Mick's up Grandparents

"Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." Proverbs 17:6 (NIV)

Yesterday was Grandparents' Day!  Did you let anyone in your life know how much you appreciate them as grandparents, whether natural or adopted?

There are such fond memories in our family.  Grandparents have always been an important factor on both sides.  Christmases at the Lanning house were always special, as all of us 15+ cousins reconnected.  Long summer days spent on the Johnson Farm with the horses, kittens, dogs, and cows, were filled with activity.  Grammy never let us be idle.  My brother learned some of his best baking and gardening skills there.  Somehow, those traits missed my genetic makeup. 

Grammy sledding at age 85 with my children

When it comes to grandparents, my dad and father-in-law have something in common.  They didn't know theirs, because the grandparents died either before they were born or soon after.  Realizing what they missed is what makes the grandparents in our lives and the lives of our kidderz so much more important.

My husband and I were blessed with grandparents all during our growing-up years, and even into the adult years.  My great-grandparents were around long enough for me to remember family gatherings at their house.  My husband and I see how blessed our kidderz are to have all four of their natural grandparents alive to spoil them and watch them grow.  It's even more special that our kidderz have great-grandparents to love on them.

The last of my husband's grandparents passed away in Ohio one month before we started dating, so I never met them.  I was looking forward to getting to know Grandpa and Grandma, but their opportunity to meet Jesus in heaven definitely takes the cake!  So, that left Jay with no grandparents to spoil him… but the Johnson clan was ready for the task!   A wonderful bond developed between them, and Jay has been proud to call them his Pappap and Grammy, too, for the past 16 years.

It is so comforting to know we have parents praying for us every day.  Who doesn't need someone to pray for them?  Remembering that, I pray every day for our parents and grandparents.  I look forward to many more winters of watching my Grammy slide down the snowy Pennsylvania hill on cardboard with the kidderz, as well as a bazillion New York summers full of kidderz and activities with our parents.

Listen now to the stories your grandparents and parents have to tell.  Take all the advice you can from them, while they are here.  They are full of wisdom!  Make a recording, if you can.  We never know when the last story will be told.

Go ahead!  Make some memories!

Remember:  There are always grandparent-types nearby, if you need to adopt a grandparent!

Celebrate grandparents throughout the year with these ideas:
Cool Mom Picks

Links describing the History of Grandparents' Day:
National Grandparents Day
Legacy Project
National Grandparents Day History
Grandparents.com
Wikipedia

"The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old." Proverbs 20:29 (NIV)

"Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness."  Proverbs 16:31 (NIV)

Have you noticed grandparents seem younger these days?  You can be one of those young grandparents by keeping your health!  Try making 80 the new 40!