Thankful for Grandchildren!

As is often stated, "If I'd known how great grandchildren were, I'd have had them first!!"

Our grandchildren continue to bring us great joy and happiness.  Just today I got a note from Esme that said in part, "Thank you for being my grandma and for being a good grandma."

The blessing that just keeps growing and giving - having grandkids!!

"I sigh that kiss you,

for I must own, 

 

that I shall miss you,

 

when you have grown."

 

Lines from a poem by William Butler Yeats - a favorite of mine.

 Photos are worth thousands of words indeed,

and browsing through them, and remembering the times they represent, is a lovely kind of blessing.

Thankful for "home for the holidays!"

I love that everyone loves to gather for the holidays - and has for many years - as can be seen by this family photo from 1997.

I love predictions, and Golf games, and talent shows, and trading art, and drawing names, and tiny hats, and "crackers," and potato soup with all the toppings.

And I'm getting a little bit excited thinking about the upcoming holidays - starting with going East for Thanksgiving!!

"I've got plenty to be thankful for!!"

When I count my blessings,

I count my sisters, one by one!!  I hesitated to write this - wondering if my brothers would be offended.  But then I figured out that my brothers probably don't even read my blog!!  Besides,  I'm thankful for them too, but there is something unique and special about sisters!!

Leslie is here from Nebraska for a few days.  Mother, Mary, Donna, Leslie, and I were sitting around in the living room and chatting and it was just great.  (We missed Alice and Joan!!)

Some of my sisters are younger than me, and I really didn't develop a significant relationship with them until we were all adults.  But that doesn't detract.  Growing up,  Alice was pretty much my best friend - I have often wondered how women grow up without a sister!!  Obviously lots of them do, but the Lord must have known that I needed one!!  (or two or three or four or five!!)

My own daughters are loving sisters too - and that is a blessing.  So are my granddaughters.  I never tire of telling the story of when Annika was born.  Ara, Ella, and Esme were staying with me while Bonny was at the hospital.  They hadn't found out the gender ahead of time, so the plan was for Bruce to call and tell Ara, and she could then have the privilege of telling all of us.

Bruce called, talked to Ara, and she then turned from the phone and said, "Well, now we are our own Little Women."

It is no coincidence that we all love Little Women too!!  (At least all my daughters do!!)