This Sunday was Grandparents Day.  It does not seem like a significant day until you stop to think what grandparents do for their grandchildren.  Grandparents are often the ones who pick kids up from school, take care of them over summer vacation and/or when parents need a break, they show up to events and offer support, take care of grandchildren when they are sick and moms and dads cannot be there,  they send care packages, tell stories, and teach.

Sunday was the first Grandparents Day where all of my grandparents have been gone.  It seems strange not to be able to send them a care package and tell him how much I appreciate them for all that they have done and do for me.  I think most of all I miss the conversations I use to have with them.

I grew up in the same house as my grandparents. For the first 24 years of life my family consisted of me, mom, grandma and grandpa.  We did everything together.  Weekends were spent with grandparents.  My grandmother use to take me to daycare when I was younger both would pick me up from school and attend school events, holidays were spent with them, we went on family outings, we to church together and ate dinner together almost every night.

My grandfather passed away on August 12, 2011 and my grandmother passed away this February 2^nd.  I have never missed two people more than I miss them.  I still remember calling home and getting my grandfather on the phone … I would ask what he was doing and he would say “sitting on my dead ass”.  During our conversation he would typically call me “Shorty” and I would call him “Baldy”.  Then he would pass the phone to grandmother and we would talk none stop about her flowers, the cats, the dog, just about anything.  Both always had great advice and almost always had the answer or a good idea about how to solve a problem. Sometimes I would call just asked the question even though I knew the answer.

Grandma and Grandpa taught me so many things.  Grandpa taught me all the farming, ranching, cattle and how to take care of the land.  Grandma thought all about gardening, cooking, how to be crafty and how to decorate a house.  They both instilled in me the importance of religion, the role of God in my life, and hard work.

My mom, Grandma and I were quite a trio … We loved to go shopping together, cook together and garden together.  Both were always by my side when I was sick. They taught me how some things around the house do and helped make me who I am today. I think at times my grandfather kind of felt left out.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about them and that I am not thankful for all they taught me and for the time I got to spend with them.  I LOVE how close my mom, grandma, grandpa, and I were.  It is a bond I will never forget. Since my grandparents have passed away my mom and my bond has gotten tighter.   I can’t wait to have grandkids for my mom to spoil like my grandma spoiled me.  I know Allyn’s dad will make an awesome grandfather too one day!!!