I AM EXCITED!!
This coming Saturday my mom and dad will be moving into the little apartment my sons and sons-in-law (plus many others) have helped build! It has been a flurry around here with kids and grand kids swarming the place like ants. 
The ladies have helped make the meals and it has been a real “barn-raising” that began just 4 weeks ago!
Beginning Stages (click on first picture to see gallery):
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- Our son-in-law, Devin, and grandson, Brendan
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- Our youngest, Angelo.
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- Great kids, great helpers!
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- Son Colin, son-in-law Vinnie, son Dominic and hubby in the blue
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- Eldest daughter in on the action. (She makes a great supervisor! 🙂
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- Virginia and Brendan
The apartment is right off the back of our house so we will be close enough to help them as age continues to take its inevitable toll.
And they will be close to us so we can enjoy them as they are wonderful people who I know my kids will benefit from getting to know better!
They haven’t seen it yet so it will be so fun to watch them on Saturday! I know they will be thrilled!
End Stages (click on first picture to see gallery):
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- New Kitchen!
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- Whew! This is going to be a looo.o..ong crawl to Grandma’s new house!
I listened to a Zig Ziglar podcast not too long ago and was impressed with his take on what is happening in America. Here is a recap of what he had to say:
There is a disturbing trend in America today that no one wants to take care of the old folks anymore.
This may be a direct result of how we take care of the young folks:
“You didn’t feed me, you took me to McDonald’s.
You didn’t play with me, you bought me a bicycle.
You didn’t study with me, you bought me a computer.
You didn’t take care of me , you sent me to daycare.
You didn’t entertain me, you bought me a VCR.
Why should I take care of you? I don’t even know you!”
Our society is at risk when we don’t take time for our children and get to know them.
You never know how long it is going to be when the seeds the parents plant begin to sprout.
@ chrissy mcdowell via John-I really like this post, the importance and emphasis on our relationship and interactions with our children, what we teach, what values we internalize with them. What a beautiful album of generations coming together and conveying love in action! When I would bring my children to school, stores, the vet, symphonies ( courtesy my husband performances),out to eat with me or relate my experiences at home professionally, I would get puzzled sometimes exasperated expressions from people. People would ask, ” why don’t you get a baby sitter, it would be so much easier! “To which I would reply, ” I like myself and I like my husband I want my kids to be with us and be like us, not like their baby sitter!” (We have thought that this is the best way to convey love and appreciation to our children ) It never occured to me that life was any different, we always brought our children everywhere and did EVERYTHING with them, I even graduated with my baby in my arms who had just finished nursing in the back of the auditorium!. It is hard and challenging for us and not for all people, some do it better and differently! I myself need to outsource a tutor or an art instructor, which pains me, but I think I am doing whats best and that makes it bearable! It comforts me to know there are kindred spirits out there that have internalized the importance of the relationship between parents and children as the norm and see the long term benefits, just the other day after a LONG day in the car with all of my children , hopping from place to place running essential errands, I watched happily as my children 8, 5 and 3 and my husband looked on quietly at a gas station watching a mechanic work on our car listening to his every word soaking up his ” school of life” with respect and awe, NO WHINING, NO crying or touching super expensive things ( this is not the norm always however), I was happy to see engaged and respectful children. I will draw on this memory when the house is a mess and my kids are cantankerous and I am beating myself up for not being the ” perfect” mom. My kids are loved and they are learning to love, this will help get them to heaven and all of “this” can be enough!
Chrissy,
You are an inspiration! Thank you for your comment!
So happy to have found your blog and especially to see the pictures of your parents. I still think about you lots and was wondering how your folks were doing.
Hello Glenda!!! So glad you “popped” on over! Yes, mom and dad are doing well and moved in. It has been a couple of crazy days….but good crazy. It is great to have them close and be able to look after them, bring them meals, but also to get their support too. God is good.