One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 17:6, "Children's children are a crown to the aged." I love this verse because it makes me excited to be a grandmother. Now, I hope I won't be a grandmother for YEARS to come, but the thought of having grandchildren eventually makes me so happy. I think it's because I have such good grandparents.
My dad's parents passed away within the last few years. They were what I call "Classic" grandparents. Grandpa Glen was a gentleman, in every sense of the word. He always wore some kind of button-up shirt, even when he was farming. I loved the little "twinkle" he had in his eye and the way he would greet me when I saw him, "Well, hell-o there, Lindsey!" His hands were rough from working in the fields for so many years and he always smelled like Lava soap. He was somewhat short, a fact that I didn't realize until I was much older. He always seemed so tall to me I guess because he carried himself that way. I remember him teaching me how to jump rope when I was four and I remember him tap dancing. He was what, I think, every kid wanted in a Grandpa. When I think of him, I picture him on his old Ford tractor, in his green "work slacks" and a plaid button-up shirt with a black pocket protector peeking out. If Grandpa was a gentleman, then Grandma Avis was a lady. She was always dressed to the nines and she always looked flawless. She smelled wonderful; a combination of freshly baked cookies and Balm-Barr handcream. I remember her keeping a hankie up the cuff of her blouse and when it rained, she wore one of those clear plastic bonnets. She would sing the song, "A Bicycle Built for Two" when I was little and since she couldn't be at my wedding, I chose that song to be part of our wedding music. She was an English teacher and even when I was very young, I remember her correcting my grammar. Maybe that's why poor grammar is one of my pet peeves! When I think of her, I picture her waiting at her front door for me to come in. I can see her in her apron, holding a dish towel and feeling her sweet, loving hug. I'm pretty sure I can smell cookies...
My mom's parents are different in that I feel like we are the same age! My Granddad is 80, yet he has the energy of a 30 year old. He is by far the most Godly man on this earth, in my opinion. I believe he is one of the smartest men too. I don't think there is a problem that Granddad can't solve. I love that he and I share a love of reading and I love that he has given me so many of his favorite books. I love his singing voice and his stories. He and my Grandma have been married for 57 years, yet he still looks at her as if it is the first time he's seen her. By his example, he showed me what I deserved in a husband and father for my children. My Granddad is also one of the best preachers I have ever heard. Hearing a sermon by him is like receiving a present. He radiates faith and wisdom. I can't wait to hear the Lord say to my Granddad, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," because there are few on this earth who deserve to hear those words more than him. One of the few who I know will also hear those words is my Grandma Drue. She is the definition of a Christian woman. I know she is what God had in mind when he created a "helper" for man. In my overly active imagination, I picture the angels telling God, "Hey, great job on Drue!" when she was created. I am convinced that my Grandma has never met a stranger. She is the most personable, fun-loving little lady. I love that she gets my sense of humor and I love to make her laugh. She has boundless talent, from writing to photography to organizing family reunions. I am amazed at how young at heart she is...she had a Facebook page before I did :) I remember her playing basketball with us when we were younger and I know if I asked her to play now, she would. She looks at my Granddad with stars in her eyes and her example makes me want to be a better wife. There is nowhere on this earth that she wouldn't follow my Granddad, and she proved that through their years of mission work. She looks at everything as an adventure and a new experience. She truly puts God first in her life and she lives by his example everyday. I am thankful that she is not only my Grandma, but my close friend.I hope I am a combination of all four of my grandparents when that time comes for me. I am thankful that I've had four very different, but very influential people in my life. I hope to take the best from each of them and pass it along to my grandchildren...no time in the near future though :)
