Happy Birthday, first grandchild. Today you are two weeks old. And you are such a darling. I have few words to describe what it feels like to be your grandma. You make my heart fill with love such as I have not felt before. I feel as protective of you as I did of your mama when she was your age. You are brilliant, baby boy - such a wonderful gift to all of us. I love you, little man. I know you won't be reading this for quite a long time, but still, I want you to know that you are special, loved to the nth degree, and cherished. Your mama and papa's eyes are glowing with pride. And so are mine.
Welcome to the world, grandbaby. It's a wonderful place filled with beauty and radiance. You have been born into a family of great love and caring. You are blessed. And we are blessed even more to have you here among us...
You have my heart...
Your grandma xxoo
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Things your Oma taught me..
Hello Children, mom here...
Oma. I know you didn't get to know her well - her being so far away and all - but she is a pretty amazing woman. Early in my marriage, I knew that I hoped to grow to be as strong and wise as she was. She inspired me, honestly. When we moved from Ontario to BC and I got to know her, I was amazed at how she was always giving back - to her husband, to her church, to those around her. To us, your dad and I. I am thankful for the short time I got to spend with her before she moved back to Holland.
My first Christmas away from my family, she taught me, without even speaking, how to let go of expectations. My family Christmases where always the same - just family, everyone came home, we did things a certain way, certain things were a 'must' and couldn't be left out. Of course, and always, as long as my dad was alive, there was a huge real Christmas tree in our living room. We would get up on Christmas morning and open presents right away, then have a huge Christmas breakfast, then everyone that wasn't there for Christmas breakfast showed up for Christmas dinner (ALWAYS turkey) and it was chaotic, hectic, crazy-making, and fun. There were only family members, it was like a 'rule' that no friends ever got invited. Maybe because there were already too many of us. So, I had come to expect that all my Christmas's should be the same. So you can imagine my surprise when, our first Christmas morning spent in Victoria, BC, there was no Christmas tree! And, no one got up early! There was no Christmas breakfast shared with everyone! In fact, the festivities did not even begin until around 4 pm. Until then, Christmas day was 'just another day'.
That was the first shock. I didn't know what to do with myself that day. It felt uncomfortable, I was grumpy and lonely - not a good start to what I thought Christmas "should" be...
Dinner included not just the family, but quite a few friends from Oma and Opa's community, as well. Something else I had to 'get used to'. And there was no turkey! She served goose! Imagine...goose! How COULD she? And presents...well...they came at the very end of the day, instead of the beginning. We didn't open presents till Christmas day evening. And everyone had to create a poem for the person they were giving the present to. That was fun.
So, my first Christmas away from home was upside down, inside out, and backwards. But you know what? I had so much fun!!!!!!! And starting with that day I began to learn that life is what you make it. Christmas can be upside down, inside out and backwards and still be a great time. That life lesson from Oma began to help me see that I could let go of expectations...and still have a blast!
Stay tuned for another entry on 'things I learned from Oma'...coming soon!
Love always,
Your mom xxoo
Oma. I know you didn't get to know her well - her being so far away and all - but she is a pretty amazing woman. Early in my marriage, I knew that I hoped to grow to be as strong and wise as she was. She inspired me, honestly. When we moved from Ontario to BC and I got to know her, I was amazed at how she was always giving back - to her husband, to her church, to those around her. To us, your dad and I. I am thankful for the short time I got to spend with her before she moved back to Holland.
My first Christmas away from my family, she taught me, without even speaking, how to let go of expectations. My family Christmases where always the same - just family, everyone came home, we did things a certain way, certain things were a 'must' and couldn't be left out. Of course, and always, as long as my dad was alive, there was a huge real Christmas tree in our living room. We would get up on Christmas morning and open presents right away, then have a huge Christmas breakfast, then everyone that wasn't there for Christmas breakfast showed up for Christmas dinner (ALWAYS turkey) and it was chaotic, hectic, crazy-making, and fun. There were only family members, it was like a 'rule' that no friends ever got invited. Maybe because there were already too many of us. So, I had come to expect that all my Christmas's should be the same. So you can imagine my surprise when, our first Christmas morning spent in Victoria, BC, there was no Christmas tree! And, no one got up early! There was no Christmas breakfast shared with everyone! In fact, the festivities did not even begin until around 4 pm. Until then, Christmas day was 'just another day'.
That was the first shock. I didn't know what to do with myself that day. It felt uncomfortable, I was grumpy and lonely - not a good start to what I thought Christmas "should" be...
Dinner included not just the family, but quite a few friends from Oma and Opa's community, as well. Something else I had to 'get used to'. And there was no turkey! She served goose! Imagine...goose! How COULD she? And presents...well...they came at the very end of the day, instead of the beginning. We didn't open presents till Christmas day evening. And everyone had to create a poem for the person they were giving the present to. That was fun.
So, my first Christmas away from home was upside down, inside out, and backwards. But you know what? I had so much fun!!!!!!! And starting with that day I began to learn that life is what you make it. Christmas can be upside down, inside out and backwards and still be a great time. That life lesson from Oma began to help me see that I could let go of expectations...and still have a blast!
Stay tuned for another entry on 'things I learned from Oma'...coming soon!
Love always,
Your mom xxoo
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