Remember

It has been 24 years since you left us and it feels as though you were here yesterday. Your love has sustained me through the tough times and I will be forever grateful that I had your love for 30 years. I cannot imagine how life would have been without your constant presence in my life as a child to adulthood. You taught me by example the importance grandparents play in the life of their grandchildren. You taught me one can never love a child too much and as I look back in hindsight I know that statement is very true. It is a wonderful gift you have given me as I carry that love and those memories within my heart and I know you are an angel sitting with God watching over me.

Blessed

Dad said, "he bought me these kittens because I am one of his five kittens".

 

They found a home in front of the sliding glass doors  leading to the balcony. When I saw these "kittens", my first "thought" was "she" will love these.

 

The cross with the double rings is from my grandparents' 50th anniversary party that was held on December 1st, 1978. My grandfather was a "Gallagher" and he left this world on November 27th, 1980 while my grandmother was a "Boland" who left this world July 30th, 1990. I am grateful that I had my grandparents until my 20th then 30th birthday. They were an enormous part of my upbringing. Mom gave me this frame then she gave me this stature.

 

When I saw this stature, tears swelled up in my eyes because this stature represents my grandmother's death in 1990. Mom told me this stature was in my grandmother's casket. I never knew that. What I did know was there were four statures that were on the four corners of grandmom's casket. I was with my mom when she picked out the casket upon the death of my grandmother. I recall my mom saying, "this will be my last gift to her" and purchased the beautiful casket with its art work. The four corners of the casket had the statures as part of the structure whereas there was a separate fifth stature inside the casket itself.

 

The Grieving  Blessed Mother holding her son upon her lap. I believe it is a sign from heaven that I recognized this stature at this time just 23 years after my grandmother's death. I know she watches me from heaven and I know she loved the Blessed Mother. As a mother of sons especially one son who struggles, I believe the Blessed Mother has a special place in her heart for me. There was a time when I asked the question, "why me"? Now I ask the question, "why not me"? I will not be the first nor the last mother on this earth who has felt pain. 

 

I had a close and loving relationship with my grandparents especially my grandmother. As my mother gave me this stature, I felt the love in her heart for me. How could I have ever doubted the love she and my Dad have for me?

 

The stature has a place in my China Cabinet this evening.

Grandparents Have an Important Impact on their Grandchildren's Lives

Changing roles of grandparents: Are more raising their grandchildren?

Maria Shriver NBC News

13 hours ago

 

I don't know about you, but my grandparents had a huge impact in my life. Their history, their values, their sense of family and service informed how I was raised and how I have lived my life. My parents were incredible grandparents, inspiring our children to be of service as well and to view family as the most important source of love and inspiration.

The role of grandparents is both constant and fluid. Both stable and ever-changing. Today, millions of people who are grandparents are also doing double duty as parents, providers, caretakers and caregivers. Millions of grandparents are raising the next generation; retirement is not even in their playbook.

My grandparents were well-known — millions are not. They toil in obscurity and yet their work caring for children is hardly acknowledged or validated. NBC is changing that by shining a spotlight on some grandparents pulling double duty.

NBC TODAY Show _ Grandparent Love Leads to Happiness - Video Dailymotion

NBC TODAY Show _ Grandparent Love Leads to Happiness - Video Dailymotion