Celebrating Life's Little Joys

The Ole One Two Punch

2007-04-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

It wasn't bad enough that my oldest son said he was moving to the other side of the country, but now my second oldest son is moving out that way too. He met a girl on a business trip last summer and it is serious enough for him to take a chance on moving. I know I can't hold on to them forever, but it doesn't matter what age your kids are you still worry and enjoy having them around to squeeze every once in awhile. I keep hoping they will change their minds before the anticipated move dates. I understand they are tired of our weather, I certainly am, winters are too long. Now that spring is finally here (temps will be in the 50's and 60's this week) I feel more cheery. Just to see the sun is great. The grandkids were over this weekend and we had fun. I talked to my 3 year old grandson about the move, but he doesn't realize he will be so far away from me. He of course thinks it will only be a short drive away. I will deeply miss my grandson and granddaughter. They are precious! I will have to invest in a web cam and a better camcorder in order to communicate with them so they won't forget me. It's a good thing we live in the era we can do this stuff.

You're My Hero

2007-02-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

Well I heard the pitter patter of little feet coming through my door this past weekend. I got my Grandma fix. The grandkids came over for a full day's visit. We colored, played games, sang and danced. As usual we just rejoiced in each other's company. I am so lucky to have them visit as often as they do. Thank goodness there is no word yet on my son's family moving far away. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed they will remain close by. It would be hard to remain a "hero" in my grandson's eyes if he and his family move away. My grandson called my husband and I heroes this weekend. He whispered in our ears, "You're my hero."

My granddaughter is talking a little bit now. So it won't be much longer and I wlll hear her precious voice saying things that make me feel like I'm floating on air. There's nothing like a big ole squeeze from the grandkids. As my granddaughter and I danced this weekend with her in my arms, she gave me a loving squeeze as she rested her head on my shoulder.

The grandkids make me feel appreciated. What these two little ones may not realize is- they are my hereos. They rescued me from being just another forty something year old woman. I like the title of "Grandma" so much better.

God, why....

2007-02-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Today my post is not uplifting. It is a story that makes you wonder "WHY"

My youngest sister is 35 almost 36 years old. She and her husband had been trying to conceive a baby for sometime, but were disappointed each month. So they tried invitro fertilization almost four weeks ago and two eggs were implanted. Last week she called with the joyful news she was pregnant. Her hormone levels were doing good and the doctor's office wanted to see her in two more days to check the levels again. When my sister went back to the doctor's office for the next check up the levels did not increase as much as the doctor would have liked. They told my sister she might be having an abnormal pregnancy. My sister was a nervous wreck. Again she was told to come in a couple of days later for another check and an ultrasound. Well she had the ultrasound yesterday and was told one embryo was in one of her fallopian tubes and the other embryo was too small. She was also told that the baby in her uterus might have stopped growing. Today, she found out that what appeared to be an embryo in her uterus might just have been the embryo sack from the one in her fallopian tube. Tomorrow my sister will be at the doctor's office to "remove" the embryo from her tube. I feel so bad she and her husband have to go through this.

Our whole family had been praying for my sister and her babies. It seemed our prayers worked that she would become pregnant, but maybe we should have added things like "we pray she doesn't have an abnormal pregnancy" or "we pray she doesn't have an eptomic pregnancy".

I believe in the power of prayer, but I don't understand why bad things happen to good people. Why are some people allowed to have children who have no business raising kids when there are others who want children of their own desperately but can't or have to go through considerable lengths to achieve pregnancy. I know there are reasons for everything. Sometimes down the road of life you figure out some stuff on why things did or didn't happen. Yet there are some things that still don't make sense to me. One of my questions to God when I enter the gates of Heaven will be "God, why did you let children suffer in the hands of people who didn't care for them properly, I don't understand, why God, why?"

I pray my youngest sister's two remaining frozen embryos will be strong and grow healthy in her uterus for the whole nine months when my sister and her husband are ready to try invitro again. I also pray it's a normal pregnancy in every way shape and form. There I think my previous sentences covered it all and I have it in writing. God, are you listening or reading this?

Call Me Selfish

2007-01-26T18:49:00.000-08:00

EVERY DAY IS A PARADE

I received a phone call from my oldest son the other day asking if I'd watch his kids this weekend while he and my daughter in law were having an open house. I asked what the open house was about and he sprang the following news on me - they were thinking of moving across the country. Well my heart sank. He is looking into a new career and has a lead in another state. I told him that I hope he can find a job right here. We talked about other things going on in our lives and then he says, you don't sound happy. I said, "I'm not, you just told me you're thinking of moving your family across the states." Anyway, I've been praying he and his wife think harder on this decision. I'm a family person. I'm not sure I can cope with this potential change. Call me selfish, but I want and need a close relationship with my grandkids. It will become hard to maintain the bond I've created with my grandchildren if they are a thousand or so miles away. And of course, I want my son to be nearby just as much. I do have something going in my favor today, he said the open house would not be this weekend, but maybe in two weeks. He also said he did find some businesses nearby that he would look into. We talked more about my desire for his family to stay close. I know he is a big boy, but in my heart he's still my little boy. So if the holy angels in charge of careers are listening - please, please, please point my son somewhere close to home, thank you!

Now This Is Good Music

2007-01-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

Every Day Is A Parade

I recently had my grandchildren over for an afternoon visit. Among the many things my grandson likes to do (believe me there are many things he likes to do and they are usually all at once; he's a busy boy), is listen to music. So I put on a guitar rock cd. On came a song that was popular in the early 1970's. He was ok with it at first, but got bored within a minute. He went over to the cd player and removed the cd. He looked for another cd and recognized one he enjoys. Then out of the mouth of my adorable grandson, he says, "Now this is good music!" He popped in the cd and danced around. I started singing along and he says "Be quiet, you can't sing now, I'm singing." I guess I was not allowed to intrude on his enjoyment. Also in the room is my granddaughter. So she and I danced ( I was allowed to do that at least). My grandson listened, danced and sang along to the whole cd, which is a feat in itself since he is mister busy body. I am still not sure if he knows I'm the one who recorded the cd or if he just thinks that it is a cd from our collection I have lying around. But it doesn't matter, all I know is that out of our collection of cd's I have one "good music" cd that pleases my grandson. And that cd is one especially made by me for him, my granddaughter, future grandchildren and the rest of my family. My grandson gave me a beautiful compliment whether he knows it or not. Thanks for the lift, buddy!

The Kid Cracks Me Up

2006-09-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

EVERY DAY IS A PARADE

I called my oldest son last week to see how he and his family were doing because I hadn’t seen or talked to them in well over a week. They were out shopping for a new kitchen table and had looked at many styles and sizes throughout the day. I called just when they were leaving a store. I could hear my grandson in the background saying “Who’s on the phone dad?” He also sounded as if he had enough of the shopping excursion. So I asked his dad to let me talk to him. Well my grandson gets on the phone and he is going on and on about the kitchen tables being too big, too many to look at and other things that I couldn’t quite understand, except one word, RIDICULOUS, which he repeated over and over again. Everything was just RIDICULOUS. Obviously this was his new word for the day and he thought it was hysterical. I was laughing my head off and so was he. I can still hear his cute voice repeating the word. My grandson loves to get silly so if he’s saying or doing something that gets people laughing, he’ll keep doing it.

This kid loves telephones. Whenever their house phone rings or one of his parent’s cell phones goes off he wants to talk to whoever is on the phone. He can be relentless about it; which brings me to the call I made to their home a couple of days later. My son answers their house phone and in the background my grandson is saying, “I wanna talk Dad” at least a half a dozen times. My son gives in to my grandson’s pleas. My grandson and I are having a good conversation about what he did that day and how was his baby sister, my granddaughter, (I’m looking forward to chit-chatting with her too someday) when my son says “Ok it’s time to say good-bye”. My grandson says in an adorable tone, “No, I’m talking to MY Grandma”. He purposely stressed the word “my”. My son laughs and I’m grinning ear to ear. I wasn’t just Grandma, I was “MY” Grandma, I guess he told his dad. I was feeling pretty important because the phone call lasted another few minutes. He had a lot to talk about to his grandma and daddy wasn’t going to interfere.

This kid cracks me up. Sometimes when I think about him I find myself laughing out loud. Grandkids sure do make you feel good inside. Thanks little buddy!

School Cheers and School Tears

2006-08-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

Every Day Is A Parade

Hi. I haven’t written in awhile because I decided to set more time aside in order to enjoy what was left of the summer with my children. As usual summer goes by too quickly for me and my kids. Well school is back in session and it’s time for a routine again, not only for me but my children too. My kids might say they don’t like going back to school, but when they eagerly get their backpacks ready days before that so called “dreaded first day of school”, I know they are secretly looking forward to it. It’s all about reconnecting with their friends. School is another word for “Social Arena”, a place where you save a seat at lunch for your best friend, girls giggling about the boys, and boys teasing the girls. Nothing has changed since I was a kid. I’ve already seen these scenarios happen last week when our school opened for a new year.

But what about a preschooler’s first day of school? Some are excited to be joining the realms of being a “big kid”. Others are not so sure why they are being sent out into the “big kid” world away from the familiarity of home. This week I saw a couple of preschoolers in tears. Our school has a preschool program and some of the children arrive by bus. The little girl was very upset, she cried hard as she got off the bus. My heart broke for her. The little boy tried hard to fight the tears. He had his arm up over his eyes and he was shaking. I talked to both of these kids as we walked in the school. They seemed to be more at ease as I told them what a fun day it was going to be, making friends and getting to know their nice teacher. The little girl was comforted so much by me that she wanted me to take her to class.

Where does time go? One moment our children need us so much and in a flash they are just too big to hold our hands and walk in school together. Oh my gosh, what would their friends think! And a kiss goodbye, yikes – don’t even think about it Mom!

Where Does The Time Go

2006-07-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Every Day Is A Parade

One moment our children are young, helpless and need every boo-boo kissed. The next moment they are old enough to obtain a driver’s permit. I can’t believe I have another child behind the wheel of a car; at least for now it’s only with my husband or me in the car giving the do’s and don’ts of driving. The permit was given to my child within the last couple of weeks and we still haven’t made it to the open roads. So far the practicing has been limited to empty parking lots. The reason for this is because although I think my child is thrilled to have that piece of paper that says “I passed my classroom driver’s education class”, I don’t think my child is really feeling ready for the road. As any parent is well aware we know our teenagers want to act grown up but deep down they aren’t sure of themselves. I mention this because after the first week of getting the permit my child’s excitement seems to have worn off. Fine with me, we can take it slow because I’m in no hurry for the official “I can drive all by myself license”. I’ve been through that experience twice before and it is a nerve wrecker. I admit it – I’m a worry wart especially when it comes to my kids. So I say, “Honey take your time getting your feet wet, I’m still adjusting to the fact that you don’t need your boo-boo’s kissed anymore.”

And The Race Is On

2006-07-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

EVERY DAY IS A PARADE

Who’s faster than a mouse being chased by a cat? Faster than a cat being chased by a dog? Faster than a dog being chased by a kid? Faster than a kid on all fours heading to the dog’s water bowl? The answer is -- a Grandma. My granddaughter learned to crawl last month. She graduated from the army crawl. Let me tell she had the army crawl down perfectly and did it impressively quick, but the crawling is quicker. Yet I can still get to whatever she has her eyes on across the room faster than a speeding bullet. The other day she and her brother were over for a visit. Soon after she arrived for the visit she spotted my dog’s water bowl and made her way to splash her hands in it. Well this became a game to see who could get to the water bowl first, me or her. After the first splash, I was definitely the winner. Oh, but she kept trying and thought she was funny. She would eye me, then the water bowl and ZOOM the race was on. This kept her entertained for awhile until I was tired enough to finally pick the water bowl off the floor. She was disappointed for a bit, but what’s better than splashing in the dog’s water dish? The answer is -- splashing in the kiddie pool. Her grandma knows how to have fun.

The Fun is Coming

2006-07-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

Every Day Is A Parade

The area in which we live has had some major storms roll through. In fact one storm was so severe that the thunder actually bounced our house on its foundation and many trees in the surrounding neighborhoods had fallen. Well recently my grandchildren spent the weekend at our house while their dad and mom spent some alone time. My grandkids and I had lots of fun together, but there does come a time when children need their naps. I told my grandson it was time to rest his little head for awhile and what I interpreted from his response and cute voice was “The fun is coming”. I assumed he was having a great time with me that taking a nap was not on his planned list of activities to do at grandma’s house. I did convince him to lie down, but the nap never happened. For approximately one and a half hours he played in my youngest son’s room and in between I checked on him and reminded him it really was naptime. Each time I came in the room he would point to the poster above my youngest son’s bed. On this poster there’s a race car and a bolt of lightning. My grandson would then say to me, “It’s storming”. Then I would say, “Yes, there’s a bolt of lightning on the poster, but it’s not storming outside today.” My son, his dad, called later to check on his kids. I told him how his son didn’t want to take a nap because he was having too much fun at grandma’s house and that he said “The fun is coming”. That’s when my son says, “Oh, what he’s probably saying is “The thunder’s coming. He’s been afraid of the storms we’ve had lately and he doesn’t like to go to bed because of them.” Well the poster thing now made sense, but I was somewhat disappointed because I was thinking he wanted nothing more than to have as much fun at my house as he possibly could. Soon the weekend came to a close and he and his little sister were packed up to go back to their home. My son, their dad, came to pick them up. And guess what. He was not ready to go home, because there is always FUN at grandma’s house.

Click Yourself Into The Moment

2006-06-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

Every Day Is A Parade

Today I took my youngest children to see the movie “Click”. I thought the plot of the movie was entertaining, but it could have had less sexual innuendos and still kept an older audiences attention, let me tell you why I think this. The movie had me reflecting once again about how precious time is and a reminder to live in the moment. I know life can get busy and sometimes it’s hard to slow down. Been there, done it. I think as we age we prioritize the most important things in life such as family first and foremost. Then of course we want to take good care of our health and we try not let things get the better of us; life is too short. At least these three things are my principals for living these days. I’m not going to paint a rosy picture; I’ve had my share of life’s downers. I just see the whole picture better with age; it’s clicked. So today I want to share a poem with you that I wrote. It is a reminder for us adults to slow down, breathe, enjoy the day and remember what it was like when we didn’t have big concerns. Your children or grandchildren would probably love it if you partake in what is said here:

Bring out your imagination
Take a stroll down memory lane
Spend the day as if you were a child
Hop aboard the youthful train

Run through a bunch of puddles
Jump in them till your heart’s content
Don’t worry what the neighbor’s think
What matters is the day will be well spent

Look for a colorful and shiny stone
Put it in your pocket and admire it all day
Place the stone under your pillow tonight
Maybe sweet dreams will come your way

Grab a blanket and lie in the grass
Look at the clouds in the heavenly skies
Visions of elephants to dragons can be seen
The wonder is there if you open your eyes

Climb a tree and sit there awhile
Gaze at the scenery from a different view
The beauty and splendor will come alive
You will find yourself renewed

Go ahead and spend the day like a child
There’s nothing to be ashamed of
Believe in the magic of your younger days
And spread the joy and love

© 2004 Debra Kitzman

Ok, now play with your children and/or grandchildren, play till you’re exhausted. Let the reason for living click on and stay on. Family is really all that matters. Have fun!

For The Love Of Golf

2006-06-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

Every Day Is A Parade

I think I might have the next golf pro living in my home. My youngest son loves to play golf and he is really good at it. It all started back about four years ago. My husband, our two youngest children and I were visiting friends in northern Wisconsin. The men went fishing and the women went to a flea market. It was my youngest son’s birthday and since there wasn’t much for the kids to do at our friend’s home I decided to keep my eyes open for something fun. Well I spotted a golf club and used golf balls and figured what the heck why not buy them. I gave him the used gift and he thoroughly enjoyed it. We go back home a couple days later and he’s out in the backyard playing away. His interest in the sport continues off and on for quite some time. About a year of so later my husband wins a set of golf clubs at his union meeting and our son soon becomes their new owner. He’s in his glory. My husband and I realized last Christmas that it was time to get him a set that suited his age and size. So we bought him a youth/teen set. Well thank goodness we had a mild winter with not much snow so he was able to use those clubs now and then, otherwise he might have gone stir crazy not being able to play the game. Let me tell you my son drive a golf ball. Thank goodness we have enough land because now my husband and son have planted grass for a golf hole, it will be complete with a cup and flag. My son is outside everyday checking on the growth process. His young face just lights up when he talks about golf. This spring we took a cruise and there was a golf simulator. The golf pro on the ship said we would be surprised on how good he will do at a golf course. Oh, was he right. Last month I was reading our local paper and in it was a golf ad for a junior league forming at a nearby course. I showed it to my son and there was no hesitation, “yes I want to join!” Now my son is not competitive and joining team sports is not on his agenda, so this was big!! I signed him up right away. Then on the Friday before the league started, he and I tried out the course so he was familiar with it before the league started on that Monday. The instructor on the cruise ship was right, my son was really doing great his first time on a course. That whole weekend before the league started my son washed and polished his golf clubs and golf balls. My husband took him to the sports store and bought him a pull golf cart. My son prepared for the big day all weekend long. Well Monday came and he had no problem jumping right out of bed. I took pictures of him as he drove his golf ball to the first hole. The kids on his league were impressed. He said he got a lot of “nice hit”, “great drive” “WOW”. His league instructor at the end of the game told me “you’re right, he is really good at the game”. You can imagine the talk at the dinner table that night. Right now my husband and son are at the driving range. My husband is not a golfer, but he enjoys seeing our son’s enthusiasm as much as I do. And of course on Father’s Day our son insisted we give Daddy a brand new driver so that he can wallop the golf balls in the backyard too. The only problem is the competing of sports between my son and husband. My husband loves to fish and take our son along, but my son finds it hard to break away from golfing. The cure for that today was that my husband got up at 5am to fish and came back just as our son was ready to head to the driving range. Men and their sports, what are women to do - - oh yeah, go shopping. My daughter and I love that sport.

A Fistful Of Love

2006-06-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

Every Day Is A Parade

Have you ever witnessed someone’s child acting out, you know, the child that’s a bit mad because they can’t have their way? Last month, I witnessed what first appeared to be a tiff between a mother and daughter, but soon it became an adorable act of love by a child. I was in the school parking lot waiting in my car for my son at the end of the day for our trip back home. I watched a mother and her preschool daughter walking on the sidewalk in front of me. The little girl broke lose of her mother’s grip and ran over to a tulip that was on the school’s grounds. She had her hand on the stem of the tulip and I could tell she was asking her mom if she could pick it. Her mom shook her head “no” and then proceeded to walk towards the school’s front door. The little girl immediately crossed her arms and appeared upset as she followed her mom. Then the unexpected happened. The young girl went off the sidewalk again and went into the grass, reached down, pulled up a dandelion and held it behind her back without her mom knowing what she had just done. She then ran to her mom and presented her mother with this beautiful dandelion. I didn’t get to see the mother’s reaction because she had her back facing me, plus at this point the school bell went off and a ton of kids were eagerly heading to the buses or to their mom or dad. All I know is I was grinning ear to ear having seen this sweet little girl wanting nothing more than to please her mom. She wasn’t able to give her mom the first flower she saw on that walk into the school, but she did give her the most popular flower given to moms worldwide for years and years – the precious dandelion. Some people don’t like to see those yellow weeds in their yard. I say, let the dandelions runneth all over my green grass, I need a bouquet!

Grandma's Here, Grandma's Here Hooray-Hooray

2006-06-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

Every Day Is A Parade

Monday - June 19, 2006

Is there someone in your life who makes you feel absolutely loved and admired? Does this person radiate onto you their spirit, joy, passion and charm? When you’re with this person do you act out of the ordinary, maybe a little silly or giddy? When this remarkable person sees you do they run toward you to give you a squeeze so tight that it nearly knocks you off your feet? And does this special someone come in the form of a bundle of sweetness that’s around three feet tall? Then chances are you’ve been blessed and you are the grandparent of a preschooler, just like I am. I think being a grandparent is one of life’s greatest rewards. I found my life renewed when I became a grandma; a chance to relive all the pure delights children can bring into the world. Grandparents know how fast a child grows up because looking back on our own children’s childhood it all seems like a fast moving blur. Yet, back when our kids were young and we were dealing with life’s challenges of being a parent we sometimes thought we would never get through a single day. Now we realize it was just a day, not a lifetime.

It occurred to me recently that in my two and a half year old grandson’s mind I am a breath of fresh air. I can provide him with a change of pace, because as much as my grandson loves his dad and mom, I am a new adventure with every visit. On a beautiful spring day about a month or so ago I drove to his house for a lunch date. As I was about to pull into my son’s and daughter-in-law’s driveway I saw him standing at the front door. I can still picture our eyes locking together. The opened screen on the storm door was letting in the welcomed breeze and it allowed me to hear the following loud shrills of excitement, “Grandma’s here, grandma’s here, hooray hooray!!!!” He was jumping up and down, while my heart was skipping a beat. I knew I was someone special that day, so as soon as I stepped out of the car I started jumping up and down too. We were two cheerful souls rejoicing in each other’s company. Yes, there have been quite a few other times he has been thrilled to see me, but on this particular day I realized he has reached the age to express himself verbally and he is becoming his own unique little person. I’ve been thinking about all the wonder and amusement that will be added to our relationship now that he can communicate his feelings through word and action.

Believe me I know there is a relatively short time before he discovers he has better things to do than wait at the front door for me with an adorable smile and his hands reaching for me to pick him up. His sister, my granddaughter, is ten months old and it won’t be long till I get more hugs and more priceless moments like “Grandma’s here, grandma’s here, hooray hooray!” You know us grandmas, we like to brag about our perfect and precious grandkids. It’s good to know that he is the first of many grandchildren to come and I have much to look forward to. So at my house I keep the freezer stocked with popsicles, the sandbox filled with toys, a favorite music CD in the stereo, a few bucks stashed away for McDonalds, and an creative idea or two in my head to keep the grandkids coming back. Hey, a whole lot of love and a little bribery never hurt anyone!