With tears of joy,Grandkids!

[ppaul]

Just a note on the Christmas past. Yesterday had a little get together for Christmas and my brides birthday. Three of the granddaughters, the first great granddaughter, a couple of boyfriends and assorted dogs were here.
To sit back and watch them grow up has been nothing short of amazing. The three, they are sisters, are 21, 23, and 25 years of age. As with alot of kids in their later teens they disappear. Out spreading their wings and at times scaring us half to death that, they're to not going to be here much longer. Rolled cars, depression, addiction, those were some scary years. And not much you can do but pray they come out the other side. If there was any doubt in me that there is a God, that he loves me, and if I pray in Jesus name he will take of me, that's been erased!
So we come to yesterday. The middle one announces her engagement, we wondered if she would ever have a boyfriend, getting ready to leave, comes and hugs me and after a long time whispers in my ear, I could just hug you forever. What a wonderful feeling!
The youngest has finished school and is moving to the city. She has a work there, is going to be many new experiences for her there I'm sure. She and her oldest sister come and hand me a envelope inside a gift certificate to the LGS. They were so proud to be able to do that, they know me well.
The oldest,this one is going to take a fresh cup of coffee and a smoke. Every time I saw her for years, I wondered if it would be the last. She's the one that has suffered with addiction. She came to live with us when she was 14, didn't know it at the time, but was already on the downward spiral. Left at 17 and for the next 6 years watched in horror as heroin took her soul. Those were the longest days.
She has been clean now for 2 years and in that time has blossomed into the most beautiful, responsible young lady you could ever hope for. 8 months ago she had a daughter, aptly named Genesis.
So was it a good Christmas, you bet it was! Not much more a old broken down hillbilly could ask for! Thank you Jesus!

 

[jpx2rk]

Hope you have many many more family gatherings just like the one above.

 

[rckendall]

Just a note on the Christmas past. Yesterday had a little get together for Christmas and my brides birthday. Three of the granddaughters, the first great granddaughter, a couple of boyfriends and assorted dogs were here.
To sit back and watch them grow up has been nothing short of amazing. The three, they are sisters, are 21, 23, and 25 years of age. As with alot of kids in their later teens they disappear. Out spreading their wings and at times scaring us half to death that, they're to not going to be here much longer. Rolled cars, depression, addiction, those were some scary years. And not much you can do but pray they come out the other side. If there was any doubt in me that there is a God, that he loves me, and if I pray in Jesus name he will take of me, that's been erased!
So we come to yesterday. The middle one announces her engagement, we wondered if she would ever have a boyfriend, getting ready to leave, comes and hugs me and after a long time whispers in my ear, I could just hug you forever. What a wonderful feeling!
The youngest has finished school and is moving to the city. She has a work there, is going to be many new experiences for her there I'm sure. She and her oldest sister come and hand me a envelope inside a gift certificate to the LGS. They were so proud to be able to do that, they know me well.
The oldest,this one is going to take a fresh cup of coffee and a smoke. Every time I saw her for years, I wondered if it would be the last. She's the one that has suffered with addiction. She came to live with us when she was 14, didn't know it at the time, but was already on the downward spiral. Left at 17 and for the next 6 years watched in horror as heroin took her soul. Those were the longest days.
She has been clean now for 2 years and in that time has blossomed into the most beautiful, responsible young lady you could ever hope for. 8 months ago she had a daughter, aptly named Genesis.
So was it a good Christmas, you bet it was! Not much more a old broken down hillbilly could ask for! Thank you Jesus!

Amen to that brother. You are a truly blessed man.

Richard

 

[Bill Norris]

I absolutely share your feelings as well. Have had many restless nights due to some of those same circumstances but as you said there is a God that answers prayers. Thanks for sharing that beautiful story.

 

[jackson1]

Here on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan I live with similar fears. Have 3 granddaughters, 17, 12, and 7. I do not have a "Leave to Beaver" life also. My sons x wife is on a similar path. The 6 days per month she has them scares me to death. Have learned to pray without ceasing. Fortunately, son is an excellent father, he is a better man than me. I don't know how he does it, I just thank God. My wife and I have the blessing of seeing and caring them almost daily. Spent several years just putting one foot in front of the other. Have no idea where this goes from here. Will just keep on praying and hoping for the best. For many years I thought I was the one going through these issues. Learned we are not alone. Glad to hear of your good fortune.

 

[ppaul]

Here on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan I live with similar fears. Have 3 granddaughters, 17, 12, and 7. I do not have a "Leave to Beaver" life also. My sons x wife is on a similar path. The 6 days per month she has them scares me to death. Have learned to pray without ceasing. Fortunately, son is an excellent father, he is a better man than me. I don't know how he does it, I just thank God. My wife and I have the blessing of seeing and caring them almost daily. Spent several years just putting one foot in front of the other. Have no idea where this goes from here. Will just keep on praying and hoping for the best.

Hi Jackson, yes you are blessed to see them daily. For us and for today it appears that we've come out the other side. Living for today has become our life, just do the next right thing. Will keep you and yours in my prayers, there's alot of power in them.

Take care, God bless you and yours.
Paul

 

[1K6BRA]

I just became a grandfather for the first time on September 30 of this year. I got to spend the whole day on Christmas with her, what a gift. It just seems like yesterday I was becoming a parent. Here I am with my beautiful granddaughter Amelia. Grandchildren are a wonderful blessing from the Lord they will brighten your life!

 

[jackieschmidt]

Great story, the best of times mixed with a few of the worst.

It seems quite a few parents in our age group have ended up raising another family in the form of GrandKids.

I have two Grand Daughters that I am putting through Texas Tech. one is 20 the other 19. A lot of my shooting friends can remember those two little girls roaming the range during Flag setting, wanting to help Grand Dad. I have taken on that responsibility because I feel fortunate to have a business that allows me to help them.

When they hit the teen years, they really didn’t have much desire to hang with Grand Dad. I suppose we all go through that. Of course now, with Marilyn and I footing the bills, the love and affection has reappeared.

We only have two kids,y Son who is 49, and my Daughter who is 44. My daughter has suffered from Lupus her entire life, and she has had a rough go. I promised her the day she graduated from high school that I would pay for her education as far as she wanted to go. She got her degree from Texas Tech and became a teacher, then her Masters. She is now getting a second Masters in Administration, and wants to go for her Doctorate after that.

I have kept my promise.

I am one of those who never went to college, but when my Grandkids are done, I will have paid for six people to get their degrees.

My wife waited until she was thirty years old when she told me…..”I always wanted to be a teacher.”. I told she had to get a degree for that, and darned if she didn’t do just that. She retired four years ago.

My Son never had any interest in working at our Machine Shop. He went his own way and he is happy working for a trucking company in East Texas. He is an avid fisherman and is happy.

He gave us a fine Grand Son, who is now 14. I suppose when he gets out of high school, I will pay for his college if he chooses to go. He is a great kid.

Life is full of ups and downs. My wife tends to worry about things a lot more than I do. I sort of take things one week at a time. I try to concentrate on things that I have control over, and try not to worry about the rest.

We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, and I love Her just as much as I did when I first laid eyes on her over 50 years ago.

 

[rogina]

Great story, the best of times mixed with a few of the worst.

It seems quite a few parents in our age group have ended up raising another family in the form of GrandKids.

I have two Grand Daughters that I am putting through Texas Tech. one is 20 the other 19. A lot of my shooting friends can remember those two little girls roaming the range during Flag setting, wanting to help Grand Dad. I have taken on that responsibility because I feel fortunate to have a business that allows me to help them.

When they hit the teen years, they really didn’t have much desire to hang with Grand Dad. I suppose we all go through that. Of course now, with Marilyn and I footing the bills, the love and affection has reappeared.

We only have two kids,y Son who is 49, and my Daughter who is 44. My daughter has suffered from Lupus her entire life, and she has had a rough go. I promised her the day she graduated from high school that I would pay for her education as far as she wanted to go. She got her degree from Texas Tech and became a teacher, then her Masters. She is now getting a second Masters in Administration, and wants to go for her Doctorate after that.

I have kept my promise.

I am one of those who never went to college, but when my Grandkids are done, I will have paid for six people to get their degrees.

My wife waited until she was thirty years old when she told me…..”I always wanted to be a teacher.”. I told she had to get a degree for that, and darned if she didn’t do just that. She retired four years ago.

My Son never had any interest in working at our Machine Shop. He went his own way and he is happy working for a trucking company in East Texas. He is an avid fisherman and is happy.

He gave us a fine Grand Son, who is now 14. I suppose when he gets out of high school, I will pay for his college if he chooses to go. He is a great kid.

Life is full of ups and downs. My wife tends to worry about things a lot more than I do. I sort of take things one week at a time. I try to concentrate on things that I have control over, and try not to worry about the rest.

We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, and I love Her just as much as I did View attachment 1303337 when I first laid eyes on her over 50 years ago.

Jackie, you are a quality human being.

 

[ppaul]

I just became a grandfather for the first time on September 30 of this year. I got to spend the whole day on Christmas with her, what a gift. It just seems like yesterday I was becoming a parent. Here I am with my beautiful granddaughter Amelia. Grandchildren are a wonderful blessing from the Lord they will brighten your life!View attachment 1303335

Congrat's 1k, the 3rd and 4th generations bring a new gentleness to our lives. May you forever hold them close, God bless you and yours.

Paul

 

[ppaul]

Great story, the best of times mixed with a few of the worst.

It seems quite a few parents in our age group have ended up raising another family in the form of GrandKids.

I have two Grand Daughters that I am putting through Texas Tech. one is 20 the other 19. A lot of my shooting friends can remember those two little girls roaming the range during Flag setting, wanting to help Grand Dad. I have taken on that responsibility because I feel fortunate to have a business that allows me to help them.

When they hit the teen years, they really didn’t have much desire to hang with Grand Dad. I suppose we all go through that. Of course now, with Marilyn and I footing the bills, the love and affection has reappeared.

We only have two kids,y Son who is 49, and my Daughter who is 44. My daughter has suffered from Lupus her entire life, and she has had a rough go. I promised her the day she graduated from high school that I would pay for her education as far as she wanted to go. She got her degree from Texas Tech and became a teacher, then her Masters. She is now getting a second Masters in Administration, and wants to go for her Doctorate after that.

I have kept my promise.

I am one of those who never went to college, but when my Grandkids are done, I will have paid for six people to get their degrees.

My wife waited until she was thirty years old when she told me…..”I always wanted to be a teacher.”. I told she had to get a degree for that, and darned if she didn’t do just that. She retired four years ago.

My Son never had any interest in working at our Machine Shop. He went his own way and he is happy working for a trucking company in East Texas. He is an avid fisherman and is happy.

He gave us a fine Grand Son, who is now 14. I suppose when he gets out of high school, I will pay for his college if he chooses to go. He is a great kid.

Life is full of ups and downs. My wife tends to worry about things a lot more than I do. I sort of take things one week at a time. I try to concentrate on things that I have control over, and try not to worry about the rest.

We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, and I love Her just as much as I did View attachment 1303337 when I first laid eyes on her over 50 years ago.

Hi Jackie thanks for checking in. Always enjoy your posts and all you share of your life! I think that not only has your granddaughter's affection returned in response to your financial support, it also is a maturity that they're starting to show. Maybe an acknowledgement or amend for disappearing for a time.
Take care, God bless.

Paul

 

[jackson1]

PPaul, I will also keep you and your family in my prayers, along with many other people. Sadly, situations like ours are all too common. I send my youngest granddaughter to a private Lutheran school, where I learned I am not the only one in this situation. At the end of the day, I am surrounded by grandparents picking up their grandkids. Also learned, much to my surprise, that there are countless similar stories there. Pais is my only blood grandchild and have paid for all her schooling through high school. Set up and am funding a trust fund for her continuing education, wedding and home. No, I do not believe that doing such will ensure a problem free life. Just a thank you for the joy she has brought me. Our world is changing rapidly and not always for the better.

 

[dbaird]

PPaul, I will also keep you and your family in my prayers, along with many other people. Sadly, situations like ours are all too common. I send my youngest granddaughter to a private Lutheran school, where I learned I am not the only one in this situation. At the end of the day, I am surrounded by grandparents picking up their grandkids. Also learned, much to my surprise, that there are countless similar stories there. Pais is my only blood grandchild and have paid for all her schooling through high school. Set up and am funding a trust fund for her continuing education, wedding and home. No, I do not believe that doing such will ensure a problem free life. Just a thank you for the joy she has brought me. Our world is changing rapidly and not always for the better.

Just a note on the Christmas past. Yesterday had a little get together for Christmas and my brides birthday. Three of the granddaughters, the first great granddaughter, a couple of boyfriends and assorted dogs were here.
To sit back and watch them grow up has been nothing short of amazing. The three, they are sisters, are 21, 23, and 25 years of age. As with alot of kids in their later teens they disappear. Out spreading their wings and at times scaring us half to death that, they're to not going to be here much longer. Rolled cars, depression, addiction, those were some scary years. And not much you can do but pray they come out the other side. If there was any doubt in me that there is a God, that he loves me, and if I pray in Jesus name he will take of me, that's been erased!
So we come to yesterday. The middle one announces her engagement, we wondered if she would ever have a boyfriend, getting ready to leave, comes and hugs me and after a long time whispers in my ear, I could just hug you forever. What a wonderful feeling!
The youngest has finished school and is moving to the city. She has a work there, is going to be many new experiences for her there I'm sure. She and her oldest sister come and hand me a envelope inside a gift certificate to the LGS. They were so proud to be able to do that, they know me well.
The oldest,this one is going to take a fresh cup of coffee and a smoke. Every time I saw her for years, I wondered if it would be the last. She's the one that has suffered with addiction. She came to live with us when she was 14, didn't know it at the time, but was already on the downward spiral. Left at 17 and for the next 6 years watched in horror as heroin took her soul. Those were the longest days.
She has been clean now for 2 years and in that time has blossomed into the most beautiful, responsible young lady you could ever hope for. 8 months ago she had a daughter, aptly named Genesis.
So was it a good Christmas, you bet it was! Not much more a old broken down hillbilly could ask for! Thank you Jesus!

God is Good.

 

[mousegunner]

I just became a grandfather for the first time on September 30 of this year. I got to spend the whole day on Christmas with her, what a gift. It just seems like yesterday I was becoming a parent. Here I am with my beautiful granddaughter Amelia. Grandchildren are a wonderful blessing from the Lord they will brighten your life!View attachment 1303335

Great times! I have my newest granddaughter here and my other 3 under 5 years old grandsons and they keep me busy! Love them all the same but each is special in his way. One because he was the first, the second one is my shadow, always there behind me asking questions and wanting to do things with me. My one year old, I have spent more time with him growing up than my kids cause I worked shift work and only saw them for a few hours each day. This guy has been with us longer because of his fathers deployment but that's the nature of serving.

1KBRA, enjoy your granddaughter and watch with awe and wonder as she grows and develops her personality. There's a time when they're little sponges and pick up everything you show them and it's a lot of fun. My best times are with my grandkids, none better, yours will be too.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Just a note on the Christmas past. Yesterday had a little get together for Christmas and my brides birthday. Three of the granddaughters, the first great granddaughter, a couple of boyfriends and assorted dogs were here.
To sit back and watch them grow up has been nothing short of amazing. The three, they are sisters, are 21, 23, and 25 years of age. As with alot of kids in their later teens they disappear. Out spreading their wings and at times scaring us half to death that, they're to not going to be here much longer. Rolled cars, depression, addiction, those were some scary years. And not much you can do but pray they come out the other side. If there was any doubt in me that there is a God, that he loves me, and if I pray in Jesus name he will take of me, that's been erased!
So we come to yesterday. The middle one announces her engagement, we wondered if she would ever have a boyfriend, getting ready to leave, comes and hugs me and after a long time whispers in my ear, I could just hug you forever. What a wonderful feeling!
The youngest has finished school and is moving to the city. She has a work there, is going to be many new experiences for her there I'm sure. She and her oldest sister come and hand me a envelope inside a gift certificate to the LGS. They were so proud to be able to do that, they know me well.
The oldest,this one is going to take a fresh cup of coffee and a smoke. Every time I saw her for years, I wondered if it would be the last. She's the one that has suffered with addiction. She came to live with us when she was 14, didn't know it at the time, but was already on the downward spiral. Left at 17 and for the next 6 years watched in horror as heroin took her soul. Those were the longest days.
She has been clean now for 2 years and in that time has blossomed into the most beautiful, responsible young lady you could ever hope for. 8 months ago she had a daughter, aptly named Genesis.
So was it a good Christmas, you bet it was! Not much more a old broken down hillbilly could ask for! Thank you Jesus!

My family also has some multi-generational addiction and mental health issues which make life very challenging at times. I feel your pain, and glad you are seeing some light in that tunnel now. Thanks for sharing your story.