Friday January 15 2016  LET YOUR EYES LIGHT UP

Another day.  Another blog. But where is the idea?  What to write today, is the question I ask myself.  Up very early to get out the door by 6:00 a.m. to be with our grandchildren for the day.  This is my window of opportunity to write but not much has happened yet today as a springboard to jump off from.  Dinner is already in the refrigerator waiting to be heated and served.  Our son has been out of town the past couple of weeks doing an extra course for his law degree to shorten the time of his studies.  From what I have seen through his life (or perhaps how much I HAVE NOT SEEN HIM) law school is quite grueling.  We try to do what we can do help out when he is not available to be with the boys.

Our new dishwasher is beautiful but not full enough to run a load.  We look forward to filling it up and hearing how quiet it is.  It was actually quite easy to just wash up the dishes after each meal and put them away with just the two of us.  However, I think it will be nice when we have big dinners and lots of cooking going on to once again have a working dishwasher.  I am taking a break from cooking at present because we have so much food to eat from the freezer and cupboards.  Actually that is quite nice right now too.  Lots of frozen soups and casseroles, fish and burgers, as well as lots and lots of frozen fruit.  I purchase all our fruit in season of freshness, freeze on cookie sheets, (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries) and then put into freezer bags for fruit smoothies and yogurt toppings throughout the winter.  The fruit does not stick together when put in the bags and it makes it easy to reach in for a handful of whatever you prefer.  I do other fruits the same way but must cut them up first before freezing.  Do you ever wonder if this blog is a cooking blog?

Uh Oh!  I hear little pitter patter of feet coming up the stairs.  A breathless little boy is telling me about how he won!  He played air hockey, Ninja, wrestled, and then “worked out” (on the treadmill).  All with grandpa.  Of course Xander won.  It is 10:15 a.m. and my quiet time is over.

Checking in at 3:10 p.m.  Baby boy (4-year old) is napping and Dave went to pick up Zachariah from school.  It will soon not be quiet again but perhaps I will be able to complete a short blog on a day when spontaneity of AMAZING THOUGHTS failed me…miserably.  Oh well, I guess I am just not perfect.

We had a delightful time at Costco, then a stroll through Aldi’s to buy some sale items, and home again.  Only this home is the home of our son and his family.  Usually I come alone to watch the boys but then the little one cannot nap because I must wake him to go get the bigger one from school.  Last week and this week Dave came along and it helped out tremendously with allowing Xander to nap.  When you are retired you don’t usually have to worry about the little one’s nap time schedule (you only have to be concerned about getting your own).

It is so interesting how quiet the house is until the Zachariah bursts in, full of life and exuberance.  There is sort of a vibration, a pulse of life that I feel when that happens.  His sparkling eyes, his voice so full of excitement, movement, and a trail of paraphernalia strewn across the floor, (until I direct him to pick it up) such as a coat, mittens, snow pants, shoes, scarf, hat, and backpack.  I kid you not!  And he always responds, “It’s okay grandma, that’s where it’s supposed to be.”  And I always tell him, “Well not when its grandma here who must walk all over it”.  He always picks it up and piles it into the laundry room, chattering the whole time.  And my heart smiles deep inside and I can feel the need for a kiss coming.  Of course it’s my need, not his.  He is a bit past that at age 8.  But he always lets me smooch on him anyway.

These are the kind of moments I cherish and put into my bank of treasured memories.  Each boy is so different and at different stages.  Xander is all for the kisses and hugs and comes up to me often throughout the day to lean into me, hug whatever part of me is available, and tell me in the sweetest, sincerest voice, “Grandma, I just love you so much.”  If you don’t think that makes a sappy heart, then you are not yet a grandmother.  I wouldn’t trade these two boys for anything in the world. 

Years ago Dave and I devised a “code” for when we need attention from the other.  If we say, “I need some medicine”, it means, please look at me in the face and give me your undivided attention.  With no questions asked, that is what we do.  And it works.  Often time, those you love are the ones you take the least notice of when they walk into a room.  Eye contact is so important.  And it doesn’t matter your age.  Not only do my eyes light up when Dave walks into a room where I am, my heart still lights up.  I try to be consistent in never taking him for granted.   

I remember hearing Oprah once say, when your child walks into a room your eyes should light up.  I can’t say I was always faithful in doing just that, but I purposely tried to remember to do so.  And now as a grandparent, I again try to remember to let my eyes light up when my grown children or my grandchildren, come into a room.  It is not difficult to light up, when your heart’s delight, walks through the door.  Oh, don’t I sound mushy, mushy?  That’s okay.  I like being mushy.

So today is a bit different as far as my blogs go.  Thank you for reading this far (if you are reading these words).  I may have not have had a lot to say, and certainly nothing profound, but I did let you have a peek into my soul.  And if I were to leave you with one last statement it would be to cherish your family and love them deeply.  Let your eyes light up whenever you see them.  Your eyes are the window of your soul.  When you have light in your eyes, you have life in your heart. 

LET YOUR EYES LIGHT UP

By Kathleen Martens

January 15, 2016

Each precious moment

A special treasure.

How can love

Even be measured?

Let those you love

Light up your eyes,

There are always

Too many goodbyes.

Let your greetings

Be with a kiss

So they know

They were missed.

Too soon time passes,

Have no regrets,

That your heart

Has nothing to fret.

With open arms

And open heart,

Give each entrance

A perfect start.

My sweetest pleasure

My little grand boys

No one in the world

Brings such joy.

Take nothing for granted

They are big too soon,

And you are old

Ready to croon.

So every hour

Realize you’re blessed

That you can hug them

Close to your breast.

Let your eyes light up

When they walk into a room,

For they will be grown,

All too soon.

I shall go play ping pong.

Good night and God bless you.