Brave

Thank the Lord for my hubby's tiny netbook - at least I can write again. Our pc had a major malfunction last night and my laptop is not working either...oh the wonders of modern technology!


I so wanted to write about my day with Hannah yesterday. Manny & I took her to see the movie "Brave." What a CUTE movie!!! The main character reminded me so much of Hannah because of her beautiful long, curly hair (even though the character's was red) and because of Hannah's outgoing and sure-of-herself personality; but the girl in the movie had grown into her teen years and was having a hard time conforming to her responsibilities as a princess. I could envision Hannah and her mother having similar dialogues when she's a teen although Hannah has a tender heart, loves the Lord and her family and is so willing to please them both (the Lord and her family)., and I pray she never loses that.


Miss Hannah already knew some parts of the story line. She had been warned by her cousins who had seen it before her so she wouldn't get scared and she didn't. She started talking about it (and other things) as soon as we were in our seats at the theater. I was hoping the people sitting all around us would be tolerant of her talking as long as the movie hadn't started yet, but when it did start I had to remind her to be quiet, lol. She is always full of so much wonder and excitement...I hope she never loses that either.


Hannah turned to me at one point in the movie and whispered to me, "are there real princesses, Grandma Dee?" to which I cheerfully replied, "oh YES, Hannah, there are!" She smiled and sat back into her seat. I knew we would continue that conversation when the movie was over, and we did. I loved sitting through that movie with her. Manny & I love spending time wither her. She adds so much to our lives.


After the movie we took her to the food court to get some cotton candy. She and I were quite pleased when just last week we discovered there was an automated machine in the mall that for $3 would make that delicious confection right in front of your eyes and she just had to show her Papa how it worked. He stayed to watch her eat that delicious spun sugar on a stick and then had to leave us to finish up his work day. Hannah & I walked through the mall and I found her a Poly Pocket Doll of the movie character she had just seen. Her face lit up when I told her that I wanted to get it for her. She hadn't asked for it, but I knew she would enjoy playing with it and would remember that we had gone to see the movie together.

For all the memories I have already made with that sweet littler girl and for all the memories yet to be make...I am so grateful...Thank You, Lord!  :0)

More on Hannah

     Yesterday I began the story of when Hannah came into our lives. It seems like so long ago. Hannah is six and a half now, going on 30. She is very smart, but also loving and kind. She is not at ALL shy! She is full of energy and always wants to make the most of every day. She wears her momma out, I’m sure, but her mother is so patient. I admire her mother, in fact, I admire both my daughters-in-law. They are such great mothers! I was a mess when my kids were born, especially our firstborn. It’s a wonder first children ever survive, lol. I remember being so nervous. My daughters-in-law don’t seem nervous at all. They act like they’ve always been a mother. Maybe it’s because they have a great support group surrounding them. When Manny & I got married we moved four hours away from home because that’s where Manny was going to college and had found work. It’s hard being so young, married, and alone, but it was our choice and I suppose we were never really alone because God was always right there with us.

Life is an Hourglass

As seen through the eyes of a (young) Grandma          

      I’ve been so restless the past decade and had this burning desire to write. I’m not sure why, but I can’t seem to shake it. I suppose it could be because I have just a bit more time on my hands now that my kids are grown and gone, but I have been encouraged through the years - to write. A lady told me once that I was a book waiting to be written and that she sensed there was quite a bit waiting to pour out from my fingers onto the page. Maybe she planted the seed…and maybe this is just for me, maybe it’s for my kids and grandkids someday, or maybe God can use it to help someone else who is experiencing similar thoughts, questions, or struggles in this life. My most recent inspiration came from a woman named Stephanie Nielson. You may have heard of her…she is a remarkable woman who survived a plane crash back in 2008 and lived to tell her story. On her website she has a lovely video with this amazing song by Mindy Gledhill called “Hourglass.” It’s such a beautiful song. I’ve been listening to it all day today while I’ve cared for my grandson, Ethan.

      Motherhood to me was and is a gift to be treasured. I think the happiest time in my life was when I was pregnant with my boys. Even though I have experienced many blessings and many joys…nothing has compared to that. I was blessed to have healthy pregnancies. I didn’t even experience morning sickness as so many do. It was just this wonderful season of a miracle that I got to experience twice. Sometimes I will have dreams that I am pregnant and they are SO REAL, when I wake up I am usually just as sad as I am relieved. I’m thankful we had our children when we were young. It takes a lot of energy to raise children…PLUS, now we are still young enough to really enjoy our grandchildren.

      Grandchildren (did I say that?) YES, I did, and I’m proud of it. I became a grandmother at age 47. I suppose that’s young, although many are younger. When our oldest son and his beautiful wife told us they were expecting a child my head and my heart were flooded with emotions. Could it be true, could I be a grandmother; and what kind of grandmother would I be? How would I love this child? What do grandmothers do? What is expected of them? How will this affect my relationship with my child, 

now a grown man?

      Of course we were very excited, and I must admit a bit scared. I’m not sure why, I guess those feelings are normal. So the months passed, and then came the day when our first grandchild would make her appearance. We knew it would be a girl. That in itself was so exciting yet overwhelming…after all, I had raised two boys…how would I know what to do with a little girl? She entered this world right on her due date. She was so beautiful!! She was so tiny! She was this little angel all wrapped up and I got to hold her right away. My son, my firstborn, was now a father. So hard to believe…where had the years gone? My husband and I were overjoyed. Oh how we loved that little girl…from the moment she was born (even before). She was an extension of the family we had begun nearly 30 years before…you know - “All because two people fell in love!” 

It was surreal. She was a blessing from Heaven above, 

and so with her arrival began my journey as a Grandma :0)

Our Sweet Hannah

Watch the video by Mindy Gledhill here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg9JN_czIrs&feature=player_embedded