Grandparents are a gift from above!
This weekend I had the pleasure of sitting out on the back porch with my last living grandfather. He is usually not a man of many words, but when I told him I wanted to write a story about him, he opened right up. Granddaddy turned 90 years old in December, and he is as strong as an ox. However, he misses his wife (Nana) terribly and often says, ‘I’m ready for the Good Lord to take me home to be with her.’ You have to be an incredible man of faith to be able to utter those words. As we were enjoying the sunshine, I told him he was a wonderful grandfather. He said that you have to have good children to be a good grandparent. I had to think about this for a second. He makes being a grandparent look so easy, but instead, he gave his children the credit. Talk about being selfless!
This is my favorite picture of Granddaddy and the boys. This was the day we buried Nana and he was still all smiles because his boys were right there. Granddaddy lives with my parents now, so the boys got to spend time with him too. He said they have good spirit.
'Let me live by the side of the road and be a friend to man'
Granddaddy said this is a favorite quote from a poem entitled The House by the Side of the Road by Sam Walter Foss. It is a beautifully written poem about being a good person. Don't pass judgment on anyone, and recognize that everyone holds the same traits as you, good and/or bad. Respect everyone that passes by. This is what he instilled in his children. This is what our parents instilled in us, and we will continue the cycle. Now he sits back and really enjoys being a grandparent because he’s already done the hard work.
Growing up, my brother and I went over to Nana and Granddaddy’s house every day. They lived a mile away from our house. Hubby had the same upbringing. We loved it as kids, but I don’t think we understood how blessed we were to be able to have that time. Hubby and I grew up in SC and our parents still live there. We moved to Atlanta with RX when he was only 10 months old. Our boys don’t have the luxury of going to the grandparents' house every day. When I think about that fact, it makes me very sad (and exhausted). Before the pandemic, we went home at least once a month. Hubby and I were starting to burnout, and you could tell the kids were sick of us, too. My father said ‘bring my grandchildren to me’... I think we nearly broke the sound barrier going to drop the kids off for a week.
RX and DL in SC
My mom is an educator... they are ALWAYS learning with her!
Earning their keep!
They were rewarded with a bubble bath in the jetted tub. They are living the life!
The only thing that can top the memories you make with grandparents is the extra sleep the parents get! (However, I decided to redo both of the boys' rooms while they were gone. I used my time wisely, but it was not for rest lol. I’ll write a blog about it later.) The boys worked hard as well, my parents said they had to earn their keep - AMEN! They raked, picked up pinecones, and helped move pavers. The bright side is they were paid for their labor, and they loved every minute of it. Once the work was done, they had plenty of time for riding bikes, playing football, shopping for new toys, and ice cream before bed. They came back fulfilled, exhausted, properly spoiled, and happy. These are the types of memories I wish they could make every day. Thank goodness for grandparents that know how to pack it all a week at a time. Hubby’s mom, you are up next, *wink* what do you say?!
Cherish the memories...
I saw a picture once that said ‘a grandparent is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend’. I’m grateful for incredible parents turned grandparents. More grateful for grandparents turned great grandparents. Most grateful for the time they do get to spend together. I’m teaching my boys to cherish these moments. Grandparents won’t be here forever, but they can live a lifetime in your heart.
Grace, Space, and Love
