Say Cheese!

Snapping a posed photograph of one grandchild can be a challenge. They never really want to do what you want them to do. Then add two more grandchildren into the mix and they all have their own ideas of where to look - everywhere except at the camera! So how do you finally get a good photo of three grandchildren all looking in the same direction at the same time. Simple: You take lots and lots of photos (105, to be exact) and, if you are lucky, one will turn out to be the perfect photo.

The first challenge is to get them in the same place at the same time. They all have different nap schedules, so when one is up, the others are down and vice versa. And then there are cranky times, teething, and just plain stubbornness, both on the part of the grandchild and, I dare say, on the part of the photographer. Short attention spans are also a problem, and the grandchildren start to wander off. Parents chase them down and put them back into position. In the process, one of them disappears.

The end result? A lot of absolutely hilarious photos and, maybe, a few really good ones.

And, ultimately, the best ones usually turn out to be the ones you took earlier in the photo shoot.

The Cycle of Life - Part 2

What could possibly be greater than the joy of holding your newborn son or daughter for the first time? Watching your father hold his great-grandson for the very first time and seeing the joy in his face as he beholds the tiny bundle that represents four generations.

Just as a father loves his child, Jesus loves His children with a love that is never-ending. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God, and He longs for the day when we will share eternity with Him in the home He has prepared for us in heaven.

"In my Father's house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)

The Cycle of Life

As children, we can't wait to grow up and become adults. As adults, we look forward to getting married and having children. Then the cycle continues into grandparenting, one of the most wonderful times of all.

Once our own children are grown and have flown the nest, we find that we have more time on our hands. Time to write blogs, indulge in our hobbies, learn new things. We have time to spend with our grandchildren, teaching them new things and participating in the joy of watching them make new discoveries. We also have the opportunity to rediscover our childhood while playing with our grandchildren.

There is joy in playing "Candyland" with a 3-year-old, making snow angels in the front yard and building a snowman. Playing with a grandchild can be energy-draining, but it can also be exciting.

"And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof." (Zechariah 8:5) Children (and grandchildren) are held in high esteem in the eyes of the Lord. We are tasked with their care and learning and ensuring that they know about their Heavenly Father.

"Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3)

Children: You feed them, change their diapers, wipe their runny noses, tend their skinned knees, and wipe away their tears. Then they grow up, move away from home, go to college, get jobs, get married, and create new families of their own.

The cycle continues, generation after generation, passing down family traditions and keepsakes. And as such, each of us moves into new roles--from children to parents to grandparents. I don't even want to think about being a great-grandparent!

Being a grandparent is an awesome responsibility. It's more than feeding, changing diapers, wiping runny noses--you get the picture. It's sharing family history and teaching values. Sometimes, it's telling stories that even your children never heard (or never listened to)! It's holding up and honoring your children in the eyes of their children. It's respecting the rules of your children's household, now that they are parents with children of their own.

And it's a LOT of fun!

Livin' in the Hood

Did you know that I live in the "hood"? I have lived through babyhood, toddlerhood, childhood, and motherhood. Now I am cruising through grandmotherhood and loving every minute of it.

As mothers, we spend years watching our children grow up, maturing from children into young adults. We don't expect them to present us with grandchildren, but when they do, it is a time of renewal and reminiscing. Watching my granddaughter explore her surroundings as she grows older reminds me of when my children were little. And watching my children as they interact with their children reminds me of my trials and tribulations as a mother.

Watching a grandchild explore the world of bubbles is an awesome experience and it's even more fun when you add a granddog! My granddaughter was blowing so hard, I thought she would pass out. My granddog was so busy trying to eat the bubbles that she probably has the cleanest intestines in the canine world!

The Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

Well, I took that to heart today and decided to teach Morgan how to wash the cars. We filled a bucket with soapy water, handed her a sponge, and taught her how to use the hose (and very nearly squirted water into the neighbor's car, which had the windows rolled down). Oooops! I figure that by next year, she'll be ready to wash the car by herself!