I Miss You

 

 Grandma Jeanne works 8 hours at one job and

then 7 hours at another job, and like most grandmothers I keep my grandchildrens
pictures close at hand.  I wish I could see you every week like I get with LillaMai, but
until I see you again, I am able to see pictures of you everyday.  I love and miss you
Penn.

Best Day

"The best days you live are the ones you spend loving other people." - Joyce Meyer/Daily Devotion

(Remembering your visit.  I love you Penn.)

Babysittting LillaMai

Treating my assistant, Murphy.

Cold artichokes...

The photographer - amateur

Expressions...

Trying to suck in those chunky cheeks

Changing the diaper...

Gave up on keeping the hat straight.

Sleeping

Nap time

Little siesta

Resting the eyes.

Today was grandma Jeanne's first day on the job; babysitting LillaMai. Murphy stayed close by to make sure I did everything right and was treated for his efforts. He also made sure he barked at "every" truck he heard.

There were bottle feedings, rewarming my lunch, funny faces that made me laugh out loud, the diaper duty with those wiggly legs. Biggest challenge was trying to keep the pooh hat straight - I gave up.

We had sleep, naps, seistas...it was a good day!

You &LillaMai

Miss You :(

There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

It's a long road
And you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear

And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

Oh ho, Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away, hey yea
Hold on there will be tomorrow in time
You find the way, hey

Then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

Grandma Jeanne misses you :(. I can hardly wait until your next visit! You're the BEST! I love you.

Richness

"The richness of life lies in the memories we have forgotten." - Cesare Pavese

When I was your age and older I loved baking in my mother's kitchen. When I opened the cupboards there was always an abundance of dishes, spices, utensils and much more. I could choose just about anything I wanted to bake (cookies were almost always my choice), and I never had to worry my mother didn't have the ingredients I needed on hand.

This morning grandma Jeanne wanted to make banana bread. When I opened up the cupboards I had everything I needed to make banana bread, with choices of whether I wanted to add blue berries, cranberries, or nuts, use whole wheat flour, rye, pastry, or unbleached.

I made banana bread with cranberries and remembered my mother, who made my life rich in so many ways.

I Hope you Dance...

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance

When you turned 7 (11-27-10)

Fall

Today...Fall is my favorite season. Maybe it is the crisp warm air, the colors of the trees, the crunching sounds beneath my boots when I walk Marley...maybe because today is my day off from work :).

Aunt Lise

When I was pregnant with your mother, my mother (your great grandma Moon) changed. She
blossomed into this amazing woman full of more love, compassion, unselfishness, I could ever imagine. She was this way with all her grandchildren. I was very fortunate to live close to my parents when I had your mother. I never had to worry about a last minute sitter or someone to ask advise. Someone I knew loved your mother as much as I did.

My father (your great grandpa Moon) was awesome too. He never questioned my mother's behavior when it came to the grandchildren. He was a team player and appreciated his grandchildren just as much.

When I compare myself to my mother I feel I fall short in so many ways. I wish I could respond to all the times your mother needed someone to take care of you. I wish I could attend every school program you are in, or be able to pick you up from school. I wish I lived down the road from you and I could wander over (everyday).

Aunt Lise who will have a baby in February, wishes as I do you lived closer. For now we can hardly wait for you to visit your new cousin when he arrives.

Greed

I know you are too young to understand the word GREED It exists in all levels of society from individuals as young as yourself to grandparents my age and older. The rich and even the poor. It is a selfish act imposed on us, or at times we can impose on others.

I wish I could protect you from experiencing it in your life.

Great Grandpa Moon

Friday, your great Aunt Gyl (my sister) and I went to visit your great grandpa Moon (my dad).
He is one of thee most amazing men I know.

In my lifetime I don't ever remember feeling judged by him, even when I made wrong choices.
He kept me going by believing I could and would do better. He rejoiced in my accomplishments, and remained my true support when I felt there was no one else.

On this trip I thought about you and wished you could of been with us to meet great grandpa Moon, to see the donkeys that live next door and the metal dragon down the road.