Monday, June 17, 2013

Imprints on the Heart

They alight from the car in a flurry of hugs and kisses ... their long awaited visit finally here.  We try to pack a week's worth of fun and memory-making into just two short days ... doting grandparents and loving great-grandparents ... waiting our turn to get our hands on them.   We cherish every minute ... knowing that, all too soon, the time will come when, after more hugs and kisses, they'll be strapped into their car seats again to go home ... our granddaughter Avery Grace, who is eight, already looking forward to seeing her friends at home, and our toddler grandson Maddox, solemnly looking at me with his big brown eyes searching my face, as if to ask, "Aren't you going, too, GrandMama?"

With little hands waving 'bye,' they leave us ... with their sweet little faces and spirits and the memories and laughter of the weekend imprinted on our hearts.  And as I walk in the house ... the oh, so quiet house ... I see sticky little baby fingerprints on the glass of the door.  I can't bear to wash them off ... and leave them as a reminder of the wonder and pure joy of these two precious grandchildren God has given us.

                           

May He watch over them and keep them close all the days of their lives.
 


5 comments:

Stacey said...

I feel for you. They've grown so much!

C M Designs said...

Amen, Janie. If they could only be these ages for a longer period of time.. That's not how it goes though..
My daughter and I were just saying, this morning, how fast time if going by. She will have been out of high school for 20 years next June. She now has her Bachelor's degree and is working on her Masters. She working for 10 years before starting her on her Bachelors degree.
Enjoy every minute with your sweet Grandchildren. They are precious.
Sincerely,
Charlotte in Va.

Pat said...

Janie,
I can identify with every word from your post today.

Many years ago Erma Bombeck decribed the feelings so well in an article she wrote called something like: "So, why am I crying."

In her case the grown children had come home, messes everywhere laundry all over, fingerprints and clutter everywhere. Then they left...the house was quiet and she said, "So why am I crying.

Memories, sweet memories how they linger.

Pat in Tallahassee

RachelD said...

Perfect, Janie. Every word.

And as poignant as the parting is, we'd like to re-live every bit of this every day. We have Grands and/or children in eight states now, and the crammings-in and saving-ups have to sustain us until the next visit.

We all go into fast-forward when they arrive, don't we? Every moment counts.

Jenni said...

Amen... my friend... what a beautiful prayer from your heart! and I must say, you have absolutely adorable grandchildren!

You are Blessed indeed!
Hugs,
Jenni