A Time for Change & Hope

Well, as most of you may have noticed, we have changed over from Wordpress to Blogger, simply because my other blog is hosted over here and I thought it would be easier to have them in the same place.

This weekend has been fantastic thus far. Yesterday, Keith and I had a date day, Grammy and Grandpa watched Liam, and we went and saw Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it was okay, but not really what I was expecting. Later we just hung out at home and played. Today I headed down south with my parents to where my Grandparents and Grandma's side of the family are buried off the beaten track in Southern Ohio; ironically very close to where Keith grew up. It was a gorgeous day, the cemetery where they are buried is in a beautiful valley just a few miles from where my Grandma grew up. I don't know why, but it was unusually emotional today. I think because of my Mom's mom, Gram, passed away last fall, and it just dawned on me all my Grandparents have passed from this world. It seems like such a finality sometimes when one generation departs from us and the unknown seems a bit daunting without them.

Growing up we were always surrounded by family. My Dad's parents were especially around all of the time. Every Friday we went out to eat with Grandma and Grandpa before heading back to their house to listen to stories about the good-ole-days, eat ice cream, play in the backyard, pop popcorn, or pick our favorite cookies out of the cookie jar and my favorite, watch Grandpa sip his searingly hot coffee out of a steaming cup. There was always the joy that just seemed permanent on Grandma and Grandpa's faces when we were around them. On Friday nights my sister and I learned that it was best to ask just before we were leaving for one more story or to pop some popcorn, or the exciting question of "Can we spend the night." We never wanted to leave Grandpa and Grandma's house. It was not just the smell, the wondrous stories of times gone by, but the immense pleasure and love that we felt in those walls. Oh, we felt them at home too, but it was special with Grandma and Grandpa. How Grandma would fluff the pillows, brush our hair, and tuck us in with a prayer, how Grandpa would walk around with his PJ top unbuttoned and Grandma yelling at him to cover up, or how in the morning Grandma would make us oats, which sounded gross at the time, but ended up melting in your mouth.

I hope my children and nieces and nephews know that joy, that feeling of permanency and the connection to the past you feel with your family and heredity.