Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Waving from Heaven

   Last week I sat down to read some Christmas books to my grandson Andrew. He choose one of my favorites, "Polar Express". We snuggled on the sofa with our Christmas tree sparkling in front of us and holiday decor everywhere. I did not see the greeting from heaven coming when I turned to the inscription page and it read, "1993  Happy Birthday Grant, Love your friend Samuel Ford." I gasped when I read this page to myself as it took my breath away. Childhood friend, Samuel Ford passed away this past summer tragically as a young man in his late 20's.  God brought him home on his appointed day. Our hearts have been grieving and remembering him along with his parents. My grandson didn't understand my tears and he craned his neck to look at me, his Nana, crying quietly. I was able to collect myself and read the book to Andrew but, I had forgotten who gave us that precious gift years ago!  How wonderful to experience Samuel "waving" to us from heaven that day. It was as though he was saying, hello ya'all! Don't worry about me. I'm experiencing amazing things here in heaven. I was suddenly filled with great comfort and joy. I quickly took a picture on my phone and sent it to Samuel's parents, Jeff and Maria and our son Grant. The whole experience gave me goosebumps and I smiled with assurance knowing that was a special Christmas moment indeed. It touched me deeply and I pray it is a calming salve for my friends during this first holiday season without their precious boy.
   So my word for the holidays this year is...remember.
~  I will remember as I cook meals and use family recipes.
~  I will remember my loved ones who have passed and raise a glass to toast them.
~  I will remember the "reason for the season"- Jesus' birth.
~  I will remember to listen and love deeply.
~  I will remember to take time to hold the hand of a friend who is suffering loss this season.
~  I will remember to sing long & loud Christmas carols with friends in my car. (you know who         you are!)
~  I will remember to give lavishly.
~  I will remember to be thankful, no matter what the circumstances may be.

   Just last night  friends gave us a Christmas ornament with her son's picture on it. I will treasure this special gift. Holidays have been difficult for them as they mourn the loss of their son.  Nick was a close family friend who passed unexpectedly 3 days after my sister Cheryl succumbed to leukemia in 2013. I knew the healing that had to occur to prepare those ornaments and share them this year. The back of the ornament says"Sing all ye citizens of heaven above!"  Yes! That is what he's doing this year with Cheryl and Samuel! All our deceased loved ones experience a different kind of Christmas then we are.
   So I'm going to remember those we lost too soon and pray for hurting individuals & families this Christmas. May you find comfort and joy this season as I have.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

November 17th

November 17th is a good day to be thankful.
 
As the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us I'm truly thankful today for many things. I have a home that is not under siege of fire threat in California to start with. My family is healthy.  My marriage is loving and strong. I have 4 grandchildren who are all so different and amusing. Both my daughters are pregnant and due to deliver 2 more grands we are affectionately calling "the twins" Feb 7th 2019. (What kind of odds are those!?) And...my children adore me. (Right kids?)! In the midst of this season of thankfulness I am choosing joy and remembering my older sister Cheryl Marks Yates Zimmerman who passed from her 6 month battle leukemia almost 6 years ago. Today would of been her 62 birthday. I think about her every single day! Recently my granddaughter Hayley commented on a picture that is placed on my refrigerator of Cheryl. She said, "That is a pretty picture of you Nana." I gulped hard and told her it was a picture of my sister Cheryl who is now in heaven. She looked at the picture for a long stare and said, " She looks like you Nana." Several tears leaked out of my eyes. Cheryl would have loved meeting my grands. She missed the birth of my first grandchild Colton Sterling by mere weeks. She celebrated with me and would text me baby names to pass along to her niece Noelle. She really liked the name Spencer and lobbied hard for it since one of her favorite nurses at University of Washington Medical Center had that name. Sigh- As hard as it is today, I'm thankful I have wonderful memories growing up with her. We did our share of bickering and teasing each other, but in the end she was my big sister and she would always have my back.
   One of my brothers ( Ken- the good brother he calls himself) always sent out his sisters birthday gifts by November 17th each year. That meant that sister Terri and I who have birthdays in August and September would find a lovely package in November waiting for us just in time for Cheryl's birthday. I miss getting my birthday card and gift on Cheryl's birthday now!  I suppose I will ask my brother to send it for  November 17th in the future after all!  Its a good day to remember and be thankful if you are me.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

5 Days Grand

Hello friends, family and faithful followers,

   I’m 5 days into being the babysitting grandparent of 2 of my adorable grands. (ages 2 and 4 years old) Their parents are celebrating an anniversary on the beaches of Kauai, Hawaii. A much deserved vacation for 2 incredibley hard working parents of 2 smart precocious toddlers. In keeping with my Wet Mittens theme, I like to share what I have observed or learned while in full control of my grands these past several days.

  • “Boo Boos” are a big deal. If you have forgotten this, then let this serve as your warning to get a supply of bandaids in stock for the wee ones visiting your home. Bandaids have magic powers I’m positively sure of it.
  • Staying with the “Boo boos” theme here, also be reminded that you will HEAR about this boo boo ALLLLLLL day long and you must have the same compassion for it that you did when the injury first occurred.
  • Two children from the same family are in cahoots about sleeping through the night. If one sleeps through the night by some small miracle, then the other MUST wake you at 3:02 AM just to be sure your healthy sleep and REM cycles are disturbed. I tried to catch them in the act planning and scheming but failed. They probably did it when I was passed out on the sofa during an episode of Paw Patrol.
  • Keeping with the Paw Patrol theme, This kids show is jackpot. 24K Gold. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. Thank God for Ryder and his pups. I owe my debt of gratitude to them. I actually said to my husband the other day, “just yelp for help!” And “Nana, on the double!” and I whistled the theme song while sorting out  size 2T and 4T clothes for laundry.
  • Serving quinoa is a bad idea to a 2 year old. They might as well be at the beach throwing sand around your kitchen. I won’t repeat a meal with that on the menu no matter how much they whine and demand for it!
  • Some 4 year olds,(my granddaughter) can talk and talk and talk all day long without taking a breath to even breathe. This is a modern day miracle that should be recorded somehow.  I am in awe of this ability.
  • Getting out the door and loaded into the van is a triathlon sport. I clearly need more strength training.
  • Toddlers should not wear socks. The drama department at our local high school should look forward to the upcoming actors they will receive in 2028 from our family. Their play could be called “My Sock Is Hurting!” Or maybe “ If I Pull My Socks Up to My Knees, Then I Can Wear Those Shoes.” 
  • I am never alone in the bathroom. They must follow me in there every single time. They must also stand very close and ask questions. They will inspect your skin, your varicose veins, underwear conditions, belly button, how many squares of toilet paper you used. why your tummy is bigger than theirs and other world problems.
  • The older sibling is the foreign language interpreter for the younger sibling.  After many attempts of me trying to understand,  “mifundapa” I asked the wise 4 year old guru to give its meaning to me and I was amazed that it was “spatula”.
  • You must go to bed when they do or you won’t get a wink of sleep.
  • If it’s your idea, it can not possibly be a good one.
  • Mustard on scrambled eggs is an acceptable cuisine. 
  • The words BLUE and POO can sound the same  ALL of the time. Run to the potty when you hear either. You can also defer to the interpreter if you are not sure.
  • Negotiations are needful for a peaceful resolution for picking out clothes daily. See my earlier comment about the drama department recruits forth coming from our grands...
  • Unexpected kisses and phrases like “I love you Nana” make Nana forget everything exhausting about the last 5 days being Grand.