Great Things About Being a Grandparent

     I wrote this post in 2018 after my granddaughter was born.  Now she is almost 4 and there have been 2 more grandchildren born.  Unfortunately, those 2 grandchildren were only able to be with us on this earth for a very short time.  While they were here, I fell deeply in love with them, as I have each of my grandchildren.  Being separated from them for a time has been so difficult and watching my daughter and her family mourn their loss makes it even harder.   Thankfully, because of the hope we have in Jesus Christ, we know that our family is eternal and that He can heal our hearts and that we will one day all be together again.  As a grandmother, I look so forward to having ​​all of my grandchildren around me and on my lap once again.  I love them all so much and I miss them when we are apart.  Here is the post expressing some of the things that I adore about being a grandma.  At the end, I will add photos of numbers 11 and 12, Elodie and Henry.

     I mentioned on a post earlier this week that I became a grandmother for the 10th time!  That is her right there, beautiful little Amelia!  Since the 9th of September is Grandparent's Day, I thought today's Friday Faves should have a special twist in honor of that and that I will share what I love about being a grandmother.  If you are a grandmother, be sure to share what you love about it in the comments below.  I also got some great ideas from some other grandmas I know!  As you read, I will show you photos of my beautiful grandchildren! 

• Whenever I see a new infant grandbaby for the first time, my heart expands in my chest about twice the size it normally is!  They are just so beautiful and to see my own children so happy, and being loving parents with their own children just fills me with so much love and joy! 

• They find joy in such simple things.  As a grandma, I can help them enjoy those things and create special magic for them. 
• A grandmother I know, named Marci says her favorite thing is, " Being a kid again with them. ;-) Monday, four of our granddaughters visited. I had cupcakes ready for them to decorate. By the time they finished, we had goopy glops of icing and random sprinkles all over the kitchen. The whole time I was cleaning up stickiness, there was a big grin on my face.

"There is nothing like a grandchild to put a smile on your face, a lump in your throat and a warm feeling in your heart."

• It is always so exciting when they learn to call you by name and say "Grandma!"  or whatever your grandchild calls you, because they want you or want to show you something or they see you on the chat when you call them. 
• Grammy Dee says, "The best thing about being a grandmother is experiencing a love like no other, a love that I didn’t even know was possible.I love watching them grow. I notice things about them that I didn’t notice or don’t remember when my children were babies, toddlers, and older. Maybe it’s because I’m no longer a young, financially struggling, working mother. I’m now an older, financially fit, retired grandmother who has time to spend with them. The first time I heard my first grandbaby say Grammy, it absolutely melted my heart! I loved hearing my new name coming from that little mouth. When the second grandbaby learned to say it, it was just as sweet and dear to me!"

"Being a parent is the most important job in the world.  Being a grandparent is the most fun!"

• Watching your grandchildren do things that appalled you as a young mother is a lot of fun because you get to watch your children be appalled and laugh under your breath.
• I love making time for my grandchildren and creating memories, like reading with them, making and decorating cookies, going on outings.  Here are some examples:  For awhile, I used to pick up some of my grandchildren from school when they had a short day every week and their mom was still at work.  We would go on a simple outing, and called it Adventure Wednesday! I started going to have lunch once a week with my grandson who lives in town.  I call it lunch with Spencer.  Now that I babysit one of my granddaughters, she goes as well, so they can get to know each other as cousins.  Spencer is the one with a new baby sister, so our lunch group is growing! I love it! 
• I love it when my grandchildren call me just to talk to me.  Sometimes we play games, like Among Us, or other times we simply  play with the filters on the tablets or phones.
• It is so great to surprise them with little gifts or treats.  For the ones that live a long distance away, sending them a surprise using Amazon is terrific! What a first world blessing! They are grateful for every little thing. 

"Some of our greatest blessings call us Grandma and Grandpa."

"Grandchildren are like snowflakes, each one is beautifully unique."

     My family is my treasure and these grandchildren are so precious to me.  My husband and I are so blessed with this family of ours!  Be sure to tell the grandparents in your life what a blessing they are to you and enjoy those grandchildren of your own!  They get big so fast!  

My kid's grandma! Still going strong! Love you mom! *Update-Still with us and doing great at age 99!

The nine before Amelia! I can't get enough of these kids!

Elodie Maren

Henry Merrill

All of our posterity except 1. Love them forever! Family is Forever!