Beautiful pictures flash across my computer screen of my son's 3 children. Its been a few years since I've seen them. Because of a messy divorce David has limited time with them, mostly 1, 2, hours a month. This month is special, Bryce, his oldest just turned 13, and being my husband and I have moved to Utah, David asked for extra time and brought the kids to our home for a birthday party for all the kids.
This Saturday was extra busy, Lynn and I work with the Stake Single Program, and it was the Thanksgiving dinner for the 50+ group. We had to be at the Church at 2:00pm to help set up tables, work with the food, and help with meals to go out to the housebound folks. Sense there was enough help, Lynn and I were able to go home around 4pm and be there when David arrived. Jennifer my daughter was also visiting from Ariz. with her daughter, Sarah, who is 2 and a half years.
David would be able to stay with the kids for about a hour or little more, then comes the long drive back home... Lynn and I would return to Church at 6pm to help serve the meal for the evening.
The request for strawberry cheesecake, and vanilla ice cream, was changed a little, as I found a cheesecake that had multi flavors, and we got two different kinds of ice cream. that seemed to please everybody. So we had pink candles on cheesecake, all the kids help blow them out. And had fun opening their small presents, with "Heavy, heavy, hangover, thy poor head...What do you wish this person???"
A tradition in our family for years, to which the Birthday person, not knowing who the giver is, would express a special gift, or wish to go to the person who has given the gift. Sometimes this can be quite funny.
Over the years I have sent to each of my Grandchildren, Holiday cards with a stick of Juicy fruit Gum inside. I hoped that somehow they would remember that their grandparents were the ones who sent the cards and the gum, with a reminder that we love them. (Taste buds have a way of remembering good things).
I also included a small package of Juicy Fruit gum with their birthday gifts.
Time flew by, and they were gone.....Bryce 13, had gotten so tall. Darren who is 7 is about the same height as his little sister Melody, who is 5, almost 6. The last time I had seen Melody, she was about a year and a half. I know she didn't remember me. However Sarah and Melody had a great time playing together, and Melody was all smiles before she left to go home.
I watch the pictures, over and over, of that day, time was too short to remember.
David brought someone with him, and paid him to take alot of photos. Then he made a CD, with a slide show on it, for me to see my grandchildren.
2 comments:
so happy and so sad at the same time! :( Melody is HUGE compared to when i saw her last!! Wow... i'm both glad that you got to spend the time, and sad that it had to be so heart-breaking. I'm just bummed that i missed it. I lived up there for nearly 4 years and only got to see the kids once... and that was literally the day before bonnie decided to file against him (about the kids). :(
I agree with Paulette - how beautiful though! Sad and happy at the same time...sometimes I think there is such beauty in that. Tragic beauty I suppose. I'm so glad you were able to spend some time with your grandchildren. I can't imagine being a daddy and only spending such little time with them. And being you and seeing them once every few years. How heartbreaking. i'm glad you have pictures - those are priceless. How sad for the children too. I'm sorry.
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