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Of course you have heard me say that that a million times before but…I love this story also! I actually love anything to do with Christmas don’t I?
Hope you enjoy it! Merry Christmas dear friends and good night!
This was my grandmother's first Christmas without grandfather, and we had promised him before he passed away that we would make this her best Christmas ever. When my mom, dad, three sisters and I arrived at her little house in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, we found she had waited up all night for us to arrive from Texas. After we exchanged hugs, my sisters and I ran into the house. It did seem a little empty without grandfather, and we knew it was up to us to make this Christmas special for her.
Grandfather had always said that the Christmas tree was the most important decoration of all. So we immediately set to work on the beautiful artificial tree that was kept stored in grandfather's closet. Although artificial, it was the most genuine looking Douglas fir I had ever seen. Tucked away in the closet with the tree was a spectacular array of ornaments, many of which had been my father's when he was a little boy. As we unwrapped each one, grandmother had a story to go along with it. My mother strung the tree with bright white lights and a red button garland; my sisters and I carefully placed the ornaments on the tree; and finally father was given the honor of lighting the tree.
We stepped back to admire our handiwork. To us, it looked magnificent, as beautiful as the tree in Rockefeller Center. But something was missing.
"Where's your star'" I asked.
The star was my grandmother's favorite part of the tree, for it represented the star of Bethlehem that had led the wise men to the infant Jesus.
"Why, it must be here somewhere," she said, starting to sort through the boxes again. "Your grandfather always packed everything so carefully when he took the tree down."
As we emptied box after box and found no star, my grandmother's eyes filled with tears. This was no ordinary ornament, but an elaborate golden star covered with colored jewels and blue lights that blinked on and off. Moreover, grandfather had given it to grandmother some fifty years ago on their first Christmas together. Now, on her first Christmas without him, the star was gone, too.
"Don't worry, Grandmother," I reassured her. "We'll find it for you."
My sisters and I formed a search party.
"Let's start in on the closet where the ornaments were," Donna said. "Maybe the box just fell down."
That sounded logical, so we climbed on a chair and began to search that tall closet of grandfather's. We found father's old yearbooks and photographs of relatives, Christmas cards from years gone by and party dresses and jewelry boxes, but no star.
We searched under beds and over shelves, inside and outside, until we had exhausted every possibility. We could see grandmother was disappointed, although she tried not to show it.
"We could buy a new star," Kristi offered.
"I'll make you one from construction paper," Karen chimed in.
"No," Grandmother said. "This year, we won't have a star."
By now, it was dark outside, and time for bed, since Santa would soon be here. As we lay in bed, we could hear the sound of snowflakes falling quietly outside.
The next morning, my sisters and I woke up early, as was our habit on Christmas day - first, to see what Santa had left under the tree, and second, to look for the Christmas star in the sky. After a traditional breakfast of apple pancakes, the family sat down together to open presents. Santa had brought me the Easy Bake Oven I wanted, and Donna a Chatty Cathy doll. Karen was thrilled to get the doll buggy she had asked for, and Kristi to get the china tea set. Father was in charge of passing out the presents, so that everyone would have something to open at the same time.
"The last gift is to Grandmother from Grandfather," he said, in a puzzled voice.
"From who'" There was surprise in my grandmother's voice.
"I found that gift in grandfather's closet when we got the tree down," Mother explained. "It was already wrapped so I put it under the tree. I thought it was one of yours."
"Hurry and open it," Karen urged excitedly.
My grandmother shakily opened the box. Her face lit up with joy when she unfolded the tissue paper and pulled out a glorious golden star. There was a note attached. Her voice trembled as she read it aloud:
"Don't be angry with me, dear. I broke your star while
putting up the decorations, and I couldn't bear to tell
you. Thought it was time for a new one. I hope it brings
you as much joy as the first one. Merry Christmas. Love,
Bryant."So grandmother's tree had a star after all, a star that expressed their everlasting love for one another. It brought my grandfather home for Christmas in each of our hearts and made it our best Christmas ever.
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together.” ~Alexander Smith
“May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.”
~Author Unknown
Well, for some reason I am extremely tired tonight, so I won’t write much for fear of mixing all my words together. Plus, you shouldn’t read this unless you have a strong stomach!
I just thought of something today that made me laugh. When I was a little girl, (ok, maybe not too little, actually I was a teenager 
One thing that I remember doing was …she would sometimes ask me to get the tweezers out and put the long hairs off of her chin, because she couldn’t’ see do that. I actually just did it and thought, how sad that you can’t even see that on your face. I wasn’t grossed out, because she was my Grandmother and I thought she was beautiful inside and out.
But I have often thought if that is where they got the saying on the story of the 3 little pigs? When the pigs said “ not by the hair of our chinny chin chin”?
Anyway, I warned you that I was tired, did you see how fast I got off track tonight with my thoughts?
I know have been growing some unwanted facial hair over the years, the kids get absolutely grossed out if they even see me trying to look in the mirror and pull out one of them. At first I thought, this is so embarrassing, how can this be that I am growing more hair on my face as I get older? Then one day, I just laughed…there are a ton of changes that are happening as I get older, and none of them are very appealing or pretty. So if a few unwanted facial hair is as bad as it gets one day, then I realized I am very lucky.
To prove that I have embracing my aging body, I now just wait till Jeff or Lee finish using their electric razors and then I ask if I can use it. They just about die of embarrassment every time I do!
I just can’t seem to win…but the good news is, I do have a smooth face!
Plus, we need to remember…no matter how old a woman is…she is always a Princess deep down inside, even if she had chinny chin hairs!
“As we grow old, the beauty steals inward.” - Bronson Alcott
"The spiritual eyesight improves as the physical eyesight declines." – Plato
"The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been." - Madeleine L'Engle
"Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative." - Maurice Chevalier
This was a cute story that my friend sent me today, so I thought I would pass it on...for the sole purpose of making your smile! Of course, I didn't show it to Jeff! :)
Good night dear friends!
GRANDMAS ARE SMART
I was out walking with my Grandson. He picked up something off of the ground and started to put it in his mouth. I took the item away from him and I asked him not to do that.
"Why?" my Grandson asked.
"Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs, and sometimes germs make little boys sick and not feel good" I replied.
At this point, my Grandson looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Grandma, how do you know all this stuff?? You are so smart."
I was thinking quickly and said to him. "All Grandmas know stuff. It's on the Grandma Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Grandma."
We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but he was evidently pondering this new information.
"Oh....I get it! He beamed, So if you don't pass the test you have to be the Grandpa."
"Exactly," I replied with a big smile on my face.
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"Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric." ~Pam Brown
"If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no fun for old people like it!" ~Hannah Whithall Smith
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother." ~Proverb
Our daughter Lauren has been home from college about 2 weeks now. She wasn't suppose to start back up at her old job ( at a book store in Bellevue ) until the fall. But on Monday she got a call, saying that they needed her right away. Then they explained that one of her co-workers had passed away over the weekend. We still don't know how she died, but she was a wife and a Mother and she was only in her late 30's or early 40's. What a tragedy!
Then a dear friend of mine called this week and told me that her Grandmother had passed away. Her circumstances were a lot different. She had lived a good long life and even though her death was a surprise, she was more than ready to go and be reunited with her sweet husband who had been gone for quite some time.
Death and trials, disease and struggles are tough on anyone. I am always interested in how people make it through times like these? I read this sweet quote today and then I was reminded again, how people not only make it through times like these, but become stronger and more faithful because of it.
"CHRIST WALKED THE PATH EVERY MORTAL IS CALLED TO WALK SO THAT HE WOULD KNOW HOW TO SUCCOR AND STRENGTHEN US IN OUR MOST DIFFICULT TIMES. HE KNOWS THE DEEPEST AND MOST PERSONAL BURDENS WE CARRY. HE KNOWS THE MOST PUBLIC AND POIGNANT PAINS WE BEAR. HE DESCENDED BELOW ALL SUCH GRIEF IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT LIFT US ABOVE IT. THERE IS NO ANGUISH OR SORROW OR SADNESS IN LIFE THAT HE HAS NOT SUFFERED IN OUR BEHALF AND BORNE AWAY UPON HIS OWN VALIANT AND COMPASSIONATE SHOULDERS." ~ Jeffrey R. Holland
So for now, I will keep both of these families in my thoughts and prayers ...and hope that they can find peace and healing from our Savior. It makes me realize, not to take my relationships and time with my loved ones for granted. I need to say 'I LOVE YOU' more often! So good night dear friends, thank you for being such an important part in my life. And please remember you are LOVED!
"To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die." ~Thomas Campbell
"Life is eternal, and love is immortal,
and death is only a horizon;
and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." ~Rossiter Worthington Raymond
"For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity." ~William Penn
GRANDMA'S CAKE BAKING
A little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going wrong: school, family problems, and severe health problems in the family. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he does.
"Here, have some cooking oil," she says. "Yuck" says the boy. "Then how about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Grandma!" he replies. "Would you prefer some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?" she asks.
"Grandma, those are all yucky!" he replied. To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem to taste bad all by themselves. But when they are mixed together in the right amounts and the right manner, they make a delicious cake!"
She continued, "God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"
"God is crazy about you," says Grandma, "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. When you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. And what about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem and that Friday at Calvary? Face it; He's crazy about you."--- Author Unknown
"Be happy. It's one way of being wise."
"It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace"
"A grandparent has the wisdom of long experience and the love of an understanding heart"
When my grandmother was in the nursing home right down the street from us, I used to take my daughter to see her almost every day. On the days we missed from being sick or something, I would always call her and apologize. I remember her once saying "Lynn, where ever they sit me down, is where I stay all day until the meals are served. Seeing you and Amy makes my day!" I knew it did and so I tried hard not to miss a day. I loved my grandmother and all she did for me growing up, so the least I could do was give her my time.
This sweet story reminded me of those days with her. If there is someone that needs your TIME, please readjust your calendars to fit a visit or two in, it truly means the world to them!
Good night dear friends!
Thanks for Your Time
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday."
Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture... Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most...was...my time."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet... thanks for your time!"
~Author Unknown
"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back." ~ Harvey MacKay
I remember as a little girl a few really special things, one of those things were... the quilts that my Grandmother and Aunt made together. I would ask them about all the different fabrics that were in quilt and they would tell me stories about each one, such as..."Oh that is the material from our matching dresses", "that is from an old apron of mine" and on and on. It was neat to see that the quilt had quite the history, before it was even made. I only have a couple of the quilts that my Grandmother and Aunt made, but they are proudly displayed in my home. I have sewn since I was about 11 years old but never really thought I could do any other kind of quilts than tied quilts. But thanks to a few talented neighbors and a lot of patience, I can quilt now and love it!
Yesterday was my Demo class, and of course it was great! I love the sweet spirits of each lady, they are becoming dear friends, and that has meant the world to me! They make me feel so special. They brag on my demos, even though they are small and simple things to make. Still they make me feel like a million bucks. It is a HIGH to teach twice a month, I wouldn't mind doing it more often, it is a real treat.
So like the quote below says...I love what I am doing, and I feel blessed, not everyone has that opportunity I realize. But I do hope you are able to do something you love...OFTEN in your life? It makes all the difference in the world.
Good night my friends!
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." ~William James
"We can do no great things, only small things with great love." ~Mother Teresa
Our 4 1/2 yr old granddaughter Angie is having a bit of a tough time, sharing the lime light with her younger sister Jenny. That is not at all unusual but still it is hard to watch. I remember my own kids having the same struggle when a brother or sister were born, but life was so busy then, I am not sure I realized maybe how hard it can be, for the one who has had much of the attention and now has to share that attention with another.
I asked Amy when Angie and I could plan a Sleep Over. So last night ( Sunday ) was the night. Angie came over around 6:00 and we had her favorite dinner ( fish and potatoes ), then we put on our jammies and watched a movie and ate popcorn. Mostly she hung out with Uncle Lee that time too. Then after the nightly routine we got her bed all made up in Lauren's room and said goodnight. I told her I would be in there later to sleep with her. She was so excited about the Sleep Over, she just couldn't go to sleep. Finally around 11:15 p.m. I slipped into the room and climbed into bed, only to her Angie's little voice say "Nana, I am doing really good aren't I?" She meant at sleeping, I laughed and said "if you don't go to sleep pretty soon, your Mommy isn't going to let us have another Sleep Over." After she knew I was in the room, I guess she knew she had better go to sleep.
Now she is a great sleeper, but I forgot what it was like to sleep with a little one in the room. I must have woken up 5-6 times, checking to see if she was warm enough and alright. Funny, those Motherhood instincts are never too far away.
For breakfast we had homemade waffles and berries. After breakfast we got dressed and she helped me do my chores. I forgot how fun it is to do anything ...when your little ones are around. As Angie told me stories and we talked about different things, I have to say that I kept having flashbacks of Amy and I doing some of the same things when she was little. It is weird to think that now I am the grandmother (Nana) and not the Mom. Angie in many ways looks like Amy when she was little, except Angie has red hair.
The rest of the day was spent making homemade fruit roll ups, sewing some (pop corn printed) flannel pajamas for her to use at the next Sleep over. Then we watched a movie, had more popcorn and then read a book and lastly went to the store. What a full and fun day. I truly love being a Nana. I guess I shouldn't have worried about getting older, because being a Nana is worth it all! I can't wait till Jenny gets older and she can have a Sleep Over with Nana too!
Boy, am I tired! Night dear friends.
"A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance." ~ Author Unknown
"A mother becomes a true grandmother the day she stops noticing the terrible things her children do because she is so enchanted with the wonderful things her grandchildren do." ~ Lois Wyse
"Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete."
~ Marcy DeMaree
It has always been interesting to me, how easy it is to get into tunnel vision and not see the whole picture in some circumstances. I have heard my grandmother say, on more than one occasion "Lynn, you shouldn't go putting all your eggs in one basket!" She would go on to explain, if you put all your time and attention to one particular thing, then you might be very disappointed if something happens to your eggs. Well, she was right... when I focused on just one thing whether that was my boyfriend, my sports, my art, and didn't keep a good perspective then just as she predicted...my world seem to come crashing down around me.
Now I am on the other side to some degree, just because of my age and experience. And I am realizing how hard it is to teach my kids about perspective, especially if they have their mind set on something. I admire how patient my grandmother was, she could have said "Now listen Lynn, I have already been around the block a time or two, and I know what I am talking about, so you need to pay more attention!" But she didn't, I think she was wise enough to know when to teach and when to stand back and just observe, now that takes wisdom!
When I saw this funny carton today, it reminded me of this subject and how even as a Nana, I need to still try to keep my perspective in life and with the circumstances around me too. Yes, life is all about learning!
"The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning." ~Ivy Baker Priest
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." ~ Abraham H. Maslow
