Grandparents

Growing up I always envied people my age that had grandparents.  I have always been drawn to elderly people, and am constantly gushing at them when I see them in public.  More often than not, I look at Paul and say, "Aww I just LOVE old people!", and he replies with a smile, "I know you do love, and I love that about you!"  This is most likely due to the fact that I never was privileged to have the chance to get to know any of my grandparents.  My Grandma Jean is the only one in which I have memories of, but her memory went quickly by the time I was old enough to truly get to know her.  I did happen to be her favorite (wink), and have fond memories of her bringing homemade banana bread and a bag of candy for me when she was still able to visit.  When I was around 16, we went up to Michigan to visit her, in the nursing home in which she lived, and I remember commenting on how beautiful her ring was.  At this point her mind was gone, but she slipped it off her finger, struggling a bit getting it over her swollen, aged knuckles, and allowed me to try it on.  It was a perfect fit!  I joked that it was a sign that when the time came, I would inherit her rings.  She chuckled and said that would only be right!  To my surprise, ten years later, I have the honor of wearing her diamond surrounded by Paul's Great-Grandmothers.  What a blessing to have such history in an age-old tradition, symbolizing the coming together of two families.   

I sit here now thinking of the great joy it brings to my heart to have two sets of God honoring parents, that have raised us both to love and serve the Lord.  We are beyond blessed to have parents that love the Lord, love one another, and love their children with the utmost devotion.  It is so wonderful to me that not only does Zaylee get grandparents, she gets all FOUR of them!!  Added bonus, she gets a wonderful Great Grandma Suzanne, and had the honor of being held in the arms by her Great Grandpa Zay!  I pray over our sweet girl every day, and I often thank the Lord for her four loving grandparents and the legacy they are leaving here on this earth.  I pray for many years to come with each of them, full of memories, laughter, singing songs, and lots of love. 

 

I often find myself overjoy when I look at Paul, and imagine life with him when we are old and gray.  We used to write letter's about it in our "in between" phase back in 2008.  He once said to me, "When I see my future, I see you being my personal pain in the butt that I can't live without.  I can imagine you old and holding your hand."  So much truth in that first part, and so much JOY comes from the latter.  As we are about to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary this coming weekend, and after celebrating Paul's parents 30th last month, I can't help but look forward to the many years that lie before us.  I am so excited to see where the Lord leads us as a couple, and now as a family.  I pray we can be wonderful, Christ-like examples in all we do for our sweet Zaylee, as our parents have so selflessly done for us.