How many times do we go on auto pilot and do things that are thoughtless? Sometimes those things make no difference to anyone. Sometimes, however, our thoughtless act is devastating to another person. We may think nothing of it. We may not even realize that we have hurt another person. There are people who are very vocal about their feelings and voice their opinions loudly over hurts that are real or perceived. Yet there are many people who bottle those hurts up inside and push them down as far as they can with the intent of forgetting. Try as they might to forget, some hurts never go away.
I have not decided if empathy is a learned skill or an inherited trait. It seems as though some people have it and use it abundantly while others have it with an on/off switch, and still others do not have it at all. I remember saying to someone once that they should have some empathy for the situation and they scoffed that I wanted them to feel sorry for me. Empathy is not sympathy. Let me say that again. Empathy is not sympathy.
So if empathy is not sympathy then what it is? It is the ability to proactively know what may hurt another person's feelings. It is listening while a friend cries on your shoulder to help work through a problem. It is giving a child a hug because you can tell they need one. It is holding the door open for an elderly person struggling to walk into a store.It is using tact when you have something difficult to say. It is doing the right thing. If you look in a dictionary, it will not give you these definitions. They are mine. But I have thought about this for awhile. It seems that empathy is lacking in our society today. People do not care.
We have become so busy being our own people that we forget that others are people too. We are obsessed with OUR needs, OUR wants, OUR lives. Me, me, me! We say things that are deliberately unkind or even cruel because, well, hey, everyone else does it. We ignore how it may make someone feel. We don't care; we have no empathy.
So, this being said, I am going to challenge myself this week. Between now and next Friday I am going to make a point to (a) say something kind to a stranger, (b) hold a door for someone, (c) call a loved one and let them know I love them, (d) send a card to a nursing home with a note, "Please give this to a resident who receives no mail." It is a world that could be made better if we would take the time to do so. Do you have a challenge for yourself? If so, let us know. Let's make the world a better place this week.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Cliches
This post is dedicated to cliches that really do have an impact on our lives. Well, my life anyway. We all use them. They are something to say when there is nothing else to say. They are words to fill an uncomfortable silence. They are things we say because we know it drives our kids crazy and it is the small amount of payback a mom can get without actually being mean. Hey, they drive us crazy at times, so, well.....
"Hind sight is 20/20" I used to hear this as a kid and think, "what in the heck does that mean?" Now as an adult I know. Having 20/20 vision means you see perfectly. When we look back over our lives we see perfectly what we should have, would have, or could have done to make things better. Problem is, you can't live in the past nor can you change it.
Which leads us to: "Tomorrow is another day." Scarlett O'Hara was right when she said this. Tomorrow is another day to correct any mistakes we made today. However there is a problem with this cliche as well because, "Tomorrow never comes." We put off and say "tomorrow" when we really should be doing and saying "today." Finally one day we wake up and realize that the intentions for tomorrow were thought of 10 years ago and we still have not changed the problem. As for getting healthy, it has been 32 years for me. I know that because my son is now 32 and I have intended to lose weight since he was born. Frankly, my dear, that is a lot of tomorrows.
"Every cloud has a silver lining." Yes it does, only sometimes that lining is lead. Unless you are Superman hiding out from cryptonite, lead is not exactly a great thing for anyone. Sometimes it is just best to accept the disappointment and move on from there. Disappointments are a part of life. We cannot escape them. We must learn to deal with them or succumb to depression or worse. I have my days here and there, but mostly I just keep trudging on.
"All that glitters is not gold." Again, yes that is true. We rush after the glitter and think that it will make our lives better. It is a temporary fix. Gold in itself is soft and weak. You need to mix harder, uglier metals with it to give it strength. That is where the troubles of life come it. They are the ugly that makes the pretty possible.
"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." True, but who wants to drink after a horse anyway? Maybe where you have lead someone is not where they are supposed to be. Maybe they need to walk a little on their own to find the right place for a drink.
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." We think that other people have perfect lives. We see the greener grass but we do not see the dirty dishes, piles of laundry, or sadness that may be hiding behind that green grass. Guess that we really do need to "walk a mile in their shoes" to understand their lives. Empathy, my friend, is a gift that few people have and even fewer people want.
Last,but not least, "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones." You know, this cliche says a lot about life. We need to remember it. We need to employ it. We are all different and we should be. If we were all the same what a boring place Earth would be. Yet instead of accepting our differences and trying to understand them, we judge, ridicule, mock, and outcast those who are different from us. If you are a Christian you should remember that there was only one perfect person who walked this Earth and it was not you or me. If you are not a Christian you should remember this cliche that sums it all up, "Nobody's perfect." Make an effort to accept. I did not say agree; I said accept. Take the journey to make our world a better place. Because....
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." You are on a great journey called life. Make the most of it.
"Hind sight is 20/20" I used to hear this as a kid and think, "what in the heck does that mean?" Now as an adult I know. Having 20/20 vision means you see perfectly. When we look back over our lives we see perfectly what we should have, would have, or could have done to make things better. Problem is, you can't live in the past nor can you change it.
Which leads us to: "Tomorrow is another day." Scarlett O'Hara was right when she said this. Tomorrow is another day to correct any mistakes we made today. However there is a problem with this cliche as well because, "Tomorrow never comes." We put off and say "tomorrow" when we really should be doing and saying "today." Finally one day we wake up and realize that the intentions for tomorrow were thought of 10 years ago and we still have not changed the problem. As for getting healthy, it has been 32 years for me. I know that because my son is now 32 and I have intended to lose weight since he was born. Frankly, my dear, that is a lot of tomorrows.
"Every cloud has a silver lining." Yes it does, only sometimes that lining is lead. Unless you are Superman hiding out from cryptonite, lead is not exactly a great thing for anyone. Sometimes it is just best to accept the disappointment and move on from there. Disappointments are a part of life. We cannot escape them. We must learn to deal with them or succumb to depression or worse. I have my days here and there, but mostly I just keep trudging on.
"All that glitters is not gold." Again, yes that is true. We rush after the glitter and think that it will make our lives better. It is a temporary fix. Gold in itself is soft and weak. You need to mix harder, uglier metals with it to give it strength. That is where the troubles of life come it. They are the ugly that makes the pretty possible.
"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." True, but who wants to drink after a horse anyway? Maybe where you have lead someone is not where they are supposed to be. Maybe they need to walk a little on their own to find the right place for a drink.
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." We think that other people have perfect lives. We see the greener grass but we do not see the dirty dishes, piles of laundry, or sadness that may be hiding behind that green grass. Guess that we really do need to "walk a mile in their shoes" to understand their lives. Empathy, my friend, is a gift that few people have and even fewer people want.
Last,but not least, "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones." You know, this cliche says a lot about life. We need to remember it. We need to employ it. We are all different and we should be. If we were all the same what a boring place Earth would be. Yet instead of accepting our differences and trying to understand them, we judge, ridicule, mock, and outcast those who are different from us. If you are a Christian you should remember that there was only one perfect person who walked this Earth and it was not you or me. If you are not a Christian you should remember this cliche that sums it all up, "Nobody's perfect." Make an effort to accept. I did not say agree; I said accept. Take the journey to make our world a better place. Because....
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." You are on a great journey called life. Make the most of it.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Count Your Blessings
My life has not always been easy. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not complaining at all. However, I have had a little more than my share of bad luck. So much so that several years ago a few of my friends started calling me Job. One of them is also not the world's luckiest person and she once told me that whenever she was really down she thought about my life and it made her realize that things were not so bad. Murphy's Law may have been written about me. I'm not sure about that but I do have my suspicions.
For example, I have lost almost everything I have owned. Not once, but three times. The first time was through a divorce which left me with my kids, my car, my clothes, and very few of my belongings. At the time everyone advised me to fight for my "stuff." My children were young and that fight hurt them. He was fighting. He was hurting them. I was being a mother. Protection of my children at all cost. Always. Besides, what I lost was material things. My blessings were my children, my sanity, and my peace of mind. I felt blessed and God told me repeatedly that these were just "things", let it go.
The second time was soon after my mother passed away from cancer. I cannot describe the grief I felt during that time. I made a lot of poor choices because my grief was so deep. Within the space of seven months I had lost an uncle, an aunt, my mother, my grandmother, my home, both of my children moved away, and I was involuntarily transferred to a job I did not like at all. My children were far away, but they were healthy and had grown into adults I was proud of. My dad was still with us and I got closer to him than I had ever been. I met a great friend at a new job and I was blessed.
I battled depression for several years, but always managed to keep my head above the water. I met someone who I thought was a perfect fit for me. Turns out he wasn't. This divorce was much easier. No fighting.No kids. But I did lose my home because it was in his name. I did lose my transportation because we shared a car. For awhile I lost my self respect because I was someone who did not believe in divorce and now I was twice divorced. But, you know what, I was blessed. Because I felt so badly I tried to do things to make myself feel better. I did. These things helped me to help a few people along the way. They also made me take stock of my life and do some re-evaluating. It is part of what set me on this journey to be healthier.That choice is a blessing in my life.
So, here is what I know:
I am blessed with two great kids who have become responsible, respectful adults.
I am blessed that they have chosen good spouses.
I am blessed with five absolutely beautiful and loving grandchildren. (I know they love mamaw!)
I am blessed to have a roof over my head. (Many people do not.)
I am blessed to have food on my table. (Many people do not.)
I am blessed to have family that loves me. (And I love them.)
In short, I am blessed and I thank God everyday for those blessings.
I can hear my mom's squeaky voice singing, "Count your blessing name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done." Thanks, Mom, for teaching me to count my blessings!
For example, I have lost almost everything I have owned. Not once, but three times. The first time was through a divorce which left me with my kids, my car, my clothes, and very few of my belongings. At the time everyone advised me to fight for my "stuff." My children were young and that fight hurt them. He was fighting. He was hurting them. I was being a mother. Protection of my children at all cost. Always. Besides, what I lost was material things. My blessings were my children, my sanity, and my peace of mind. I felt blessed and God told me repeatedly that these were just "things", let it go.
The second time was soon after my mother passed away from cancer. I cannot describe the grief I felt during that time. I made a lot of poor choices because my grief was so deep. Within the space of seven months I had lost an uncle, an aunt, my mother, my grandmother, my home, both of my children moved away, and I was involuntarily transferred to a job I did not like at all. My children were far away, but they were healthy and had grown into adults I was proud of. My dad was still with us and I got closer to him than I had ever been. I met a great friend at a new job and I was blessed.
I battled depression for several years, but always managed to keep my head above the water. I met someone who I thought was a perfect fit for me. Turns out he wasn't. This divorce was much easier. No fighting.No kids. But I did lose my home because it was in his name. I did lose my transportation because we shared a car. For awhile I lost my self respect because I was someone who did not believe in divorce and now I was twice divorced. But, you know what, I was blessed. Because I felt so badly I tried to do things to make myself feel better. I did. These things helped me to help a few people along the way. They also made me take stock of my life and do some re-evaluating. It is part of what set me on this journey to be healthier.That choice is a blessing in my life.
So, here is what I know:
I am blessed with two great kids who have become responsible, respectful adults.
I am blessed that they have chosen good spouses.
I am blessed with five absolutely beautiful and loving grandchildren. (I know they love mamaw!)
I am blessed to have a roof over my head. (Many people do not.)
I am blessed to have food on my table. (Many people do not.)
I am blessed to have family that loves me. (And I love them.)
In short, I am blessed and I thank God everyday for those blessings.
I can hear my mom's squeaky voice singing, "Count your blessing name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done." Thanks, Mom, for teaching me to count my blessings!
Sunday, May 19, 2013
There are many reasons in life to cry. Some are happy. Some are sad. And some are directly connected to department store dressing rooms. You choose the outfit. Oh so cute. You take it to the dressing room with high hopes. And. Then. You put it on. That's when it hits. The tears and the statement, "I'm never going to eat again!" At the time you seriously mean that comment. You hate what you see and you want it gone. You beat yourself up for all the bad choices that you have made. You swear to lose 10, 20, or 100 pounds. You will live on salad and water and eat ice cubes for snacks. You will come one day and put on an outfit and it will look good on you. So with red puffy eyes you return the outfit to the "no takers" rack and leave the store. You go somberly along your way in the mall. And. Then. You pass the cinnamon roll shop, or the ice cream shop, or the fudge shop, and your brain says, "OK, kid, you can start tomorrow. Have that treat and make yourself feel better." And you do. The tears are gone for now. But you are determined that tomorrow you will succeed.
You lost a battle but later that night when you go to bed your mind spins with what you can do to lose weight. You plan a healthy breakfast and plan a packed lunch. It is going to work this time. And. Then. You wake up late. No time for breakfast. Oh, well, less calories. Packed lunch? Not going to happen. OK, so you will pick up a salad at lunchtime. So you head off for your day determined to succeed. By ten o'clock you are so incredibly hungry that you have to have something. You head to a vending machine and buy a sensible pack of granola bars. Well, not totally what you wanted, but, hey, it's better than a Snickers bar. Lunchtime comes. You head out to buy that salad and along the way you smell the grilled hamburgers. Well, I could have a hamburger now and eat a salad for dinner. Yeah, that's the ticket. You pull up to order. Do you want fries with that? Well, it is cheaper with fries. I won't eat them or just eat a few. So you answer. "sure." Do you want to supersize that? Well, I am really thirsty and the big drink would great.So you answer, "yes." And. Then. You pull away from the window and reach in for a fry. And reach in for a fry. And reach in for a fry. And pretty soon, the fries are gone. So you think to yourself that the hamburger must be eaten before anyone sees you with a large drink and a sandwich because they will know you ate a large fries. So, you eat the hamburger as you drive, wiping grease from the steering wheel. When you walk into work you now have only a large iced tea. So you pretend that you didn't have time for lunch. But you did.
Later it is time to go home. When you arrive home you start dinner. You look at the salad ingredients in your fridge and it looks unappetizing. What the heck? You've blown it all day today so you fix yourself a pot of spaghetti or even order a pizza. Tomorrow you will do better. But you fall asleep before you had time to plan a breakfast or pack a lunch. And. Then. Tomorrow comes. And. Then. You fail again. After so many fails, you quit trying until the next time you try on clothes and cry in the dressing room. Then you start this whole vicious cycle over again.
Somewhere, sometime this cycle has to stop. It can stop with death or it can stop with a little planning and preparation. Make yourself a priority in your life. (Truthfully, I have always had difficulty with that.) Start with what you can do. Watch one less t.v. program and pack lunch for a week. Get up 15 minutes earlier and eat a good, healthy breakfast. Invest in containers to prepackage your meals. Count what you eat. Journaling is not a job it is as opportunity to know what you have done right (repeat it) and what you have done wrong (stop it). Make yourself a priority. You are not selfish, you are important. Your health directly affects the people that you love. Show them you care enough to want to be around to see their future. You may always cry in the dressing room because body image is difficult to change, but that is better than having others cry at your funeral. You may never be a fashion model, but you can be a model for a good healthy lifestyle. Go. Do it!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Jumbo the Elephant is a Fox
As a child I was overweight. I grew very fast and reached my full height by the age of twelve. Everyday of my life during the school year I was teased and sometimes ridiculed. I had very good friends in elementary school. They did not tease me because we were friends. However, kids on the bus, kids who were not my friends, and several boys teased me relentlessly. I never told my parents. Never. I used to feel so inadequate that I didn't want my parents to know. They were so good and gave us so much from the heart that I felt that they deserved a perfect daughter. I made up for my weight by working hard, studying, and getting good grades. Many times I cried at night because I knew what awaited me the next day. Yet, I loved school, loved my friends, and loved every teacher I ever had in elementary school. I loved school. I learned to hate my body.
As the summer began between my last year of elementary school and my first year of junior high, I asked my mom for a hula hoop. They were very popular then and I wanted to learn how to hula hoop. That summer I hula hooped for hours at a time. I lost all my baby fat and blossomed into a young lady. A young lady who still hated her body and all the imperfections that were glaringly obvious. When I returned to school my friends were stunned. (I lived in the country and did not see my friends over the summer.) But the remarks from the kids who had tormented me made me feel uncomfortable. One boy who had never called me by name, but always referred to me as "Jumbo" was very impressed. I still remember his comment to me that first day of school, "I can't call you Jumbo anymore. You are a fox." And then he asked if I wanted to "go together." (It was the early 70s after all.) I told him no. I was still extremely uncomfortable in my own skin.
I obsessed over my weight. As an older teen I rarely ate. My grandma was there in the mornings and she made me eat. But she would fix me one poached egg, one piece of dry toast, and a cup of tea with saccarine (again, the 70s), But I never ate lunch and because of band practice and various clubs, could get out of the house without mom knowing I hadn't eaten dinner. I existed on that small breakfast and a spoonful of peanut butter. Weekends were different and I ate more then. But still I felt fat. I was not as good as my thin friends. They were prettier, looked better in their clothes, and they were more confident. I hated my body. I still hate my body.
So now here I am. I understand that I will probably never accept my body. However, I must accept that I am a good person. I may not look good in designer clothes, but my heart is in the right place. My attitude is adjusting. I am worth the effort to get healthier and thinner. I am worth it. I am worth it. I am worth it. If I say it often enough, maybe at some point I will believe it.
As the summer began between my last year of elementary school and my first year of junior high, I asked my mom for a hula hoop. They were very popular then and I wanted to learn how to hula hoop. That summer I hula hooped for hours at a time. I lost all my baby fat and blossomed into a young lady. A young lady who still hated her body and all the imperfections that were glaringly obvious. When I returned to school my friends were stunned. (I lived in the country and did not see my friends over the summer.) But the remarks from the kids who had tormented me made me feel uncomfortable. One boy who had never called me by name, but always referred to me as "Jumbo" was very impressed. I still remember his comment to me that first day of school, "I can't call you Jumbo anymore. You are a fox." And then he asked if I wanted to "go together." (It was the early 70s after all.) I told him no. I was still extremely uncomfortable in my own skin.
I obsessed over my weight. As an older teen I rarely ate. My grandma was there in the mornings and she made me eat. But she would fix me one poached egg, one piece of dry toast, and a cup of tea with saccarine (again, the 70s), But I never ate lunch and because of band practice and various clubs, could get out of the house without mom knowing I hadn't eaten dinner. I existed on that small breakfast and a spoonful of peanut butter. Weekends were different and I ate more then. But still I felt fat. I was not as good as my thin friends. They were prettier, looked better in their clothes, and they were more confident. I hated my body. I still hate my body.
So now here I am. I understand that I will probably never accept my body. However, I must accept that I am a good person. I may not look good in designer clothes, but my heart is in the right place. My attitude is adjusting. I am worth the effort to get healthier and thinner. I am worth it. I am worth it. I am worth it. If I say it often enough, maybe at some point I will believe it.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
CEO
Today I read an article about why the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch chooses not to market sizes XL and XXL. According to him it is because he only wants "cool" people to be seen in their clothing. It is for the "cool" kids in school. He says that there are always several groups of kids in school and his clothing is for the popular, "cool", thin kids. Have you seen the ads? Half-dressed couples in suggestive poses. Why bother with clothes at all? He also stated that they only hire "cool", thin, attractive people to work in their stores. Well, Mr. CEO, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'd also like to ask why the over use of the word "cool." Could it possibly be that you, Mr. CEO, were not one of the "cool" kids in school? Does being thin automatically make you beautiful? No! No more that being "fluffy" makes you ugly.
As I read this I wanted to be outraged! I wanted to write a scathing letter to this obviously shallow man. I wanted to, but I couldn't. All I could feel was pity. This man has no idea of beauty. He could not possibly understand love, because love is not gauged by beauty. He is living his life on the surface. There is no depth to his soul. What happens as beauty fades? Do you love your aging parents less because they are aging and it is no longer "cool" to love them? Do you love your newborn baby less because they emerge with a misshapen head from hours of labor? Do you quit loving your wife if she gets a few wrinkles or gains a few pounds after having your child? I cannot understand what is going on inside your head. Perhaps it is what is NOT going on that perplexes me.
Now I have seen many beautiful thin people in my lifetime. Some of them were my friends. But to me what made them beautiful was the beauty that came from within. Sure they wanted to look good, but they did not dismiss those who were not so beautiful or thin. I have also seen many beautiful, not so thin people in my lifetime. The people that I choose for friends are the ones who are beautiful souls. Those who care and show that they care. I have had many wonderful friends over the years and I call you all beautiful whether you are short, tall, thin, fluffy, pretty, or plain. To me you are beautiful. You have allowed me to cry on your shoulder and you have cried on mine. You have lent me money when I was broke. You have watched my kids, brought food over to my house when my mother died, went to bat for me, and been there for me when I needed you. So, to all my BEAUTIFUL friends, THANK YOU! I don't care if you can shop for clothes in Abercrombie and Fitch or not. Heck, shop at Goodwill for all I care. You are more to me that clothes! You are substance and soul. And that, Mr. CEO, will elude you forever. I am sorry for you. I can only hope that someday you will be as rich as I am.
As I read this I wanted to be outraged! I wanted to write a scathing letter to this obviously shallow man. I wanted to, but I couldn't. All I could feel was pity. This man has no idea of beauty. He could not possibly understand love, because love is not gauged by beauty. He is living his life on the surface. There is no depth to his soul. What happens as beauty fades? Do you love your aging parents less because they are aging and it is no longer "cool" to love them? Do you love your newborn baby less because they emerge with a misshapen head from hours of labor? Do you quit loving your wife if she gets a few wrinkles or gains a few pounds after having your child? I cannot understand what is going on inside your head. Perhaps it is what is NOT going on that perplexes me.
Now I have seen many beautiful thin people in my lifetime. Some of them were my friends. But to me what made them beautiful was the beauty that came from within. Sure they wanted to look good, but they did not dismiss those who were not so beautiful or thin. I have also seen many beautiful, not so thin people in my lifetime. The people that I choose for friends are the ones who are beautiful souls. Those who care and show that they care. I have had many wonderful friends over the years and I call you all beautiful whether you are short, tall, thin, fluffy, pretty, or plain. To me you are beautiful. You have allowed me to cry on your shoulder and you have cried on mine. You have lent me money when I was broke. You have watched my kids, brought food over to my house when my mother died, went to bat for me, and been there for me when I needed you. So, to all my BEAUTIFUL friends, THANK YOU! I don't care if you can shop for clothes in Abercrombie and Fitch or not. Heck, shop at Goodwill for all I care. You are more to me that clothes! You are substance and soul. And that, Mr. CEO, will elude you forever. I am sorry for you. I can only hope that someday you will be as rich as I am.
Friday, May 3, 2013
My Why
Today I spent two hours rocking my youngest grandson. The plan had been to rock and sing him to sleep, then put him down and finish my housekeeping chores. That plan never materialized. As I sat rocking him I could not stop looking at him and remembering rocking and holding my own babies. I held my kids a lot and my grandkids as often as they would sit still for me. They grow up way too fast. They are "my why" for wanting to get healthy. I hope to be around another 20, 30, 40 or more years to see these five beautiful children grow to adulthood. They are my life, me breath, my babies.
#1 Luke. My first grandchild. He is my never stopping, always on the go, play until you drop kid. I worried about him being in school, but he has had the best first grade teacher. She understands his needs and knows how to get his best. My kind of teacher! Luke is sometimes my challenge, but I love him dearly. He never misses an opportunity to hop on my lap, give me a hug, say "I love you, Mamaw," then go off on another ball of energy adventure.
#2 Alex. My son's oldest boy is my little gentleman. He is so much like his daddy as a little boy that I want to take him home with me and relive my youth. He loves soccer and plays with passion. (Unlike his dad who watched the birds and picked flowers while the ball went rolling by.) Alex is caring, kind, protective, and ornery. He has dubbed me, "Mamaw Cake" because I always bake him something. He loves cake, especially ones that he helps me bake.
#3 Isabella. My only granddaughter and the princess of our family. Isabella is a dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty who is as clumsy as her mamaw. She wears her heart on her sleeve, again like her mamaw. She loves her dogs, her dolls, and her tea set. She cannot wait to be 8 years old so that mamaw will buy her an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas. Isabella is a lot like me and will always be my princess. She plans to marry James from Big Time Rush when she grows up, but first she has to go to Kindergarten.
#4 Jonny. Jonathan Patrick. I love that name and I love that boy! He is called Jonny in honor of my dad, John. Jonny is my buddy. He likes my sense of humor and loves to play tickle monster. He know what he wants and is vocal about getting it. He keeps my son and daughter-in-law on their toes. He loves his big brother, who he calls "Ga-ga". (We don't know why.) He is fun-loving and adventurous. Give Jonny a ball of any kind and he will play the sport.
#5 Gabriel. My baby. I have spent the most "baby-years" time with Gabriel. He is sweet, loving, and smart. He loves his binkie and his blankie. He talks a lot and has never met a stranger. One of his favorite things is to sit with his binkie and his blankie on mamaw's lap while she rocks him to sleep. In truth, that is one of mamaw's favorite things, too.
They are growing so fast. I know they must, but I love them at this age where "Ho Ho Clause" is real, hugs and kisses are free and abundant, and mamaw is a cool person with cakes, stories, and songs. Yet I know they must grow up. I want to be a part of those growing years. I want to hold their babies and remember all of this again. Pretty good incentive to get healthy, wouldn't you say?
#1 Luke. My first grandchild. He is my never stopping, always on the go, play until you drop kid. I worried about him being in school, but he has had the best first grade teacher. She understands his needs and knows how to get his best. My kind of teacher! Luke is sometimes my challenge, but I love him dearly. He never misses an opportunity to hop on my lap, give me a hug, say "I love you, Mamaw," then go off on another ball of energy adventure.
#2 Alex. My son's oldest boy is my little gentleman. He is so much like his daddy as a little boy that I want to take him home with me and relive my youth. He loves soccer and plays with passion. (Unlike his dad who watched the birds and picked flowers while the ball went rolling by.) Alex is caring, kind, protective, and ornery. He has dubbed me, "Mamaw Cake" because I always bake him something. He loves cake, especially ones that he helps me bake.
#3 Isabella. My only granddaughter and the princess of our family. Isabella is a dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty who is as clumsy as her mamaw. She wears her heart on her sleeve, again like her mamaw. She loves her dogs, her dolls, and her tea set. She cannot wait to be 8 years old so that mamaw will buy her an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas. Isabella is a lot like me and will always be my princess. She plans to marry James from Big Time Rush when she grows up, but first she has to go to Kindergarten.
#4 Jonny. Jonathan Patrick. I love that name and I love that boy! He is called Jonny in honor of my dad, John. Jonny is my buddy. He likes my sense of humor and loves to play tickle monster. He know what he wants and is vocal about getting it. He keeps my son and daughter-in-law on their toes. He loves his big brother, who he calls "Ga-ga". (We don't know why.) He is fun-loving and adventurous. Give Jonny a ball of any kind and he will play the sport.
#5 Gabriel. My baby. I have spent the most "baby-years" time with Gabriel. He is sweet, loving, and smart. He loves his binkie and his blankie. He talks a lot and has never met a stranger. One of his favorite things is to sit with his binkie and his blankie on mamaw's lap while she rocks him to sleep. In truth, that is one of mamaw's favorite things, too.
They are growing so fast. I know they must, but I love them at this age where "Ho Ho Clause" is real, hugs and kisses are free and abundant, and mamaw is a cool person with cakes, stories, and songs. Yet I know they must grow up. I want to be a part of those growing years. I want to hold their babies and remember all of this again. Pretty good incentive to get healthy, wouldn't you say?
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