Thoughts for a quiet Sunday

As a little girl there was no one more important to me than my grandparents. I loved them both so much. I spent a lot of time with them especially after my little brother was diagnosed with cancer and then after my parents got divorced my brother and I spent time not only during the summer but with them during the school year as well. I loved being at my grandparents house because my grandpa was this larger than life force and my grandma let me be with her in the kitchen. They lived at the end of a dead end road in the country and playing outside or in their basement always lead to many play adventures. But being there also meant praying and going to church. I always enjoyed sitting between my grandparents and listening to the sermon and singing the songs. It was a time to be quiet and listen which was sometimes hard for me. I remember getting up in the mornings and my grandpa would be at the kitchen table reading the bible but he would always hug me to his side and tell me what he was reading about. He used to listen to Billy Graham on the radio in the kitchen and if I started asking to many questions he would shush me and say, “Joe-Pete listen to Dr. Graham, now is the time to listen.” It maybe lasted for 5 minutes but I still remember those mornings. I remember when I was going to school and my grandma would make me lunch and there was always a little note in it. I looked forward to that everytime I stayed there on a school day. I liked being there on Saturday’s as well because my grandma’s Avon lady would come and she would bring out cookies and I could stay and listen to them talk and look through the Avon books. Then the lady, I think  her name was Pearl, would give me little samples to play with. I loved to play with the little lipsticks. If the Avon lady wasn’t coming it might be a day that my grandma would bring out the Candy Doll, it was just a head with blonde hair and face that was washable and she would let me practice doing hair and makeup on while she would roll and set my hair.  Or sometimes she would let me help her do cook or bake. If I hadn’t been there for a few weeks she would bring out the clothes she made for the barbies she had. She made the most beautiful little clothes. She tried to teach me to sew and do cross stitch but I wasn’t a very good student. They used to walk quite a bit and when I was older they would take me on walks with them. Sometimes we could go into my grandpa’s gun room where he would be cleaning his guns or polishing rocks and he would talk to you about what he was doing. If we were there during the summer and we were gone on a weekend we would find a station that played Family Life Radio on Sunday mornings and listen to that while grandma made breakfast. Until I was in my mid 20’s and had a baby of my own my grandparents alway sent me a subscription to Guidepost. He thought a lot about the bible and would always sit there quietly with his eyes closed listening to what was being said on the radio. Sometimes on quiet sundays like today I can close my eyes and be back there with him trying to listen and be a good girl. When I came across this quote it immediately took me back the my grandparents house and that time with them. I know that there are relationships and things in my life that would hurt my grandpa but I also know he would be the first to forgive me and help me find a way to be better. He may even have quoted the words of Dr. Graham to me, but no matter what he would have been there by my side. I’m forever grateful that my son was able to meet my grandparents. My grandpa adored Gabe and came to Montana to be here for his birth. And I’m so glad that my sweet little Eliza Mae will be able to meet her great grandparents. All of them. Gabe is blessed to have all of his grandparents still with him, on both sides. My thoughts on this sunday are naturally of Gabe, Jen, Eliza and the upcoming wedding. So much love will be around them. I hope someday that Eliza will have wonderful memories of spending time with her Lolly and Go-Go to look back on. They may be different but as Dr. Graham says nothing is taken away without something better taking its place. I want to be that good in her life, to show her the unconditional love and understanding both my grandparents showed to me. Happy sunday.♥