It's the little things

or one " little thing" in particular.
his name is butter - bean.
Not really, but that seems to be the name
That slips most often from my mouth.
Or the words " oh my grandson I love you".

I recently figured something out about my heart.
Or maybe I put things together
Regardless, I've been saying for the past 8 1/2 months
How I don't feel so empty now.
This precious gift has filled up the holes
In my heart.
Holes that came after the deaths of my parents.

Sometimes I would ponder on that fact.
Just what how did that work?
I feel like I still love my parents
And always will.
So how can I feel empty and sometimes alone?

Finally it dawned on me..
Now I have a person for that love to go.
A sweet dark eyed, ear to ear grinning
Little bundle of drool and baby chatter
To give my love to.
I can hug him.
I can kiss his chubby cheeks and nuzzle his neck
Until he literally gives out these cute
Deep baby giggles.

Oh my world is always good.
Blessed.
But to have this heart stealing charmer to give
Love to...
such a gift.

Thanks God for butter bean.

A table full

yesterday I put the leaves back in under the dining table.
All but one chick had left the nest,
It was time to make the table smaller.
As I remembered the recent meals of love and giggles
I couldn't help but travel back in my memories.

We've fed many bodies around this stately yet sturdy gift
In the 16 years we've had it.
We've eaten an assortment of good food.
Played innumerable rounds of spoons, phase 10, catch phrase, just to name a few.
We've been honored to host both sides of our family,
Our friends, our children's friends, missionaries,
and more.

Before this was our table it had lived a few years of a quiet life on the farm.
You see, it was my paternal grandmas table and she died in 1969.
From then until 2001 the table only hosted my old bachelor uncles mail on the old lace cloth.
And then it came back to life in our home.

However in its previous life it had been loved and well used by
My cousins by the dozens,
Aunts, uncles, and even grandparents sat there before
It became mine.

As I slid each leaf back into storage I couldn't help but
Think of the grandpa I never knew.
Where did he get this cherished piece?
And did he ever think that someday a great great grandson
Would dine at it too?
Five generations of family have eaten at the same table.

Seems like it was a wise investment.
Thanks grandpa.

Almost here

Our grand baby is almost here.
Due date is two weeks from yesterday.
Was nice to turn the calendar to April
Because I know it's closer .

Yes I'm looking forward to this new adventure.

Brown eyed handsome man and I saw the movie
Big Fat Greek Wedding II today.
We laughed and laughed.
So many life situations we identified with
And there are just some funny lines
And unexpected things.

We also shed a few tears.
Again situations we identify with.
Tender times of love, life changes,
Family events.
I remember celebrating with family and friends
Our daughters wedding.
All the planning and then the fun too.
And now a baby for that bride and her hubby.

My heart went to the lines in another terrific movie
Fiddler on the Roof, and the song Sunrise Sunset.
" I don't remember growing older,  when did they?"
You guessed it.
My eyes got teary.
Our " little girl" is soon to be loving on her
own baby.
Where did the years go?

Pull yourself together here Grammie.
Change is life.
Life is change.

my heritage

for about an hour i had
a young inquisitive visitor.
(his parents and grandpa
were doing some work
on our house.)
he arrived after school
and proudly told his 
grandpa he moved up a
reading level!
after some playing outside
he was in to sit and chat.

while his busy hands
twisted the fringe on my afghan
i heard about "the beat".
"i can do it outside."
and he demonstrated
clap stomp clap stomp.
although it didn't sound
as good as in the gym
full of kids he said.

i tell him about the squirrel
that stood up on hind feet,
hands splayed peering
in my big picture window
looking for the birdseed i
brought inside to keep
mr. squirrel out of it!

soon we are watching 
the backyard birds dine.
birds swoop in perching
on the dried flower stems
waiting in line for their turn.
the blue jays colors catch our eye
as it zips about in the evergreen trees.
i get the binoculars for easier 
identification of other birds.
we see finches, sparrows and 
chickadees.

so much enjoyment i'm getting
from life via a first grade boy. 
all too soon the work is done
and off they go.

and i think fondly of my mom.

she would have done the same thing...
and her mom who did too.
and my aunti who still does.

i think that's a mighty fine
heritage to have.
 

 

 
 

 
 



 

 

 

 

today is good

four years ago was a hard hard day.
four years ago my sweet momma 
moved to heaven.
sometimes it seemed like my heart went with her.

the year after she died was full of sorrow,
sometimes confusion, lots of weeping,
and taking it a day (or minute) at a time.

but today my heart is not broken.
my eyes are not weeping.
my spirit feels thankful.
its been more of a celebration
than mourning.
how blessed to be the daughter of
some pretty terrific people.
my folks weren't perfect,
but i had a mighty fine "raising".

so this day and this week i've been
celebrating life.
i brought home fresh flowers in 
memory of not only mom, 
but my father-in-love.

lots of happy life happening here.
i've watched the squirrels
play tag around the trees.
seen the birds splash and slurp
in the bird bath.
and have felt blessed all week.

thanks be to God for these
gifts of life.
 
 
 

name changes

my name is going to change next year.
i'm pretty excited about it actually.
still married to brown-eyed-handsome-man
his name will change too.

a little mancub will be joining our family
in the spring.
our first grandbaby!!!

this little wonder and delight will keep
me on the road.
or i should say in the air.
the parents live far away.
but....
as we've always told our kids
you can run but you can't hide!
we will find you.
we will visit.

here's to new names....
and grand babies
and life!

signing off,
grammie and granddad


 



 

sometimes...

in mid afternoon the clouds came,
the sky became overcast and dark.
the wind began to blow in a small rain shower.
temps dropped nearly 15 degrees in 45 minutes.

a year ago i would have made a call.
i would have called dad asking if 
he too got the small 'squall' of a storm.
and we would have chatted about 
what we each had done that day.
what we would do when i would
visit him the next day.
what "goodie" i would bake for him.

i miss those calls.
those little times to re-connect with my dad.
to just sit together looking out the big
picture window or sit on the front porch 
watching the world go on.

many many times i want to give him a call.
but that's just not possible. 
sometimes i just look up and tell him
whatever i wanted to say anyway.
i like to think he hears me.

i know how much happier he is.
his body is healthy,
his mind is clear and
he is once again with mom, his parents,
and all his siblings.
and Jesus.

whats not to love about that?

but sometimes...
my world is just too empty.