Where Does the Time Go?

Wow! Summer is really hot here but believe it or not school started here today. My 13-year-old started the 8th grade and he was ready for school to start.

It is always exciting and scary to start a new year at school. He has a hard time believing that I understand what he is feeling right now. LOL They just never think that we were their age one time, just like we could not imagine our parents being our age at one time. Of course, as time goes on you can remember when your parent was the age you are now and the age gap starts to close. Funny, isn't it?

Well, Baby Will, or as I like to call him, Prince William, will be a year old next month! I can't believe it is almost a year since he was born. I remember that day so well and of course have video, too! Ah, the first birthday.

God gives us little ones so we can live again. I know since my dad died holidays have been so hard. Now that we have a baby again we start to see wonderment again. The smile of that baby just melts my heart. I think of how simple things makes him smile. How he enjoys everything around him.

Why do we stop doing that? Why do we let life get in the way of living? Life has been hard this summer. My daughter, his mother, has had some terrible health problems, my mother has had some serious health problems the last two months, and I feel like I'm starting to fall apart. I have been on my knees a lot this summer and I wonder if all the troubles of this life will ever end.

THEN the baby smiles just because he sees me and that makes life worth living. Today we went outside and he is in awe of trees, flowers, grass, bees, bugs, and anything that is around. He lets me see through his eyes the wonderment of God's creation. This baby lives for the moment and takes nothing for granted like I do. Oh, if I could love like this baby and live like this baby, wouldn't life be much better.

Today I pray that God will heal my mother and my daughter. I pray that God will help me to look at life as a gift and not a burden. I want to love life and look at life in wonderment just like Baby Will does.

If you are having a rough life right now just remember to take your burdens to God. He will get you through and HE will give you happiness again. We all have trials and tribulations but His Grace and Mercy will get us through. Time flies by and we need to trust that God knows what we are going through and will sustain us through it.

With love and prayers,

Joyce aka Nana

Sometimes We Forget to Enjoy Our Life

Time is passing by fast and this summer is hot as ever. Prince William, as I like to call him, is 9 months old! It is hard to believe that he is growing so fast. I will turn around one day and he will be starting school.

Prince William is having a fun summer getting to learn new things every day seeing that his actions have consequences. Such as, he puts the ball in the giraffe, and it makes a noise. So thrilled that HE did that!

He notices in a mirror that his Papa (Grandpa) is holding a baby and smiles at him. Is he smiling at the baby or at his Papa? Does he know that that baby Papa is holding is him or does he think it is another baby? He is such a wonder of God's creation.

He is trying to walk! He goes everywhere and wants to see everything! He gets tired and needs a nap but he just wants to keep playing and exploring! (This is what we call fighting sleep!)

It brings us to a place where we realize that sometimes we get so bogged down in living life that we forget to enjoy it. Sometimes life brings real struggles, and believe me when I say I know this because this summer has been one of trials for our family, but we still need to start each day with thanksgiving for all that we have and all that God does for us.

I was watching Prince William play this past week. He was on the floor and had his toys around him going from one thing to another. My thoughts went to a another place where our pastor went to help do a pastors' conference for those over there trying to reach the people for Jesus. I wondered if the babies there were doing okay. I said a prayer for them. Then I decided to do some research for a bit.

Guatemala has the highest poverty rate in Latin America. It is sad what some of these children have to live in and I am so thankful that I was born in this wonderful country, United States of America, and more so that my children and grandchildren were born here and live here.

More than half of Guatemala's 12 million people live on less than US $2.00 a day. Most of us spend more than that on a cup of coffee each day! And we are so privileged to be able to spoil our grandchildren! We should not feel guilty about this, but be thankful that God has provided a better life for us.

So it's back to the point that sometimes we forget to enjoy our life and our blessings. I know I do and I want so much to enjoy this life that God has given me and my family. I pray that God will remind me to enjoy these days each and every one of them!

I pray for you and your family a wonderful week and if you are in a hot spot try to stay cool!

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV)

Joyce aka Nana

3900 Saturdays

One of my friends sent this to me and I wanted to share. Although it is from a guy's point of view I think we grandmas can appreciate it, too. Maybe pass it on to your kids. *smile*

MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK!!

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.

Let me tell you about it.

I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whomever he was talking with something about 'a thousand marbles.' I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say.

'Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital' he continued. 'Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities.' And that's when he began to explain his theory of a 'thousand marbles.'

'You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.'

'Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail', he went on, 'and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear.'

'Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life.'

'There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.'

'Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time.'

'It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!'

You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter.

Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. 'C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast.' 'What brought this on' she asked with a smile.' 'Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles.'

Have a Wonderful Father's Day to all your grandpas out there!

Joyce aka Nana

We're Back in Business!

The baby is finally feeling better and so is Nana! LOL This seems to go hand in hand these days. Baby feels good, Nana feels good. Baby feels bad, Nana is sad.

He has been squealing and laughing all day long. He is teething so he is biting everything and I mean everything. He even bit the cat! I am sure glad the cat is laid back or I'm afraid we would have to get rid of a cat...cause ain't no way we're getting rid of baby!

My husband, our 13-year-old, my mother and I share a home since my father died 3 1/2 years ago and my mother cannot live alone. We have a cat, Fireball, and she is really a good cat, but my mother cannot stand her because she is an indoor cat and my mother says animals belong outside, period. It has been an adjustment for her and since we had the cat since she was six weeks old and she is now 7 years old, we could not be expected to get rid her, right? Well, of course, Fireball picks my mother's furniture to sharpen her claws on and drives my mother absolutely crazy. (Me, too, but I don't let her know that. *smile*.) I think Fireball has finally figured out it is just better to leave the furniture alone.

The baby has decided that he has the favorite table to teeth on and guess what? Yep, you've got it, it is one of my mother's table. I had said, if it was my table the baby could gnaw it to the floor for all I care, but I really try to keep him off the table that belongs to his great-grandmother.

Well, yep, you got that too, she was in the living room and he pulls up and starts to chew....I, being a good Nana, gently tell him no and go move him. Well! You would have thought I beat him and put him outside or something! Great-grandmother proceeds to tell me it is HER table and if that baby wants to chew on it he can chew it to the floor! (ROFLOL)

Here I have been so careful to make sure he does NOT chew on the table and of course, she says he can! I just kind of looked stunned and said, well, okay.

Really, since this the only one of her great-grandchildren she has ever been able to spend much time with she just ADORES him. And of course, he can do no wrong. It is really sweet to see them together and I am glad that God has given us this blessing to share.

So as we're back in business of having "fun" with the little one and what a glorious day that makes this.

Until next time have a GREAT weekend and feel free to comment your grandkid stories!

Joyce aka Nana
Rights For Grandparents Blog

Some Days Being a Nana is Rough

My grandbaby, who is 8 months old, spent the night last night. He was precious and sweet as usual but much calmer than he usually is. He is a good baby but very, very active so he keeps me on my toes, usually.

He took a long nap in the evening so I was prepared for a midnight bedtime but to my surprise he was ready for bed by 10:00. He has been teething so I thought, well, maybe he is just needing more rest right now.

I gave him his nighttime bottle and put him to bed. When I awoke at 3:00 a.m. with the cat meowing to go out to "cat around" I checked on him and he seemed fine. I put a light blanket on him and went back to bed. He stays in my room in his play yard, we called them playpens but I think someone didn't like the word pen, so I hear every move he makes.

When I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and realized I hadn't heard a thing from him all night I got up and once again checked on him. He appeared to be fine so I thought I would go back to bed for a bit because I knew he would surely be up soon. I checked on his several more times and things seemed fine. I even moved him around a little thinking I would wake him. I was ready for my morning snuggle with him. *smile*

Once it was 8:00 and he still had not awaken I decided I was just going to get him up. Well, he was burning up! I got him up and immediately gave him some fever reducer, juice and took his temperature. It was 101.5! And the sweet little thing was just smiling at me and loving me with those little hands. Just melts me.

I called his mother, my daughter, and told her what was going on. I told her the fever had gone down and I would just keep an eye on him and let her know if things got worse.

Early afternoon she came over and he was sleeping so she just decided to stay for a while and goof off and let him sleep. (And I think let Nana take care of him, which was fine with me.)

Around 4:00 his fever shot up again, this time to 102.5 so she called the doctor. I told her it was probably a virus because he had not exhibited any other symptoms such as pulling his ears, crying, etc. The doctor said to bring him in at 6:30 p.m. as long as we could get the fever down and if it shot up again and we couldn't get it down to take him to the emergency room.

We were able to keep it around 99 to 100 until time to go to the doctor. By that time I was quite emotional and my husband and I decided that she and the baby's father just needed to go ahead and take him and I would stay home.

So the story goes, he has a virus and the doctor will check him tomorrow. He has a very protective doctor because when he was 2 months old he was in the hospital with pneumonia and whooping cough for a week. He always sees him no matter what day or time of day it is. Pretty dedicated doctor I think.

Having raised four children I have been through this so many times and I was pretty sure it was a virus but it's good to have a doctor confirm. I don't think that it bothers me so much that he is sick, I have been through that over and over with my own children, but that he is at home, where he should be, with his mommy and daddy and they are taking care of him instead of me. LOL I just know he will grow so fast and won't be a baby very long at all. I want to enjoy every second I am with him.

I am thankful that my daughter will share him with us the way she does. We usually get him overnight every Friday night and usually any other day or night I want him. I think the rough part of being a Nana is having to let him go home. *smile*

This little one has stolen my heart. :0) I am so thankful to God for him!

Have a GREAT weekend and God Bless you and yours.

Joyce aka Nana

Grandparents Do Have Rights When it Comes to Grandchildren

Today I wanted to touch on a subject that seems to be one that is coming up more and more every year in the United States and Canada. This is grandparents rights to their grandchildren. Up until a few years ago courts did not recognize grandparents as having any rights to see their grandchildren but things are different nowadays and the courts have realized, thank goodness, that these children NEED their grandparents.

Sometimes there are grandparents that are not fit to be around the children and the courts can usually sort this out, just as they can usually sort out a parent that is not fit to be around the children. Besides, most grandparents that are not fit to be around the children will not be seeking any type of visitation or custody for their grandchildren so this is very rare that the courts would find a grandparent not fit.

Many states have reach the conclusion that children need their grandparents and there are avenues we can take now to protect our grandchildren. Check with you state to see what your rights are.

If you are finding yourself in a situation where you feel you need to help your grandchildren then there is a very good publication that you might want to have a look at. It covers Grandparents' Rights for visitation and custody and much, much more. I will put the link here and please feel free to leave questions or comments here.

God Bless you and yours and have a GREAT day!

Joyce aka Nana

Grandparents Do Have Rights

I Said A Prayer For You

Last night I was thinking about how wonderful it is to have Grandchildren and my thoughts went to prayer for my Grandchildren. My prayer for them is this:

Dear God,

As I hold the hand of these little ones
I pray that You will watch over them.
I pray that You will give me the wisdom
To lead them as a Grandma should.
I pray as they grow and learn
That I will teach them as a Grandma should.
I pray as I watch them and delight in them
That I will remember they belong to You.

I pray that their life will be filled with happiness,
Although I know some sadness will come in their lives.
I pray that when this sadness comes that You
Will give them the strength to cope with it.
I pray that they will learn from their mistakes
And lean on You to get them through.

I pray that they will love like You teach us to love,
Have compassion, tenderness, and kindness with others.
I pray that You will help me to teach them these things
And know that You are their best friend and Heavenly Father.
That you love them and will take care of them all their lives
And be there for them when they need You.

God, I thank You for allowing these precious ones
To be part of my life.
I will love them guide them, and take care of them
To the best of my ability.
Thank you so much for all you do for us
And thank You for watching over these little ones.

Amen

Joyce aka Nana

Hello and Welcome to Grandmas For God

I decided to start this blog with the desire to pull grandmothers of all ages together to help each other in many ways. (We will even let grandpa's or none grandmothers in.) Whether you go by Grandmother, Grandma, Nana, Me-Maw, Granny, or any other name, your GRANDkids come up with for you, you are welcome here.

I hope as this blog is developed we will be able to come together and obtain greater happiness through helping others.

Please feel free to add encouraging comments to help others or if you need to talk about something feel free to do so here.

We as grandma's have so many opportunities to teach and help our GRANDkids. Here we can share those tips and struggles with each other. Making God the center of our lives is not always easy but if we strive to do that everyday he will bless us more and more.

Thanks for being a part of this and may God bless you and yours.

Joyce aka Nana