The Joys of Being a Mother: November 2010

Ryan and I have been truly blessed by amazing grandparents. Each of our grandparents have taken an active role in our lives and helped shaped us into the people we are today.

In the above picture is Grandma Alice, Ryan's grandmother. She has such a sweet and caring spirit and truly loves the Lord. When Ryan was a kid he would say that she would butter his arm for a long time. Meaning, she would stroke his arm back and forth. :)

This is Grandpa Dale with Ellie. His is one of the hardest working men I have ever met! He looks tough on the outside, but he is a tender hearted man. He truly cares for the people around him. They live in Florida, so we just love being able to visit with them. We stayed with them during the birth of Avi. It was so special to share that moment with them.

This is Grandma Millie Chevrier playing dolls with Ellie. She and her husband, Grandpa Chuckie raised 6 boys! Yes, 6 boys! She is amazing with kids and has such energy to keep up with them. Right after Ellie was born she came out to Chicago with Alicea to meet Ellie. Ellie was on her oxygen and Avi and Anderson were 20 months old. She would run around the house with Avi and Anderson playing hide and seek and would go swing on the swings outside with them.

Here are my grandparents, Mae and John Vander Schaaf. They are such a big part of my life. I remember as a young girl that I had an issue and I can't remember what it was and I decided to call Grammie and tell her my problem. She told me that she was so glad that I called her and that I told her my problem and that she truly wanted to listen to what I had to say. That meant so much to me as a young girl knowing that someone really wanted to know my thoughts and wanted to listen to what I wanted to say.

I'm truly blessed to have both of them in my life and I just love their Christian influence. They were married a Moody Bible Institute and Papa used to sing Sunday mornings while Grammie accompanied him with piano.

My grandparents on my father's side have passed. Grandma Anderson passed right after our wedding and Papa Anderson passed when I was 10 years old. Grandma Anderson was a neat lady who taught Sunday School for many years. She would bring her 5 boys to church each week and Papa Anderson would drop them off at the door. Papa Anderson had a heart attack and my parents were able to pray with him before he passed and Papa squeezed my parents hand saying that he accepted Christ into his life.

Thank you grandparents for making such a big impact on our lives and on your great grand children's lives! We love you!