From the heart of a friend

My Favorite Things



Thanks to Jacqueline for starting this blog. I am on the list to add to the blog this week. I have been in a flurry of activities recently and I e-mailed Jacqueline saying I had a mental block about what to write. She said to write what is in my heart.


What is in my heart is love of family. Sadly, a year ago, I lost my oldest son. I have always loved family and appreciated them greatly. With the loss of my son, I feel myself holding on to family a little tighter.


My son, Chris, blessed me with my first grandchild, Matthew, in January of 2005. In March of 2005, my daughter blessed me with my second grandchild, Taylor. At this point in my life, I discovered what I am good at being, a Grandma. To Matthew, I am Funny Grammy. To Taylor, I am Mamma. Whatever you call me, I am blessed with two grandchildren who teach me something new every day. Matthew is much like his Dad. He has a great sense of humor, is a bit mischevious and has the most infectious laugh you could ever hear. Taylor is much like her Mom, beautiful, girly, filled with song, and like her cousin, humorous and mischevious.



I have struggled with the"why's" of losing my son too early in life. I have turned to my favorite Bible verse,



Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

I wish this Bible verse could have comforted Matthew when he asked God to send his Daddy back. We work with him, trying to explain, but it will take time for him to learn about God and his plans.

One of many of my favorite moments with my grandaughter was when we were taking a walk. She said, I feel it in my heart. I asked her what she felt. She said, I feel the wind and the warm. Great to see a five year old appreciating life's simplest pleasures. An hour later she asked me where boogers come from. Well, she is five.

Yesterday, I found myself once again, turning to my favorite Bible verse. We all know how inquisitive five year olds can be. Taylor and I were sitting in our sun room. I looked down on the carpet to see the dreaded return of ants this Spring. I started stomping on them, retrieving the bug spray when this inquisitive five year old started asking questions....where did ants come from, how did they get here...etc. I explained that God has a purpose for every creature on this earth, that he had put them here.....well, then why are you smooshing them? Sigh, I struggle with answers sometimes. I only hope my grandchildren are with their Mom's when the question comes up about where babies come from.

May God comfort you all when you are struggling with life and the "why's". May this Bible verse be of some comfort during these times, happy and sad.