Thankful for my grandchildren!

“¹⁴ Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.  ¹⁵ They will declare, “The Lord is just!  He is my rock!  There is no evil in him!”

Psalm 92:14-15 (NLT)

Welcome to Thankful Thursday!  Today as I sit pondering my list of things I am thankful for, I find that at the top of that list today is my grandchildren.  I have eight beautiful blessings thus far and I couldn't be prouder of them or happier to be their 'Nana.'   Sometimes, I can't believe I am a grandmother...I still think of myself as young, well...relatively young.  (*smiles*)

Nobody prepared me for the day that I would become a member of this exclusive club.  I always wanted to have grandchildren but never really thought about what that meant.  When we found out that we were going to be grandparents for the first time...I started on a journey to figure out 'what' I would be called.  See, I had a Nanny & Pappy and a Grandma & Grandpa.  When I was growing up, if my parents said we were going to Nanny & Pappy's house, I knew exactly where we were going.  I didn't have to ask which grandparent's house.  I liked that.  So I knew that I would not be grandma because Jeremy's mother was already a grandma and she was called 'Grandma.'  I lost my Nanny in 1991 and I really wanted to be called Nanny to honor her, but I was still distraught about losing her these 7 years later.  So, I finally settled on 'Nana' because it was similar to Nanny.  Nanny played a great role in my life and I had already named Jenifer after Nanny by giving her Nanny's middle name of Elizabeth. 

So, now I am settled into being a Nana.  I love it.  When Lylea (pronounced 'lily) was born, it was like having my own children over again.  It was the same with each one.  Jeremiah came next, then Grace, then Zach.  All four of them born to our oldest daughter, Jenifer of Sweet Blessings.  Asya (pronounced Asia - grandchild #5) came next followed by her brother, Benjamin.  They are from our second daughter, Kendil.  Number 7, Nicholas, followed and finally we have Isaac.  These last two boys from our son, Brian.  Our baby, Brooke, has not had any children yet so prayerfully we still have more babies to come. 

I love my babies...that's what I call my grandchildren...so much.  I used to think that the people who said, "If I'd know having grandkids was so much fun, I'd have done it first!" were awful people.  I mean, who would say that and make their kids feel like they were unloved?  After I became a Nana...I fully understand that statement.  It certainly doesn't mean that I didn't love my kids...it simply means that being a Nana is a tremendous blessing from God!  There is nothing I like more than spending time with my babies!  Yes, I get tired.  Yes, I get frustrated because all they want to do is talk, talk, talk and not be quiet.  Yes, I get crazy because they want to spend the night all the time.  BUT...I love time I get to be with them.  No, they don't spend the night as often as they used to.  We do try to do special things with them.  We will take them...all 8 of them...to breakfast and to a movie on a Saturday morning.  We try to go to their sports events.  We have them for an evening or yes, they will spend the night sometimes.  We used to have all of them together to spend the night, but I just can't do that anymore...it was easier when they were little but they are ranging from 13 to 1 now and they like so many different things that having all of them at once wears me out!

Well, this is a Thankful Thursday so let me tell you again, I am thankful for my grandchildren.  I am thankful that God has allowed me to be a mother and a Nana (grandmother).  Prayerfully, one day I'll be a great-Nana!  But, Lylea, you don't need to hurry...you have plenty of time!  (*smiles*)

A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher,
and a little bit best friend.

-- Author Unknown

Have a great day,