Grandchildren are the Greatest...

Today I became a Grandmother for the third time! Life just doesn't get any better than this. I've spoke often about my own Grandmother, who is now 96 years old, and about my two Granddaughters, Eva & Takeda, well today we welcome my first Grandson, little Johnnie. There is just something about Grandchildren that make life complete. At least for me they do.

Maybe it's because I have such fond memories of time spent with my Grandparents when I was young. Fishing in the creek with Grandpa and picking peas in his garden. Making Grandma's special Christmas cookies every year with her, or staying up late playing gin rummy with her, when my sister and I stayed overnight. Life was good at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I want to be that special place where my Grandchildren can come, when they need a break from everyday life. When they're older and homework is too hard, and daily chores are tiring, I want to be the place where they can come to unwind, pull up a chair at the kitchen table, play cards and make cookies into the night. I want them to eat the peas from my garden before I get a chance to cook them, take them fishing at the pond down the road, and throw all the fish back and watch them swim away. I want to help them find the wild berries in the yard, and hope we still have some in the quart when we get back to the house.

Yes, I love being a mother too, but lets face it, motherhood is harder, parenthood is harder. Mother's and Father's have the weight of the world on their shoulders with the day to day responsibilities. I love that I can take some of the load off my daughter and her husband's shoulders every now and then, and have the kids come stay with Grandma, for a night or two.  

Becoming a Grandmother came a little sooner in my life than I thought it would, but the way I see it, I get all these extra years of loving! Who couldn't use a little more of that? ;)

Happy Birthday little Johnnie, you have been added to my list of people to write books for! I love you!

Thankfulness

It's that time of year again when everyone has turkey and Thanksgiving on their minds. The past few years have led to some big changes for me in my life and family. And I must say I'm very thankful for all of it. The good and the not so good.

I've learned through some hard knocks that sometimes even though we may resist certain changes in our lives, they usually turn out for the best in the long run. Sometimes things are not what they seem at first, but given time, they turn out to be exactly what we needed or wanted all along.

This year, I'm am so thankful for the new additions to my family, my lovely granddaughters, and great niece, and to those little ones still on the way. I'm especially thankful and overwhelming honored to still have my Grandmother with us, who is now 96. There is nothing more humbling than having 5 generations of women at the same time, all in the same room! The word "Mom" or "Ma", traveled up the scale of generations and back like lightening! What a privilege and honor to experience that.

This past year has also brought some of my own personal dreams to reality. I'm so thankful for the technology that has allowed me to express my creativity and put it out for anyone who may happen by. Publishing has become an ever changing entity, and self-publishing is here to stay. I had my very first book signing event this year, and for that I am exceedingly grateful. It truly was a dream come true for me on many levels. And to all my supportive friends who have held my hand through my brave new endeavors, I'm especially grateful to you. I don't think I would have had the courage enough to try without my friends and family by my side. Thank you.

So this year, as I cook up my Thanksgiving turkey, I'll reflect on the past years and look forward to future ones. My hope is to continue writing, designing, and having fun with the children at school and home for as long as possible. And maybe someday, if I'm very lucky, I'll be the 96 year old Great-Great Grandma looking down at the line of my daughters... I love you Gram!
Happy Thanksgiving.

Five Generations Happy Mother's Day

When Mother's Day comes around it has so much more meaning to me now that I'm a Grandmother too. My Grandmother who will be 95 years young next month has been an inspiration to me my entire life. She has been the rock in our family through thick and thin. And now with the birth of my Granddaughter last year, we are five generations strong! I've been put in the unique position to be a Granddaughter, and a Grandmother, at the same time. I feel very blessed. So on this Mother's Day I'd like to make a special wish to every Grandmother and every Granddaughter, and every Mother in between, that your day is full of love and happiness!
As I've stated before, most of my designs are made from the heart. This one is for all the Grandmas in the middle like me!
Happy Mother's Day!

Click here for gifts with this design

Also -
For anyone who has a daughter who is expecting her first baby, I've written this card just for you, for any day of the year -

Daughter Expecting Baby by nikiclix
See more Daughter Cards