ONLY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS CAN UNDERSTAND.....

WHAT A PHONE CALL OR PICTURE MEANS WHEN WE MISS OUT ON SO MANY THINGS....

WE CAN NEVER GET TOO MANY PICTURES OR DETAILS...AND WE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT TRULY LOVE YOUR CHILDREN AS MUCH AS YOU DO.

I DIDN'T REALIZE  UNTIL MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY.  I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE I COULD SHARE MY SORROWS AND MY JOYS WITH, AND IT MEANT AS MUCH TO HER AS IT DID TO ME.  I AM NOT SAYING THIS TO CAST A NEGATIVE LIGHT ON SHAD'S PARENTS.  I HAVE LEARNED A LOT SINCE THEY PAST AWAY.  THEY HAD A LOT OF GRANDCHILDREN AND I BELIEVE THAT ESPECIALLY SHAD'S MOM WAS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED WITH TAKING CARE OF THE HOUSE, GRANDCHILDREN, AND HELPING ON THE FARM (UNLIKE MY MOTHER WHO HAD NO GRANDCHILDREN LIVING BY HER....AND LONGED TO HEAR ABOUT EVERYTHING).  NEVERTHELESS, WE WALKED INTO THE HOUSE AFTER AWARDS, GAMES, CHURCH ACTIVITIES ETC.....AND WE CALLED HER.  SHE WANTED TO KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS, AS DO SHAD AND I!
WE LOVE GETTING PICTURES, TEXTS, AND PHONE CALLS TELLING US THINGS LIKE..."JAKE HAD 10 POINTS IN THEIR SCRIMMAGE, TANNER HAD 3 GOALS, OR MADELYN IS TEARING IT UP IN HER FIRST PRACTICES."
WE LOVE HEARING THAT AFTER GRANDPY LEFT, "ELISE NOW WANTS TO GO FOR BUGGY RIDES."
WE LOVE PHONES CALLS TELLING US THAT, "LUKE STOOD UP IN HIS HIGH CHAIR AND SAID 'POOP' "...AND WHEN SHANNON PUT HIM ON THE POTTY WITH A BOOK....HE DID JUST THAT...WITHOUT ANY PROMPTINGS.

IT IS AMAZING THE THINGS THAT ONLY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS GET SO EXCITED ABOUT.  IF YOU TELL A FRIEND ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S ACHIEVEMENT....THEY WILL BE HAPPY FOR YOU IF THEY ARE A TRUE FRIEND.  IF YOU TELL A GRANDPARENT ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S ACHIEVEMENT...THEY WILL BASK IN THE JOY OF IT WITH YOU.  IF YOU TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HURT....THEY WILL HURT WITH YOU.  GRANDPARENTS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WILL TRULY FEEL YOUR JOY OR SORROW.  IN OUR FAMILY....WE HAVE ONE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.  UNCLE JER IS THE UNCLE THAT IS STILL THAT THIRD PARENT.....MAKING HIM A GRANDPARENT OF SORTS.  HE MAKES ME SO PROUD.  I LOVE THAT HE LOVES HIS OWN FAMILY MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF.  I ALSO LOVE THAT HE IS SO UNSELFISH THAT HE TRULY REJOICES AND SORROWS WITH OUR EXTENDED FAMILY.  JUSTIN AND SHANNON DO THE SAME....JER IS A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OUR FAMILY.......SORRY JER...I KNOW HOW YOU HATE IT WHEN I BRAG ABOUT YOU!

IT IS WHAT WE DO.