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Tuesday, January 09, 2007

treasures

mcp wrote about her sweet grandmother, and it made me really feel for her. My last grandparent passed away when I was 14 (and I am the oldest grandchild on that side of the family). Having no living grandparents has just been a fact of life for me, but it hasn't stung as much as when I think about how desperately I want to show off my children to them. I really, REALLY want to have conversations with my grandparents.

November 30, 1996: my mom gets re-married and I inherit step-grandparents, Pat-Pat and Gramps. Gramps, in fact, performed Mom & Dave's wedding ceremony and will perform my sister's wedding in June. He is, without question, one of the most choice examples of a disciple of Christ that I've ever encountered.

Pat-Pat passed away a few years ago, and it was very sad to lose her. I saw her with my children just days before she passed. I am grateful that I got to see her, and that I have those photos and memories.

Gramps is great. My family and I don't talk with him too often, but he's in our hearts, and I know we're in his.

After Bubby was born, I mailed him a few photos. A week or so later, Bubby got a card in the mail from Gramps. The stamp on the envelope was one of those personalized photo stamps with a picture of Gramps & Pat-Pat, and the front of the card featured a print of an original pencil sketch of an Amish woman holding an infant. I can barely read the card without my heart filling and my eyes brimming.


November 24, 2006

Dear Bubby,

I received some pictures the other day of a beautiful young man named "Bubby". I especially liked the one where you posed. It looked like you were ready to tackle the world. I would like to be able to spoil you but it looks like your three beautiful sisters come first.

You don't know me yet, Bubby, but my name is "Gramps". I'm "old" - born in 1927 - and am a minister for Jesus in the Methodist Church for 44 years. I'm sure you'll hear much about this Jesus as you grow.

Here's a picture of me. You'll see that I have no hair but I have a lot of love and my love for you and for your family is from my heart.

Bubby, grow up strong, handsome & healthy and I'll see you someday.

Until that day - Love and Prayers

Gramps Trusel




Today's Yay: Noonans found out they're having another girl!
Today's Boo: No boo today.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very heart filling and eye brimming, indeed.

sue-donym said...

What a beautiful letter. Something to cherish forever.

I was extremely close to my grandma, and I think about her a lot. When I was expecting the Princess, I would get sad thinking that she wouldn't know her. But once she was born, I realized that my grandma must have handpicked her just for me.

sue-donym said...

Congrats to your brother and Monica!

More Caffiene, Please said...

So, so sweet. That will mean a lot to him someday.

dalene said...

I am spoiled, with all but one grandparent living and living here--which is a treat, because I grew up far from them.

Thanks for that sweet post. I am reminded not to take my blessings for granted.

(Happy for you there was no Boo!)

Carina said...

I have abuelita left. When I thought about having kids, I knew that I had to have them before she passed. It would have killed me if she never got to see another generation. We're all she has.

Bek said...

My kids have grandparents up the wazoo, but we had one special grandma... Derek's grandmother. I didn't have any grandparents and she became mine. I loved her for that but I also really loved her as a friend. She was the best grandma to my girl and telling Lu that grandma was gone was THE hardest thing I have ever had to do. I will never forget her cry after that. I still think about her all the time and I miss her almost every day.

What a gift we give our little people and what a wonderful grandpa bubby has.

Great post....

Lyle said...

I lost three of my grandparents before I was 14. The last one died when I was 22.

We've been fortunate to have "adoptive" grandparents here in Lubbock. Kind and sweet old people are to be cherished.

A treasureable letter indeed.

Anonymous said...

The best thing about Pat Pat and Gramps is that they accepted us as their grandchildren. We're very fortunate to have the step parent and step grandparents that we inherited. I was 12 when we lost our last grandparent so when you inherit new ones that love you with all their heart, they're something to be cherished. I guess that's all.

Haley Warner said...

Sweet sweet sweet.. Those are really the best gifts to have.. pics and letters from g-mas and
g-pas. Those of us who still have living grandparents really are lucky and should keep in touch better. I think most of them are proud of us (hopefully) and would like more phone calls, emails and letters (do people still write letters?)

QueenScarlett said...

I want to hug him.

~j. said...

haley - I write letters all the time. (is that one of "my weirds" that are going around?)