The whole family was home to celebrate our oldest daughter’s birthday.
All the bedrooms were full.
A pack and play had to be put into our walk-in closet so our littlest grandson could nap.
The crib was occupied by our almost two-year-old granddaughter, who was also napping.

It was a full weekend.
Lots of conversations, laughter, walks around the neighborhood, and meals together.
Nieces and nephews were celebrating with abandon, as only children can do.
The refrigerator was full when the weekend began.

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I do something which my husband does not understand.
I can tell that it bothers him.
Even my oldest daughter finds it strange.
I do not wrap the vacuum cord around the handle like it is designed to do.

I vacuum often and find it annoying to have to stop and unravel the long cord.
When I am finished vacuuming, I simply take the cord and make large loops with my hand.
I hang the lightly looped cord over the handle.
The next time I have to vacuum, the cord is easily plugged into the wall.

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I am not a beach person per se.
That is a strange truth considering the fact that our entire family goes to the beach each year.
Perhaps it is the fact that we are all together that makes this time so special.
It is not the sun and sand that call to me.

Being Irish and fair skinned, my time at the beach is under the umbrella with lots of sunscreen.
None of us come home with a tan.
A few of us come home, despite our efforts to the contrary, with some sunburn.
Sun kissed rather than sun baked is fine with me.

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A local theatre company, offers wonderful productions throughout the year.
I have seen quite a few shows there and have been amazed at the talented performances.
I especially love the fall productions when they are geared even more towards children.
Last fall, I took three of my granddaughters to see Cinderella.

This year, I took two of my granddaughters to see Mary Poppins.
My two older daughters and I couldn’t wait to see their faces.
The girls know the story and the songs by heart.
I saw my oldest granddaughter walking towards me wearing her own Mary Poppins hat.

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People think about getting older.
Some struggle with the number of the age itself.
Some look back and see unfulfilled dreams.
Some look forward and wonder if the best years are behind them.

A woman often doesn’t realize advancing age is happening.
She’s busy raising her children.
She’s busy marking their milestones.
She’s busy.

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It was a full weekend of grandchildren activities.
Actually, two full weekends.
First, it was the sweet dedication at church of our youngest granddaughter.
Then, it was a soccer game for our four year old and a quarter mile race for our kindergartner.

Our son asked us if we would like to be up in front with them at the dedication.
It was a privilege to have grandparents standing with parents as promises were made.
Promises to come alongside the parents as they raise this child to know and love the Lord.
Promises to teach this little one about Jesus when she is with us in our home as well.

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My friend had knee surgery.
She is halfway through six weeks on crutches.
She is halfway through instructions not to bear any weight on that leg.
She is an active person and I wondered how she was going to handle this time of stillness.

Ironically, her husband had arthroscopic knee surgery a week before her surgery.
He left the surgery center walking on his own.
When I visited her the day before her surgery, he was out walking around the yard.
She is a walker like me and looks forward to getting back to her walking routine.

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My oldest granddaughter is now five years old.
You are a whole hand, we have been telling her.
Where has the time gone?
It seems like only yesterday when we got the call that she had been born.

Five years ago, my daughter had a baby girl.
The baby girl that I gave birth to, gave birth to her own baby girl.
I have watched through the years from a different vantage point.
I am the Grandma and it is delightful.

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I went to a large high school.
There were 4,000 students in the entire school.
There were 1,000 students in my graduating class.
Only the first student and the last student were named at our actual graduation ceremony.

All the students in between those two names were graduated on the spot, en masse.
We all threw our hats in the air at the outdoor ceremony.
And just like that, four years were completed.
And just like that, many of us went on to college.

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I am an auditory learner.
I truly remember everything I hear.
Perhaps that is why Whispers are so important to me.
I pay close attention to the sounds around me.

I am not always good at remembering names.
I wish I was better at that skill.
However, I do remember everything I have talked about in conversation with someone.
I remember all the details and minutia that others have long forgotten.

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