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.

 

Warm and Fuzzy Feelings

I've never cared for the taste of tea — hot, or cold — but a cup of hot spiced tea on cold days, especially during the holidays, makes me feel all "warm and fuzzy." My favorite hot drink is Crystal Light's Peach Tea. It's tangy and not too sweet, and it couldn't be easier to make. Just add a packet of tea to two cups of water, heat for two minutes in the microwave, and Voila! ... a perfect cup of hot tea! And speaking of "warm and fuzzy," these two little ones never fail to make me feel that way ... Avery Grace, 7 — and Maddox Riggs, 15 months With my best wishes to you for a warm and fuzzy weekend, too!

Blessings

Thank you, Lord — for one of Life's most precious blessings ... GRANDCHILDREN ! For the Love of a Grandchild (author unknown) Child of my heart, heart of my heart, Your smile bridges the years between us. I am young again, Discovering the world through your eyes. You have the time to listen, And I have the time to spend. Delighted to gaze at familiar, loved features, Made new in you again. Through you, I'll see the future, Through me, you'll know the past. In the present we'll love one other, As long as these moments last.

Like Sister, Like Brother

Our grandson Maddox was nine weeks old yesterday. He has mastered the art of smiling and has moved on to perfecting his "cooing" techniques.

He is just on the verge of learning to laugh out loud, and his Grandmama (that would be me) thinks he is, without a doubt, the smartest baby boy (not to mention the most adorable baby boy) in the whole wide world. And I know for a fact that he is most definitely, positively, the sweetest baby boy in the whole wide world!

His little shirt may say that his "Mommy rocks," but his Grandmama rocks too! — just in a different way.

I think I deserve a t-shirt, too, don't you!

He loves his Fisher-Price activities mat, and is mesmerized by all the colorful little animals and lights and music ...

A penny for your thoughts, Little One ...

From the time he was born, his mommy and I both have said that it's scary how much he looks like his big sister Avery when she was a baby (she's six now), but it wasn't until I was looking at these pictures that I realized just how much he resembles her.

I took the next two pictures of Avery on her activities mat when she was two months old (she loved hers, too!) ... and it is just like looking at Maddox.

Maddox

They even held their hands the same ...

Maddox

Avery

It's almost like having twins six years apart!

Every time I look at this little one, I thank the Lord for watching over him and answering all the prayers that were said for him and his mommy, both before he was born and on the day he was born. He is, and always will be, our little miracle, and my heart overflows with love and joy every single time one of those precious little smiles is directed at me.

And, of course, the same is true about his sister, too.