make, but in the morning my granddaughter was still interested in going, so off we went.

God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man!

"Grandma, leave the light on, I’m scared!" It wasn’t the first time Gavin had asked me to leave the hall light on while he was staying at my house in what I refer to as the “grandkids room”. Full of cars, dolls, tea sets, and a trundle bed, I thought I had provided everything to make this 3 year old comfortable. I asked him if he would like me to read to him, I thought it might help soothe his little heart. I rummaged through the bookshelf and found “God is Bigger than the Boogey Man” a really cute Veggie Tales story. I read it through it and smiles replaced his tears. In the middle of the story, the book's character Junior remembers a song that helped him when he was afraid so he sings it::

“Cuz God is Bigger than the Boogie Man!

He’s Bigger than Godzilla,

Or the monsters on TV!

Oh, God is Bigger than the Boogie Man!

And He’s Watchin Out for You and Me!

After I sang the song in the book and finished reading the rest of the story, I left the light on and it wasn’t long before Gavin was fast asleep.

A couple of weeks ago, I found my heart filled with fear. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Nuclear Meltdown, Radiation Threats…does it get any scarier than that? I was overwhelmed with the destruction and the pain of others. The news of the situation was constant and there didn’t seem to be any relief or solution. Threats of the huge nuclear reactor melting down grabbed the airwaves and spurting deadly radiation into the atmosphere and the situation remains serious to this day.

As my heart was stirring with fear, a tune came to my mind and I started singing it to myself, “God is Bigger than the Boggey Man...”. I then pictured in my mind the ominous nuclear reactor that I had seen on TV that no man couldn’t control, like a huge Boogie Man….but God was greater!