All posts by Dana Hanson

Grandpa Diary #107

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Dear Kaylee,

When we go to the zoo, you always tell me you don’t like snakes and lizards, but you want to see them anyway and on Friday, you petted a snake again. But, when it comes time to brush the goats and see the Shetland pony, you remember you put your hand through the fence by the pony and he nipped at you. So, now you decide to tell me why you are going to see the pony again.

It’s interesting that you use a new phrase when you are telling me why you are not afraid. Normally you say, “I’m not afraid because God protects me.”

This time it is different.

“I’m not afraid because God saves me.”

I’m glad you are coming more and more into a deeper relationship with God who adores you, protects you, and yes, saves you.

O, by the way…the name of Jesus in the Hebrew language that he used for prayer is- “Yeshua.”

This means “God saves!”  Yeshua….Jesus…we are not afraid….

Love,

Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #106

Grandpa Diary

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Dear Elise,

Your mommy is back teaching school and so Nana and Grandpa get to be with you every week day! It is so much fun for Grandpa, because there are extra times I can be with you and watch you grow. You are rio much fun because you like to do everything.  I call you easy-going and full of joy and wonder.

It is a challenge being a baby sister, though. Kaylee has a hard time letting you play with her toys. Your mommy has a good rule to follow. Kaylee can’t take a toy away from you without replacing it with another toy to play with. That seems to work much better…

Kaylee is in preschool two days a week, so you get extra Nana time. I notice that hierarchy when it comes from quieting after you are upset. If mommy or daddy is around, you want them. Then Nana is next in line. Then me. Nana likes to tease me by holding you and then saying, “Do you want to go to Grandpa?” You get a real big smile on your face, reach over for me, and then you turn and hug Nana tight, instead!

That’s OK with me, because I get plenty of hugs:)

Love,

Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #105

Grandpa Diary

 

 

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Dear Kaylee,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

You have expanded my life in so many ways. Here are five.

 

5. I am more patient now than I ever was. Interesting how you learn to take time if someone wants to tight rope walk on every curb (always holding grandpa’s hand of course).

4. I hum better. Your nanna knows I hum, and it drives her a bit batty, but you simply imitate me and so we hum our way through so many things in life.

3. I notice things I haven’t noticed in years. Different birds chirping, dogs barking from blocks away, lizards scampering and the best of all, someone who notices when her Grandpa enters a room.

2. I am constantly inspired at how great a mommy and daddy you have.

1.I am amazed by how much of a gift of blessing your nanna is to you and how it keeps growing.

 

Happy Birthday, Sweet sweets!

 

Love,

Grandpa

 

Grandpa Diary #104

Hey, Grandpa!

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Dear Elise,

You are eight months old now and the exciting news is you know how to say, “Momma!” Usually this means, “Grandpa you can’t hold me right now because I want to eat.”

We went to the Santa Clarita 4th of July parade. Your mommy likes to take comparison pictures by dressing you the same as Kaylee on some occasions. Well, Grandpa forgot her methodology and wore the wrong hat! It doesn’t matter though, you really do look like you older sister. And you keep your hat on longer than she does, too.

Good job, Elise!

Love,

Grandpa

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Grandpa Diary #103

Grandpa Diary, , ,

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Dear Kaylee,

Well, mommy is off for summer now, so Friday was our last Grandpa Day for awhile. We will still do stuff together, but not our normal routine.

 

Our last zoo trip was memorable because you decided to face two of your fears head on! You pet a snake and a skink! A skink looks like a lizard with two heads. The zoo volunteers were giving these hands-on experiences and you decided to take advantage of this without Grandpa spurring you on.

 

Then, since this was a special day,  you had your face painted with a tiger motif. To top it all off, Grandpa got stung in the thumb but a bee…

 

What a day!

 

Love,

Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #101

Grandpa Diary, , , ,

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Dear Elise,

It was so much fun to be with you at a time I didn’t know you would be there. Uncle David and I went to see your Uncle Matt play lacrosse at his high school. Grandma was there with Aunt Kelly and Sam, Aunt Kim, and then, what a surprise, you and your sister with your mommy and daddy!

It was a real kick seeing you getting passed around like a little package to everyone who was there in the stands. Then, when it was my turn, I was really excited to hold you because I didn’t bring a jacket and you were my mini-warmer!

Love,

Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #99

Hey, Grandpa!

 

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Dear Elise,

We had fun last week with your Great Uncle John and mommy’s cousin, Hali. She likes to hold you and makes you smile. Uncle John practiced some of his daddy skills with infants. Like riding a bike…

It’s raining, so Grandpa is going to spend the day with you. We will walk around the mall and I will show you the sights. This is what I used to do with Kaylee.

So, Nana gets a Kaylee day and I get an Elise day!

I will write again to report on our adventure…

Love,

Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #98- Grandpa Blogger

Grandpa Diary, , , , ,

my little hobbit

Dear Kaylee,

You and Grandpa went on our first hike in the woods. This is a creek bed where the Los Angeles River actually begins. I had so much fun teaching you about woods, paths, trails, and fields. This wooded area is right below high rocky hills and so we had the chance to talk about Jesus living in an area just like this in Nazareth. He would have hiked and played in the woods, too!

I knew if I gave you a walking stick you would pick it up instantly by watching Grandpa with his stick. Then a man came by with a hiking stick, too, and you said, “Him has a stick like me.”

You found many small pebbles you wanted to choose special for mommy, daddy, nana, grandma, and aunts and uncles. By the time you were done your little pockets were full and you had to put them in Grandpa’s pack!

I knew you would be interested in going on a hike, I just didn’t know how far to take you. There are some pretty step parts of the trail. Well, you did it. We hiked over three miles! Of course we do that at the zoo, as well, so I should’t be surprised.

I can’t wait to go again, my little hobbit!

Love,

Grandpa