Little girls live at my house. Barbie's on the kitchen counter. Sippy cups are in the sink. Bath toys are drying near the tub. Storybooks are on the couch. Crayons and schoolwork are on the dining room table. Glittery little shoes are by the door. Puzzles are stacked in my bedroom. Giggles and laughter, peek-a-boo and "The wheels on the bus" fill my world. My world is good. Little girls live at my house.
I've heard the term, "Boomerang Children" but I believe that term applies to people whose adult children are struggling, can't find work and have come home to live with their parents and on their parents. My little girls have amazing, skilled, employed, talented, hard-working, appreciative parents who just needed a place to stay while they sold one house and bought and renovated a new house for their family. Thus, we all live peacefully and happily, mostly stress-freely together.
Therefore, our time as a family of six has been a joy for me. I never have a moment to wonder whether I am loved or not with little kisses and big hugs abounding. Oh yes, there are fingerprints on the windows, the fridge, the mirrors and even on my tablet. But these are magical fingerprints because they have the effect of making me smile when I think of the two little girls who left their mark everywhere, including right in Grandma's heart.
Little girls live at my house. Twirling dancers in the living room after dinner easily finding their dance music on my phone are delightful. Table prayers that end abruptly when a two-year-old says "Amen" a bit early to get on with the food tickles my funny-bone every time. Making cardboard houses and school projects in the living room causes me to reminisce on times gone by. The sound of the children returning home as they eagerly call my name to find out if I'm home is deeply satisfying. And when they leave and my little Meggie Meg says, "See ya noon" it causes glee for grandpa and me every single time . Hearing repeated phrases like, "Don't let the bed bugs bite" and "See ya later alligator" reminds us that life cannot be taken too seriously.
No other grandma in all the world has the name I have. It was given to me by my first grandchild, my Elli girl, when she was tiny. "Own Grandma" is my title and I wear it with deep gratitude for the love it implies. I have six exceptional, beautiful, loving, sweet, charming, amazing, unique grandchildren who live near and far. I love each one dearly, dearly! With grandbaby number seven set to arrive next spring my delight in that child also abounds so that my heart could burst. I am so thrilled to be in this time of my life. I have been blessed beyond measure with the delightfulness of little children who are my own. This is the perfect moment in time...those marvelous, "the grandchildren are coming" years!
Little girls live at my house. Barbie's on the counter. My world is good. I hope daddy doesn't get that new house finished too soon...
Heading off for a Caribbean cruise with Hubby and my dear cousins, all the world seemed glorious. We excitedly posed for our boarding photo, located our staterooms, purchased our first yummy tropical drinks, attended the muster drill and then set sail. All seemed right. We did not have a care in the world. The four of us were looking forward to four days together and time to enjoy the fun and sun of the Bahamas.
In moments like those described above, I honestly thought I did not have a care in the world. Life was very good.
Shortly after leaving the port, I felt queasy. Even though the water was quite choppy it is unusual for this seasoned cruiser to be impacted by sea-sickness. In just a few brief moments, after heading towards my room and only making it to the steps near the elevators, I fainted. It sounds simple but actually as reality was melting out of reach it was a very frightening experience. I knew I was losing control and thankfully sat down rather than fall. I awoke to Hubby holding my head and calling, "Come back to me".
Nothing had ever felt like that before. Through all the surgeries I have endured there is always that moment when anesthesia blissfully takes me away. But those events were all planned and the lack of consciousness was a blessing indeed. This event was not planned! How could it invade my "very good" frame of mind?
The moment I came back to reality was like awakening into a new world. I was so amazingly grateful to be alive and waited patiently for help to come. Blessedly the Lord provided a fellow passenger, an amazing nurse and a competent doctor to come to my aid. Apparently "the event" had been precipitated by a fall in my blood pressure and was not related to some life-threatening problem like a heart attack or stroke.
Of course, as Hubby held my head he did not know that this was not the last time he would see me alive. Nor did I.
"The event" made the remainder of the cruise almost surreal. Every moment in the sun on a gorgeous beach, or at the man-made marvel of Atlantis or enjoying the fun and games and good food on the ship was like a special gift for us. Life was no longer just "very good" for now it was a true gift, a marvelous present for which to be grateful. Life was incredible! The joy we shared was immense and nothing was taken for granted. Nothing!
On the other hand, without talking about it, Hubby and I both went through a lot of soul-searching. We constantly thought what it might be like not to have each other. What it might be like for our children to not have one parent. What it might be like for my mother. What it might be like for all of our dear family and friends in Illinois and Florida and so many other places. And we thought of our six little grandchildren and the grandchildren yet to be born. The thoughts brought awareness and joy and gratefulness and a realization that life is good and life is precious. It also reminded us of how very special each of these people in our lives is to us.
My life is precious to me and to many, but in that moment when I thought it could all be gone I realized I was still in God's hands. I am so very grateful that He gave me more days on earth to enjoy. However, when that moment comes that my days on earth are gone, I am still His and the peace that passes understanding pervades my being. I go forward each day in that security.
I hope that you appreciate the life you have today. Enjoy. Love. Feel. Reach. Sense. Encourage. Forgive. Dance. Embrace. Cheer. Laugh. Share. Imagine. Celebrate. Enlighten. Remember. Try. Live, really live. Be present in the moment. Life is a glorious gift! Appreciate it!
Much to the chagrin of my children, I like to keep certain things. As a matter of fact under my bed in a box I have calendars dating back over thirty years. Each one tells a little story of our life.
Every new year I unwrap a new wall calendar and as the days come and go, I fill the squares on each calendar with doctor and dental appointments, family and personal activities and of course mark the days when visitors are coming or we are heading on a trip or down to our Florida home.
Now that we have been retired for many years one would think we would have many "empty" days on each month's page, but in fact, the opposite is true. We have an abundance of activities to keep us busy.
This year has been no exception...and it is just half over!
The spring and early summer of 2015 will go down in our history as one filled with many visitors, one extra family living with us, along with new medical dramas unfolding in the background.
Calendars! Yes they chronicle the life I am living. I'm older and I tire more easily, but finding each day a gift and living it fully makes life exciting, unpredictable and amazing.
Time goes by and Hubby and I will soon be heading back to Florida and then be off on another cruise. These are the fun years of retirement and as long as we are healthy and able-bodied we will keep on traveling. However, even as we think of the excitement and new worlds to discover, I relish all the memories I have made this summer.
As I glance back over the days that have come and gone this year I have already stored in my memory:
making birthday cakes & celebrating life's special occasions with people coming together.
reconnecting with my little "far-away" grandbaby who calls me BuggaBugga.
loving two little girls running around my house and the endless snuggles and kisses.
showing off Chicago and enjoying the city anew.
having all four of my children under one roof.
planning new adventures on land and sea.
enjoying another trip with the girlfriends I have known forever.
appreciating the uniqueness and abilities of each of my children and their spouses.
experiencing exciting house-hunting adventures.
creating new memories with family who live faraway but touch our lives for a few days.
trusting that doctors know their stuff, and completing my Medical Misadventure story.
enduring unexpected good-byes with tears that can't be stopped.
knowing that flowers and storms are part of life.
Oh, so many memories in six short months! I praise God that my life is so full and so good and so interesting, but most of all I am grateful for each person I know and for their unique ability to touch and enrich my life.
The calendar is my friend. It reminds me of where I have been, who I have been with and all the good times and hard times that I have lived through. And it reminds me that I can keep on going, looking forward to the blank pages ahead just waiting to be filled and remembering the full pages which remind me of where I have been and why I am the person I am today.
May each of your calendar days be full and happy and worth remembering.
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Oh the good times...what fun! The people in my life are so precious to me. There is no other way to express how I feel about each of them. I love the times that several of us gather together and I also love the one on one times as well. Friends, and of course, my dear family, are the reason my life is so rich. I love with all of my heart and I am blessed that God continues to fill my days with people who love being with me. Smiles and tears, hopes and fears when shared with someone who care, are indeed priceless.
Five years ago I didn't know any of the people in the photo above, other than Hubby of course. I thought my family and long time friends, some reaching back to childhood, completely filled my heart. How then, do I find room for all the people I now know in Florida? How is it that so many new people can fit into my heart? It is just quite amazing wouldn't you say?
As wonderful as relationships can be, now today the time has come to say good-bye. Hugs have been shared. Time and distance will separate us as Hubby and I head to the airport and transportation to all the good times waiting in our northern home.
Saying goodbye is oftentimes bittersweet. I plan to see all of these dear folks again as I travel back and forth. So why then is it so difficult to say good-bye? I suppose the answer may be two-fold. Not seeing dear ones day by day causes a definite loss even though phones and computers help keep us connected. Secondly, I know that it reminds me that the time will come when I say good-bye to someone for the final time. As I have learned, living in a senior community, this may indeed happen and happen unexpectedly.
I suppose saying good-bye to Virginia just last week makes me think twice as I say my farewells today. Do you think she knew when she left the card table that night that she would never see me again? Do you think her gentle sweet spirit connected with mine for just a moment as she placed her hand on my cheek and gave me an endearing look when she said good-night?
I have lost eight of my Florida friends in the past five years and so when I leave my good-bye always says so much more than just so long...It says...
...I hope I will see you again.
...I always smile when I think of you.
...You are important to me.
...My life has more meaning because of you.
...Please take good care of yourself.
...I will never forget you.
...Thank you for being you.
...You are in my prayers.
...I love you.
I am heading home to hellos and hugs and kisses from my family and especially from these little girls. I am grateful for my two-part life. It is indeed rich! I am blessed to have my two worlds and as long as I have so many people to love I am going to keep on loving when we are together and when we are apart. And some day when we say that ultimate good-bye the joy we shared will far outweigh the pain of loss we must experience.
Good-bye, until we meet again.
