Dear Elise, 

Welcome to Grandpa Diary.  I will do plenty of talking with you,  but your big sister just keeps me laughing! 

So, I will let each of you have your own post unless it is a family post. For example…

Your mommy brought you to LIFEhouse for the first time Wednesday. It was Prime Time Thanksgiving.

Your big sister shows up like this…

This is what you will put up with for a long time. It’s all right…We are just a fun family!
Your mommy is hilarious, too, so just get used to it…Actually, your daddy makes me laugh, too…

Love, 

Grandpa

Dear Kaylee,

Traditions are fun. We went with you to the Fall Festival for Tierra del Sol again this year. You had a great time running after the bunny! They let you chase him around the pen.

And here is a picture of you on Halloween! Nemo!

Next year we will have Halloween pictures with someone else…your baby sister!

Love,

Grandpa

  
Dear Kaylee,

It’s been awhile since I have written in your diary.  I was back in Minnesota and Wisconsin to be with my mommy and daddy, your great grandparents. It was really sad, Kaylee, because my mommy died.

Great Grandma Hanson had been sick for a long time and her body finally wore out. She is at peace with Jesus now. No more pain and suffering. Grandpa was with her when she died. I was blessing her like you bless me by putting my hand on her head. I was saying these words…

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; (‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭29‬ ESV) 

…and then she had her last breath.

We are all very sad, but also filled with joy knowing my mommy is fully healed. I sure wish she could have held you like she used to hold your mommy. She would rub your mommy’s back and hug her. My mommy loved to hug. 

My mommy also loved to plant flowers and take care of them, especially irises. Every time I see an iris I think of her. Always have. Because she was in her garden a lot, she had bees fly around her. She wasn’t afraid; she loved bees. She would slowly move toward a bumble bee that landed on a flower and she would pet the soft back of the bee with her finger. She never got stung. I think the bee’s knew my mommy was their friend.

I am so glad you are in my life Kaylee. You fill me with joy just like your mommy filled my mommy with joy. Even when I am sad, I just think about you and am so much better. I held you on my lap when you were napping yesterday. When I looked at your resting face, I knew everything was going to be OK…
Love,

Grandpa

Watching the horses in the 4th of July Parade

Dear Kaylee,

Well, today is your one year birthday! We are so excited for you and are going to be with you at your party this afternoon. In the meantime, we had a great week last week and so I had to show a couple of highlights.

On the Fourth of July we went to the parade by your house. There were horses, cowboys, marching bands, dancers, a lot of classic cars, and even some little donkeys. We had so much fun watching the parade together, with your mommy, daddy, Uncle David, and your mommy’s friend Mary, and her kids. You enjoyed everything.

Then a couple of days ago, your mommy went to the dentist. I came along to watch you. We had fun just sitting and reading, but I decided to take you out in the hallway. It was long and carpeted and so a great place for you to practice your walking. This ended up being hilarious because you scooted along the wall instead.

I will have plenty to report about your birthday party, so I will finish for now.

Love,
Grandpa

Dear Kaylee,

You came over the other day and we had a great time playing with blocks and reading books. Then you decided to come over to Grandpa and give him a “kiss.”

Or so I thought…

What the heck? Is your mommy not feeding you enough?

Guess more of your teeth are coming in…

Posted with Blogsy

Dear Kaylee,

I went out to spend the afternoon with you and your mommy on Monday. I wanted to go for a walk and watch you while your mommy could get some stuff done around the house. We ended up going for a walk to a restaurant and the grocery store. You slept most of the way and your mommy and I could catch up on life.

You see, Kaylee, having you in our lives is a double joy. There is the joy of watching you grow and how so many things you do now are new. Nana and I get such a kick out of your expressions and your mannerisms. We just enjoy Kaylee, period.

Then the double blessing is to see how joyful your mommy is. When you are with her, it is like going to Disneyland every day! We have never seen your mommy so happy so much! There is nothing more precious than to see your children filled with joy. Everything else in the world gets a little more balanced, a little less hectic, and a lot more “right.”

Nana and I are so blessed because we get “child joy” and “grandchild joy” at the same time. That’s a double dose!

Love,
Grandpa

Dear Kaylee,

What is going on behind those eyes of yours? I think at your age you can see clearly about 15 inches or so. I notice you like bright colors and patterns. So, close up, I’m holding colorful objects, shaking a small rattle back and forth, laying you on a colorful mat with stuff hanging above you and watching you look around- those kind of things.

When we are involved in these activities, I wonder if you are thinking,

“Why doesn’t that guy just relax and let me be?”

No, my hunch is you like to have things happening around you so you can get to know your world. Yet, it is at a very quiet, very focused time that I see you the most attentive. It is the time your eyes are most still and most focused, staring right into my eyes. It is when I am cradling you in my arm and feeding you a bottle.

I love that time of the day. You are safe, hugging close to your grandpa’s side, and the look in your eyes says,

“Everything is going to be alright…”

As it should be.

Love,

Grandpa