Father Sky sketched a beautiful azure blue sky for the grandchildren’s soccer games this morning. Riding the cold brisk winds over the soccer fields were 12 vultures, two hawks, and four Canadian geese. A flock of goldfinches graced us with their presence and flew across the fluffy clouded sky after chattering in the trees behind us. When we came home I saw four deer in the back yard. I had a good critter watching day and a wonderful day of grandmothering.

Alexander, my oldest grandson named chose Patty for my grandmother name. I “Patty Caked” so much with him he would start patting baby cakes when he saw me. He hugged me today when he left early for his soccer game and said, “Patty, I’m going to score a goal for you today!” He kicked a ball in the goal early in the soccer game and was so proud. So was I! It was the first game of the soccer season and he had made the first goal of the season for his team. And his grandmother Patty was watching! His team won and we went home to grab lunch and get ready for Handley’s soccer game.

Handley hugged me before her game and said she was going to score a goal for me, too. Handley also scored a point early in her game, her first goal for her team was also her team’s first goal of the season. She won her game, too. I was so happy and felt like I was a good luck charm for them. I’ve enjoyed the day so much. Love going to their soccer games.

Emerson’s’ basketball season is over but I went out late afternoon for some grandmother basketball tutoring. I tried and tried but I never could quite get the ball high enough to go in the rim, it would hit the rim’s edge and fall back down. Then he laughingly says, “Patty, try the granny way!” Well, the underhanded “granny” way worked and I made seven baskets! He and Alexander were so proud of me. We laughed and tried to play a game of basketball the “granny” way. Our laughter was so contagious we had a hard time making a basket. We were breathless when we came back inside.

I know these children are mine but they are so precious and so beautiful and so cherished by me. I shared these children with Chief and he was so proud of them and Thomas and Ashley. People always talk of the beauty of being a grandmother and it’s a wondrous love that colors the world when we spend time with them. There is so much laughter with me and my grandchildren, we lose our breath as we giggle and carry on. Their smiles just melt my heart with love and I’m so grateful that I can spend time with them and be part of their lives.

I think the children of our grandparenthood are gifts from God, treasured angels to shower with unconditional love. They remind of us our own children growing up and we relive the memories of our children as we experience the new memories with our grandchildren. The special bond between grandparents and grandchildren is pure joy and pure love. And watching our children as parents is another blessing of grandparenthood, a new bond of parenthood to be shared.

The Bible says grandchildren are the “crown of the aged,” and my crown is heavy and full of the exquisite gems of my grandchildren.

“A grandmother is a remarkable woman. She’s a wonderful combination of warmth and kindness, laughter and love. She overlooks our faults, encourages our dreams, and praises our every success.” – Unknown