YAWN

Grandma is tired ! But it is the good kind of tired. The kind of tired that you get from playing with a two and a half year old for a week.
We are in Maryland playing with Kaelin, spoiling her and messing up her schedule just enough so that it will take mom and dad a week to get her back to normal. We are having a GREAT time ! We got to go to Kid Fit on Friday, shopping on Thursday, and tomorrow is Art! This little person has a better social life than I do. I am missing out on water aerobics and pilates back in Florida but am getting as much, if not more, activity and exercise playing with Kaelin. We are up and down off the floor 100 times a day. Yesterday we ran around the yard kicking soccer balls and chasing leaves. Today I even got to spend time with Kaelin's mommy and go shopping with my daughter who I don't get to see all that often. What a joy it is to see this amazing young woman raising such a fantastic little girl. Keri and Steve are incredible parents and we are so proud of them.
But our stay comes to an end on Tuesday when we will start the drive back to Florida by way of North Carolina. Husband has friends living in Wilmington so we will stop there and visit for a day or two. It is always hard to leave Kaelin and her parents but we will be back to visit again before too long if can't talk them into coming to Florida. It is going to be a strange holiday season this year. Kyle and his family will be in England for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Keri and her family are staying in Maryland for both holidays so I guess I will just have to focus on our newest little man, Smith and spoil him to pieces for the holidays. Too bad he is only 3 months old and won't know what the heck is going on.

Abby

I guess I really should write a blog about my greand daughters since I wrote about my "grand puppy" and since I just happen to have the greatest picture of Abby that really seals the deal.
Abby is our 5 year old love who is now living with her parents in Windsor, England.
Daddy Kyle, our oldest son, has taken an opportunity offered by his company to move the family to England for the next 2-3 years. They left Atlanta on March 31st, moved into a "castle" and are becoming quite the proper Brits. According to Kyle the British are quite proper but nasty. He is not well loved at work, probably because he was sent there to shape up or shut down this particular branch of the company he works for. Bridget, his wife is meeting other moms through Abby and is slowly finding her place in the British life. But Abby is the one who is doing the best. She has been in Windsor for 3 weeks and is looking like she has lived there all of her life. The first 2 weeks she was in Windsor the schools were closed for spring holiday. (Not vacation . . . HOLIDAY!) Bridget and Kyle took Abby to various parks in the area and Abby got to meet and play with some children her own age. At the end of the first week Abby went to "Camp" for a day and learned that if kids throw sand at you and no one tells them "NO" you can speak up for yourself and tell them NO!
Week two brought more adventures and another day at camp. Abby LOVED going to camp! She and mom also went to visit the headmaster at her new school. She got a tour of the building and her classroom to be and then went shopping with mom for her school uniforms. Monday of this past week was the beginning of school, all day, every day with LUNCH IN A CAFETERIA ! (I think that was the high point of the day ! That and the 3 recesses during the day.) School was a HIT ! The excitement of school includes which uniform, tie or no tie, we will wear today and what's on the menu for lunch ! (Is this my grand child or what !) Day two was just as great as day one, if not better. Unfortunately some time in the middle of the night between day two and three Abby started to throw up and that was it for week one and school. The stomach virus kept her out for the rest of the week but she looked pretty great today when we talked to her on Skype. Hopefully next week will go as great, without the stomach virus to interupt it.

Gonna Be a Man

Last Thursday, Thanksgiving, my daughter-in-law, Kristen, and I were in the kitchen cleaning up after the feast. The "BOYS" had taken over the den . . . Kent asleep on the couch and Ger in his recliner half dozing in front of a football game. AND ALL WAS WELL WITH THE WORLD ! Isn't that the way Thanksgiving is always pictured on TV and the magazines? Kristen looked at me and said, "I want to come back as a man". And the two of us burst into laughter. She is so young and already so wise.
Not to put down the guys out there but honestly, what is with you men? You didn't help with the preparation, (Ger hurt his knee so he couldn't stand.) you didn't help with the cleaning, (Ger WAS helping vacuum when he hurt his knee), and now you are not helping with the cleanup. (To be honest, even if he hadn't hurt his knee you and I both know he would not be helping anyway.) Did I miss some fine print in my marriage vows that stated "husband will rest, wife will work"? I know there are men out there who are very involved in their home life. My oldest son is a perfect example of that. He helps make up menus & shopping lists, he helps shop and cook and clean up. He even makes his own lunches to take to work. How did this happen ? He is my son and he knows enough to HELP his wife. Then we have the youngest son. To be fair, he has been working on projects for their newly purchased home but he doesn't cook, clean or shop. What did I do with Kyle that I failed to do with Kent? Or what didn't I do ? (Or maybe it has nothing to do with me . . . I just feel guilty because that's what mothers do.) Is it all about the wives? I know f I tried to be the "perfect" wife when I got married. Wives are supposed to cater to their husbands every whim, aren't they? That's what my mother did, that's what my mother-in-law did so I guessed that was what I was supposed to do. WRONG !! It's too late for me but I swear I taught my daughter better and I am trying to get this message through to Kristen before it is too late. Bridget, (Kyle's wife) is great. She is a strong, no nonsense young woman who is not about to be taken advantage of. YOU GO GIRL ! Kristen is a mini me. I keep telling her to kick Kent's butt and get him involved in EVERYTHING around the house. None of this "man's work & woman's work" shit ! If you live here, you need to get off your ass and help with everything from making the bed to doing the laundry. It was one thing when I was home all the time and Ger was working 2 jobs . . . WHAT ! . . . that is a crock of poopie ! I was home with 3 kids, running to school, doctors, grocery stores, post office, and numerous soccer and baseball games. But I bought into the lie because I was stupid. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE ! A family is only as strong as the team that makes it a family and you remember that old saying;
TEAM DOESN'T HAVE AN 'I' IN IT".
Come on Kristen, You can do it . . . be a MAN !

Daughters

I never wanted to have a daughter. My mom and I were always at odds and fought like cats and dogs. So I figured all moms and daughters acted that way. My first child was a boy and for 4 years Kyle was just an adorable and fantastic little guy. (He is still awesome) Life was perfect. Then I got pregnant again and wondered if I could possibly luck out a second time and have another "perfect" kid. In those days there was no such thing as sonograms so the sex of the baby was always a surprise. I went into labor, and the next thing I knew I was staring into the eyes of the most beautiful little baby girl in the world. Keri was all of 15 minutes old when she looked into my eyes and we had an instant connection. All my fears left and I knew we would be the best of friends forever. Even when my third child, Kent, was born I don't remember the instant connection that happened with Kerrin. (Ger says it must have been the drugs) I adore my sons but there is something about a daughter that can't compare. We had a lot of tough times with Keri and her anxieties but she is the most amazing young woman. I came to think that I was lucky to have only had one daughter because I couldn't possibly feel this way about another girl.
And then my sons got married . . . As amazing as these boys of mine are they have found the perfect partners. Their wives, my daughter-in-laws, bring out the absolute best in my sons. And they never blame me for all their husbands faults. We just laugh and chalk it up to the fact that they are men and take after their father.
I couldn't love these girls more if I had given birth to them. These 3 young women in our family are just wonderful. They bring joy and love into the world each and every day. Each of them has chosen a different path in life and each of them excels in what they do. I have been blessed !
I got thinking about this because of Kristen's blog. She is the sweetest thing and deserves better from her family. I know how lucky Kent is to have her as his wife and I know he understands how blessed he is to have found her.
Her birthday is on Sunday and I wish for her a full life of joy, happiness, love, health and babies of her own that she will love as much as we love her.
To my beautiful Bridget, Kyle's wife and Abby's mom. You are amazing and have given this family the a precious gift. You have given Kyle the gift of love which has opened his world. We adore you and are in awe of you and Kyle. You are the most wonderful parents and I see God's Blessings in each of you.
And to my own daughter, Keri . . . the best thing I can wish for you is that you and your daughter have the same relationship that you and I have. Kaelin knows how wonderful you are. I see that in the way the two of you light up when you see each other. Steve is a fantastic dad but mother's and daughters have that special bond that is the greatest blessing of all.
Thank you God for blessing Ger and I all these wonderful young people in our lives. I love you all.

Amazing Children

A long time ago when my children were born I was amazed by them. As they were placed in my arms for the very first time I couldn't believe that this tiny being was "MY CHILD". This little thing came from my body. I looked at them and knew the true meaning of love.
Then, as they grew, there were constantly moments when they would stop my world. Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, speaking . . . All these things made me look at them in wonder. How incredible these little children were! And they continued to grow and amaze me through the years. Going to school for the first time, making friends, playing sports, excelling academically, learning to drive, getting their first job, going off to college, bringing home their first loves.
With each step they took I looked at them with new eyes that were always wide with wonderment. Seeing them grow into adults that I am so proud of is the absolute best part of being a parent. I have seen my children trying to find themselves and figure out what they wanted to do with their lives. I have seen them find their place in the world and do an exceptional job in their chosen fields. I have seen them marry the perfect person for them. They have each found that one person in the world who brings out the very best in them. I am seeing them bring their children into the world and become truly wonderful parents. I watch them as parents and am in awe of their love for these beautiful children. My children are AMAZING and they continue to find ways to stop my world. Just when I think I know where they are headed in their lives they surprise me again and again in the most wonderful ways.
I love you all with all my heart and I am so very proud of all of you.

Grandparents

I had the opportunity this morning to participate in a first ever event in the USA. Our church, the Cathederal of St. Ignatius Loyola here in the diocese of Palm Beach, celebrated the first "Grandparent's Pilgrimage Mass". It was wonderful! It seems that this event got started in Ireland and draws over 14,000 people each year. It is a mass to pray for the grandparents of the world because we are the last line of help for our youth. Our families have been falling apart for years now. Divorce is easier than a manicure and has become the first thought in the minds of couples who are having problems. Husbands and wives "fall out of love" and no longer stay together for "the sake of the children". Kids are living in houses with one parent and more often than not, no parents. Mom and dad are working full time trying to pay the mortgage on the huge house with a pool and make the monthly payments on the 2 BMW's in the garage. Kids are raising themselves and the first thing to go, if it ever was a part of their lives, is their religion. More likely than not the kids have never been brought up with any religious influence. Too many parents give the same lazy answer of, "they can choose what religion they want to follow when they grow up". NOT ! If you don't know something exists why would you be interested in finding it?
So there is this wonderful movement that has been brought to the United States to encourage grandparents to introduce or reinforce religion in the lives of their grand children. We have the time, we have the faith, we have the love, we have the pasion to encourage our grandchildren to practice a faith. We old folks have learned that there is a God and nothing but nothing gets done without the help of God. I guess we didn't do such a good job getting that point across to our kids so maybe we can do better with our grandkids.
The mass today was wonderful. Our Bishop said the mass and gave a stiring homily inspiring all of us there to not sit back but to speak up, take action and LOVE our grandchildren so much that they will follow us on the path to a stronger life in faith. My wish for you all is to hear this message and spread it to all your friends. If all things are possible through God than don't you think God should come first in your life? I'll say a prayer for you . . . can you do the same for me?