Who me? 55, really?

Some how its happened again, another year has passed by adding yet another year to my ticker counter.  55 sounds more like a weather forecast, a lovely 55 would be enjoyed by all I'm sure.  Especially this week, highs in the mid-20's isn't exactly fun.  Or 55 as in Highway 55, takes me back to growing up in St. Louis, jump on 55 and visit Grandma and Grandpa for the day.   Now that was fun.  Or how about when the speed limits were lowered in the mid-70's, 55 would help conserve fuel, making those trips to the Grandparents house a little longer, but a buck was saved here and there.

Some how this "55" isn't the same, this double-nickle birthday is aimed at me.  55 years ago I was born into a growing family in South County, St. Louis MO.  My arrival put me with my two older sisters and loving parents.  This little family of 5 would eventually add one more girl some 11 years later to become a family of 6.  Being the "baby" of the family had many advantages of which I am sure I took advantage of.  Mostly I remember the love of a Mom and Dad and the sisterly love of two older siblings and the additional joy of getting to be the "big sister" later on.    This was a great foundation to build on, for me to become the person I am today.

So this person today is 55 years "old", older yes but I won't concede to that "old".  I love looking back on many memories over those years and really can't wait to see whats next.  That means that  55 to me is just another year, with challenges and opportunities (thanks dad) ahead.

One Year Ago Today

I can honestly say I am so surprised as to how fast this last year has gone by.  It was October 23rd, 2013 and the count down was over.  Our first Grandson, Ely Michael Allen was born on an absolutely gorgeous day in fall of that year.  The long anticipated call was received, Jen was in labor, come when you can.  So quickly we gathered our two boys from their schools and headed up that highway.  No matter how fast we could go, it wasn't fast enough, our Ely arrived as we zipped through the Lake of the Ozark.  And honestly that's how it should have been, just the two of them, Jen and Eric meeting and loving their first born and cherishing the new family that they had become.

In no time at all, we too were welcoming this sweet bundle of joy, treasuring the miracle of him.  And then in a blink of an eye, this precious little new born grew into a charmingly handsome one year old.  He has completely stolen hearts and filled lives in a way I hadn't even imagined.  I thank God for the gift of him and can't wait to see what his future holds.

Happy Birthday Ely Michael!

With Much Love,

Grandma Debbie

Grandma

More than anything I wish I could sit down with my Grandma Mae.  My memories of this sweet Grandmother have faded with time, we lost her when I was probably 12 years old or so. I do remember that she was a beautiful Grandma, smooth skin, soft swirls of white curls surrounded her face, her sitting in the kitchen of her final family home, in her wheelchair that arthritis had sentenced her to.  I remember Sunday dinners of delicious chuck roast, the best mashed potatoes, our favorite brown and serve dinner rolls and desserts.  There was chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cream pies that no child could ever resist.

Even more, I wish I could just talk to her.  Talk to her about this miracle of being "Grandma".  I had no idea what kind of happiness was in store for me until Ely Michael Allen was born this past October.  And suddenly my heart opened even more, quickly taken in by this little boy, the baby of my baby girl.  Some how this precious boy has found a space that I didn't even know I had and firmly planted his self right into the middle of it.  My own Grandma always had open arms for all of her grandchildren and I'm just starting to see that she too had many spaces in her heart to fill.

I love this role of Grandma and love the legacy that Grandma Mae started so many years ago.  She may be gone but truly she will never be forgotten.

Love,