Life and Lessons

Some of the best lessons I've learned in life.

* Never pass judgement.   There is only one Judge...  and He knows the heart.  He is worthy to judge, and I sure am not!   

* Forgiveness will give you a peace within.  Carrying bitterness and anger in your heart will only hurt you.  Forgiveness is more for you than the other person.  Really.

  

* Like who you are.  If you don't...  then try to figure out what it is that you don't like about you, and change.  

 * Positive, happy people will lift you up!  Set aside some time each day to spend with someone who will lift your spirits.  Even if you have to find them in blog-land :-)  

* Laughter is really the best medicine.  

Dear Diary,
Shh...  mom went to get a cookie.  I'll finish this for her... 


*  Dog is indeed mans best friend.  Everyone should have one.  And they should feed them lots of cookies and chicken and chew bones and beef jerkey and  uh oh...  here she comes back...  dummm dee deedummm...         Gracie.

OH BOY

Is it true what they say?  

That little girls are sugar and spice and everything nice?

And little boys are frogs and snails and puppy dogs tails?

...Could be.

When I look at our granddaughter and our grandson, 

I certainly see a difference.

When Jake, our 3 year old grandson, arrived last night for a sleepover... I couldn't help it.  My first thoughts:

Jake's stuffed puppy is rough and rugged and his blankie the same.  Just like him.

 and just the opposite of Rissi's soft and 

sweet pink blankie and bear.

Jake doesn't stay with us that often.  

And when he does, I'm reminded of why...

He's quick and busy and unpredictable.

Once in my office when he was visiting at Miracle Ear, he quickly grabbed a large piece of hard candy and when his mommy tried to retrieve it, he swallowed...  and the candy became lodged in his throat.  After paging every Sears employee who knew CPR and then calling 911, we pleaded with a then bluish Jake...  "Please, Jake...  breath!"  The rescue squad soon arrived and took him to the hospital to check him out.  My hands shook as I cleaned the puke from the  office floor, thankful that our boy was going to be okay.  

Another time when we were at the fair, his mommy and daddy went to get something to eat and put me in charge of the Jake-ster who was sitting in his stroller.  Suddenly he pulled himself out and started running into the thick crowd and I ran after him...  and yes, when this terror-filled old Grammy finally scooped him up she paddled his butt and put him back in his stroller.  "Now you stay there!" I screamed at him.  He'd never seen Grammy that angry with him before.  He folded his arms, and wouldn't speak... but he was safe, and I didn't care that he was angry with me.     

  It seems he always acts before he thinks. 

And while I'm drawing pictures of flowers  

and beautiful sunshiny days...  trying to convince him he should join me...  

He's trying to turn cars upside down...

But Jake has a soft side. 

 He has the sweetest personality

 and this morning when he woke up 

(at 6:30 am...  eeek!) 

 He climbed up into my chair with me and said, 

"I like to snuggle with you Grammy..."  

How can you not melt? 

 Even though the coffee's not kicked in yet... 

 and you're still half asleep?

And he sure was happy to bring me 

this flower he picked from outside. (below)

I love him with all my heart. 

 And he's ALL BOY!

Dear Diary,
The boy chases me, throws all of my toys on the floor, and won't share his pancakes.  He also calls me Teddy.  That's not my name. Gracie. 

A Little Strange Maybe?

I had  heard stories about Suzie, but one warm spring day I would finally meet her in person. 

It was early 90's and my almost daily visits to the assisted living apartment building where my mom lived, never happened without my 2  year old daughter Lindsey tagging along with her baby doll of choice.   Lindsey loved visiting Grandma.  It was warm in her apartment and it seemed that the sun brightened Grandma's small apartment even on the coldest and cloudiest of days. 

One day shortly after we arrived, Mom got a phone call from the man upstairs. 

No - I mean...  really - the man upstairs. 

His name was Oney.  He wanted us to come up to his apartment. 

Oney had cancer and according to Mom, he was a little 'strange' but very kind. 

He lived alone in his 3rd floor apartment.  Well...  he wasn't quite alone.  He did have Suzie. 

Suzie was a doll.

Suzie was his life. 

He spent much of his day in his rocking chair by the window, singing and talking to her...  and rocking her back and forth. 

A little strange, eh? 

Or maybe just different...  who can say.

When we arrived at Oney's apartment he kissed Suzie on the forehead, 

then he asked Lindsey if she would adopt her and take care of her. 

"I've watched you just about every day for the past year," Oney said.  "You get out of your car and walk to the building..  and this little girl always holds her doll tightly in her arms, taking such good care of it, sometimes talking to it and kissing it.   I know Suzie will have a good home with her." 

Tears filled his eyes as he watched us walk away.  He died several months later. 

  We painted Suzie's  nails and lips and put a wig on her tattered, matted hair.  Then we'd dress her, according to whatever holiday was close.

She was always 'hanging around' and she was loved. 

When Lindsey grew up, and didn't care to have her anymore...

and when she started getting in my way

 (and spooking me when she'd stare at me with those stone cold piercing greenish eyes),

we sold her on ebay. 

I guess there comes a time in our lives

when we must just move on.