I never knew being a grandma would be so much fun.  I remember my grandmas and there was somethings about each one that I will never forget.  My father's mom was big and had white hair.  I was told her hair turned white upon hearing of a tragedy.  She made the best chicken and noodles in the world.  She lived above us in a two flat building we lived in.  We were warned not to to bother her but she loved seeing us, so I sneaked up once in a while. She had an old pedal sewing machine.  It had belonged to her mother.  There were 4 drawers in it and one was filled with all kinds of buttons. When I ran my fingers through them I felt like they were priceless.  She liked costume jewelry and hats.  My first remembrance of going to church was with her.  She took me to the Nazarene church she belonged to.  My biggest desire as a child was to sing as loud as Francis Irvin, the song leader!  I remember going to children's classes and learning how to sing Jesus Loves Me and Climb, Climb, Up Sunshine Mountain.  My other grandmother I called Mom.  Her two youngest daughters were 12 years old when I was born so I guess calling her Mom like everyone else made sense.  She liked to have one on talks that made me feel special.  She seemed to delight in our conversations.  We'd share simple things like rye bread and butter.  She too could cook.  I loved her turkey and dressing.  It was the best and her coleslaw was really good.  She'd cut the cabbage with a knife, not a shredder.  We attended church with her and Pop when we could but they lived far away.   Pop was a minister and the job he was called to do was start churches.  Mom was a little German spit fire.  Her family had a dairy farm in Wisconsin but originally came from Germany.  I never knew my father's father but I heard he was fun. I hope my Grandmothers had as much fun as I do with my grandchildren.

When I hear talk about being for or against war it brings back memories of another time.  A time when I was the wife at home watching the all too graphic news accounts.  Listening for the name of the fallen soldiers.  Knowing that one of those soldiers shown in combat was the husband/wife, son/daughter, father/mother, brother/sister of someone in my same situation.  My husband was gone for 11 months at a time.  During that time he missed the birth of our firstborn and the passing of some of his family members.  Judging from some of the letters I kept that he sent me from war, he missed me too.  Some didn't think we should be in that war either and many did not return.  Whether or not you think  we should be in this war we are.  When that first plane hit the World Trade Center we at first thought pilot error?  But when that second hit there was no doubt that it was a terror attack.  We never thought that possible.  So many of young men & women joined up to serve the country they thought was worth fighting for and the freedom so many do not appreciate.  I have a friend whose son died in that war.  For her and all the wives, mothers, sisters and children who have lost their loved one fighting for what they felt was right I am so grateful for their sacrifice.