Aunt Mary is having technological difficulties today, so Im posting this for her. Have a good week everyone! September 11, 2014 Sunday was a special day, so let me wish all you grandparents out there a belated Happy Grandparents Day! The saying goes that “grandchildren are the reward for not killing your children as they were growing up”. I have several friends that now have great-grandchildren, and they say they are just as wonderful, if not a little better than the grands. I cant imagine anyone even coming close to the love I feel for my grandkids, but I also, couldnt believe I would ever love anyone as much as my own boys. My daughter-in-law was a blessing to us from the very start, but she came into our family with a bonus...Hagen. I knew Dwain was dating a girl with a child from a former marriage, and when it became apparent that she would be joining our family, I began to worry----what if her little two year old son was one of those kids that is really bratty and hard to love. The first time we met Hagen was when they came to eat Sunday dinner with us. I was nervous, because I really wanted Shana to like me, and I would be meeting Hagen for the first time. I had met Shana a couple of times, but only in passing, and had already figured out I liked this girl. On top of that, Darrell, our youngest son, had spent some time with her and Dwain, and had already given his seal of approval. That Sunday the minute Hagen walked through the door I fell in love. He was not only the cutest little blond haired, blue eyed child I had ever seen, but perfect in our eyes from the very start. Louie and I became his PapaLouie and GranMary that day and never looked back. The next day, Louie, brought home a toy John Deere tractor with a couple of plows, so he would have something to play with when he was at our house. We were overjoyed when Dwain asked Shana to marry him, because we were going to be able to keep not only Hagen, but her too. For the next two years, we got to keep Hagen off and on, and enjoyed every minute of it. When we learned that Dwain and Shana were going to make us grandparents again, needless to say, we were ecstatic. The first time Mackenzie Louise was placed in my arms, I cannot even explain the emotion that swept over me; for one, she was a little girl, but also the first grandchild we got to start off with from the very beginning. Three years later, we were blessed with another grandson, Krese. He was funny from the very start without even trying and continues that trait to this day at seventeen. We now had three grandchildren, and oh, how Louie and I enjoyed each and everyone of them. There is nothing better in this world than a couple getting to share their grandchildren together. I look back and feel those years were maybe the happiest Louie and I had together. Louie used to say, “There is nothing better than seeing the headlights of the car that is bringing our grandkids to us, or the relief of watching the tail lights at they leave. We learned early on that grandparents get to have a lot of fun, but are really tired out after a few days; however, we were always rejuvenated by the next time we could keep them. We were so lucky that they lived here at Kress so we could enjoy them in their activities. We got to watch them in their school programs, athletics, and as they showed their animals at the various stock shows. It was so much fun. I have only two more years to watch Krese show his steers; and then, thats it! After Louies death I had to make a new will. It is simple, Dwain and Darrell will split everything 50/50. Also if something should happen to Dwain (God forbid), then his portion will go to the three grandchildren. A couple of days after it was finalized, it dawned on me that Hagen is not legally my grandson, so I called my lawyer and she redid the will to make sure he is included just the same and Kenzie and Krese. Louie and I have three grandchildren, and we have loved them all from the first time we laid eyes on each of them. Just because one of them does not share out last name, doesnt make him any less of a Strange than the other two. They have grown up so unbelievably fast. Hagen blessed our family when he married Beckah, Kenzie is now in college and it looks like she will be adding Heath to our fold, and Krese is a junior in high school. Where in the world have the years gone? They flew by in the blink of an eye. My advice to other grandparents is, if you have young grandchildren, cherish each minute you have with them. You cant even begin to imagine how fast they will grow up. I love my grandchildren today, but I do miss my little grandkids of yesteryear. What blessings I have to remember!
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 16:47:06 +0000
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