The Legacy of Love

Loving your grandchildren now will have a powerful influence on the kind of person they will grow up to become. Loving your grandchildren doesn’t mean that you have to buy expensive gifts! Ultimately, the best demonstration of love you can provide is by your presence and involvement in your grandchildren’s lives. Give them the gift of yourself! This is possible even when you’re not physically present through phone, notes, emails and the like. Love is powerful! Loving your grandchildren will make a lifelong difference! Never underestimate the power of a grandparent’s love!

Health ~ a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

A new study out of Australia suggests that grandparents who look after their grandchildren at least once a week could be less likely to develop Alzheimer's???? What, WOW, Okay, so.....is this information we all need to pass along to B&B? ....Sure!... Babysitting my grandchildren is good for my physical and mental health. So next time B&B need to do errands, grab a cup of coffee, or go grocery shopping, remember the health of your parents and drop off the kids with us!.

In all seriousness, I think this is pretty amazing research,....keeping the mind and body active are great for our overall health. ~

So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you have found it, there is a prospect, And your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 24:14

Nurture ~ the process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something:

Why do I feel that being a grandparent is an important role in my life?

I believe that I as a grandparent, I am my grandchildren’s strongest connection to family heritage. I am free from the day-to-day parenting, so I am able to provide a special time of uninterrupted play. Brooklyn and Gabriel especially enjoy hearing about what Brandon was like when he was little. By telling fun family stories and singing silly songs, I am a treasure trove of happy memories, actively passing down my family heritage to these curious little ones. I think, and I “hope” that Brooklyn, Gabriel and soon Ethan, will love to spend time with me…. because I make them feel like they are the center of attention and there is no one else more special to me.  I think B&B like knowing that they’re children aren’t just with a “babysitter,” but that time with me is a special time in which they are learning more about they’re family stories and unique value system.

Why do I feel my grandchildren are so important and special to me?

My grandchildren represent the future to me. I want to share my legacy with them and enrich them as they grow up, experience special time together. Of course, I like spoiling them in a way that I never would have imagined doing with my own children. I believe it goes back to me not having to be as involved in the day-to-day parenting, so my time with grandchildren is all about fun. Spoiling isn’t necessarily about material things.
 The lyrics of that song “Nobody Loves Me Like My Grandma”  -  convey this sense of indulgence: “Mama makes me eat oatmeal for breakfast, but grandma lets me eat ice cream!  

A seven-year old girl said about her grandmother: " she is old on the outside but she acts like she's young on the inside" - Love it~ she sure hit the nail on the head.!

Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Psalms 144:12 (NIV)

Gratitude ~ thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation, emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

I read recently that “ people who are more grateful have higher levels of well-being. Grateful people are happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships. Grateful people have higher levels of control of their environments, personal growth, purpose in life, and self-acceptance”.

Reflecting on the past few weeks, I find myself more grateful than ever. A new daugther-in-law, a new grandson (now one), and life feels pretty awesome right now. It seems that although gratitude is always beneficial, it’s not always easy. When you’re discouraged or overwhelmed, it’s probably not on your radar to thank God. But I’ve learned from experience that shifting focus and thanking the Lord for all he’s done is the fastest way to change one’s attitude and re-energize.

Life is filled with situations and distractions that keep us from seeing all that God has done for us. Try refocusing on the Lord by thanking Him for His past provision, guidance, and faithfulness. Recently my son married the girl of his dreams. He has waited patiently for her, as we all have. God is faithful!

When we bring our concerns to the Lord with thanksgiving, the burden shifts to Him, and His peace comes to us.

Gratitude is the best way to dig ourselves out of the doldrums of discouragement.

When we experience difficulties in life, gratitude can help us cope in a more positive way. It’s regarded as a virtue that shapes not only emotions and thoughts but actions and deeds as well.

I do believe that finding gratitude in all things can bring peace and happiness. It is all in our perspective. See the glass half full, lead a longer healthier life. Could it be that having gratitude could produce positive emotions that have physical benefits? I believe so.

God doesn’t need our thanks, but we need to give it so we can become what He wants us to be: unselfish, encouraged, and confident.


Colossians 3:16
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Blessed ~

Next week is Gabriel’s second birthday – 2!...I can’t believe he is going to be 2! – Seems like yesterday that both of them were born. .. Gabriel is not yet old enough to tell Nana and Pops what he wants for his birthday – Becka sends me a list of things we would like and what he needs – at this age it is still okay to buy coats and pajamas – in a year or two, that certainly will not be the case, he will definitely bring his wants and desires to us. Once they know that their birthday is coming up, I know they will be able to express what they want, color, size etc. Of course, we as grandparents will want to get them whatever is on their list. We want to bless them ~

As God’s children, God also wants to bless us. But, am I ready to receive these blessings? Am I ready to understand HOW to receive God’s blessings? I believe that the key to receiving God’s blessings is to seek God himself rather than just the treasures He has to give. Do I approach God with an empty basket rather than an open heart? Do I tell Him what I need and wait for the bin to be filled? I believe an open heart says – “God, I just want more of you.”  - Psalms 34:8 says – “God is good” – James 1:17 – says, that “HE” is the source of every good and perfect gift.  We as grandparents desire to give our grandchildren what they need, and sometimes ….what they want! ~ God’s nature is giving blessings from His storehouse, but He wants us to seek Him above all else. ~


Psalms 34: 8-10 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!  Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

Youthful ~

Youthful ~ relating to, possessing, or characteristic of youth, fresh, vigorous, or active

So I have yet another birthday coming up – I am getting older. Every time I spend time with my 2 grandchildren, even though I love it, love it, love it.! I usually look forward to my bed that night with more aches and pains as the time before. They are active, fun and it takes lots more energy than I remember using with my own two boys.  But I would not trade spending time and making memories with them for anything!

I now get AARP magazine… the cover reads “How to Stay Young” – the first thing I think of is the physical body. Yet a youthful heart attitude can contribute greatly to keeping us young. I want to have a youthful approach to life! Just like my grandchildren, I want to be curious, have passion for what I do and love, be enthusiastic and optimistic.

Even though the calendar may be adding years, Dr. Oz. Says…”Age isn’t just an amount of time passed, it’s a state of mind, if I think young and feel young, I will be”

                      John 10:10  ~ I have come that you may have life, and that you have it more abundantly.

Story Time~

 A Story ~ a narrative, either true or fictitious, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.

We were driving in the car, and now Brooklyn is asking..”tell me a story” - … well, I start to make up stories, then return to stories of when her daddy was young… “more stories, she says” – so, I starting trying to remember the nursery rhymes, and then add to them. “There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, she had so many children she didn’t know what to do”…. Then I made up more as I went along about the mother and her many children, she seemed to like that one…However, the more I thought about it, and wanted to be prepared for the next time …I was impressed to tell some of the great Bible stories.

Brooklyn and Gabriel, unlike me as a child are being brought up in church and are learning about all the fascinating and great Bible stories! So many wonderful accounts that encourage faith and inspire us to grow spiritually.  Did Jonah really get swallowed by a whale, and then spit out? Yes! (Jonah 2) - Jonah thought he knew better than God. But in the end he learned a valuable lesson about the Lord's mercy and forgiveness, then Jonah went on to Nineveh and brought God's word to other people…did David as a child really slay Goliath with a stone and a sling? Yes! (1 Samuel 17)... I want my grandchildren to desire to know God and his truths, … their little minds and hearts to be kindled like dry twigs, and touched by a flame!... the more they know of Him, the more they will want to know Him more….these are the kinds of stories I will tell her next time she asks. 

MATTHEW 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.