Gratitude

While saying my prayers last night, I remembered a promise I made to the Blessed Virgin years ago when we were in the middle of all the chaos. I remember praying (begging) to the Blessed Mother and asking her to watch over my son Joe and his daughter Ava. I remember telling her that I did not care how much pain I felt inside as long as my son and granddaughter were ok. Last night while I was praying I took the time to thank our Blessed Mother and expressed my gratitude because she kept her side of the bargain. Despite the pain I felt inside, my son and granddaughter are doing ok. My son is working everyday as a counselor and doing a ton of work on self. Instead of  learning to be a better criminal he is becoming a better person. He takes classes, works out, plays on a soft ball team, reads a lot of books and works everyday giving back to those less fortunate and who do not have the same supportive family as he. My granddaughter received all A's on her report card and she is involved in gymnastics and plays basketball. She is happy and well adjusted. Her parents remain on good terms.


In all reality, I need not complain about my struggle with depression or express how much I miss my loved ones this Christmas Season because they are both ok. Today, I am grateful.

Decorating for Christmas

Christmas Magic 2017

Aubree listening intently to Pop Pop's story about Santa Claus while eating sliced apples on a Christmas Plate. This picture captures the magic of childhood as it pertains to Christmas. This little girl adores her Pop Pop Bill. 

Our Littlest Grandchild

Aubree is our youngest grandchild. She follows three other grandchildren, Shaun (age 16y), Nikolas (age 12y), and Ava (age 10y). When the older three were little they had each other for company. Bill and I would often travel with all three and/or have them at our house on the weekends. But as they grew older, we do not see them as often as we would like to though we still travel occasionally together. The last time we traveled with the boys was a year ago when we took them to Canada. Prior to Canada, we had taken the oldest grandson to Ireland and numerous other trips to Florida, Mountains and Gettysburg. As Shaun is the oldest grandchild, he has traveled the most with us.


Then came Aubree (our little princess) when we thought we would not have any more grandchildren, she came into our lives at the exact right moment and has brought us so much joy and happiness.

The Doll House

Pop Pop promised her a doll house for her birthday and a doll house she received one month before her actual birthday.

Saturday Visitors

Mom, Dad, Aubree, Josh and my sister Marianne.

Halloween 2017

Princess Aubree dressed as Princess Sophia

Aubree and Peyton's Christening Day March 18, 2017

I Adore and Love Aubree and My Sister Marianne

I had a wonderful weekend with Aubree at the shore. After a hectic journey down on Friday night (accident on the bridge that kept us in traffic two hours) we arrived safely and were on the beach by 830a the following morning.

 The excitement on this child's face as the waves of the ocean crashed down to the shore as the dolphins swam and the sea gulls flew above. It was something out of a storybook.

 After she had a nap, we headed to the board walk and the joy on her little face as she went on the rides was priceless.

 We had dinner and she tasted her first shrimp before we headed back to the beach house with a stop for ice cream.

 

This morning we went over to the airport restaurant where she saw the planes take off then we headed over to the Vietnam Museum where she sat in a helicopter. This child brings so much happiness to my life. Later this afternoon after we safely dropped her off to her home and came back to Plymouth Meeting, I spoke to my sister on the phone and she said something that really hit me. She told me she loved seeing the pictures of Aubree and said she was so sweet that she wished Aubree was hers. I was taken a back as there are times I envy my sister's life. She has so many friends and she travels to so many places and has much more freedom and money than I. I seemed to be always working and then too tired to do anything else and spend my weekends with grandchildren or my husband. I do not have a lot of friends and stay mainly to myself. I have always been that way. Give me a book and I am content to be alone. My sister has so much life and energy and I in compare seem so boring and dull. So it really shocked me when she made that statement about my granddaughter. She had just spent the weekend with friends and at the Bruce Springsteen concert then the Eagles game and I spent the weekend with my not yet 2 year old grandchild. I miss the days when my other grandchildren were younger and they still thought it was cool to be with grandmom. They are more interested in friends and activities these days.