Grandparents...

Grandparents make the world...a little softer, a little kinder, and a little warmer!  

Author Unknown

In the past few months the health and well being of Martin's folks has been at the forefront.  Dad recently lost his drivers.  His memory is failing him, and it is sad to see a strong, proud man lose his self confidence and become more childlike.  Mom was recently rushed to the hospital with the ambulance after she collapsed in a local store.  The explanation was simply..."she is old".  Her pacemaker is working fine and heart is good (at least as good as can be expected). 

Mom struggles to cook and Dad has taken over many household chores.  We do what we can...(not always as much as we would like to do).  Mom and Dad both insist on being as independent as possible and we know we are intruding on their personal lives if we do too much.  We try to bring a meal at least a few times a month or have them over.  Mom was tickled pink to come to our house yesterday.  She had thought she would never be able to come to our house again.  This breaks my heart and makes me cry.  Our visits with them are bittersweet.  I treasure these times and thank God that, for now, my children have grandparents!

Grandma and Grandpa LOVE our kids and make each one feel special!  Mom, even though she suffers from arthritis, and only came home from the hospital a few weeks ago, made the shawl that Malia is wearing.

My in-laws are quite self conscious when it comes to having pictures taken.  I managed to get one picture of Dad playing with Raina.  I had to take it quickly, and as a result it is a little blurry...but that's ok...it is PRICELESS!

A Grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.  Author Unknown

"Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do.  Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children."  Alex Haley