I am a lucky girl. A very lucky girl.
I was basically raised with two sets of parents…my parents and my grandparents…
I’ve always been close to my grandparents…and for that I feel most fortunate…there has never been an important event that they have missed in my entire life…ever…everything from proms to graduations to hospital stays to birthdays…they have always been there. (Like I said, I am one lucky girl.) I talk to them everyday…how many people get that chance? Not many, and I am grateful for it.
Recently we almost lost my grandpa…and I wasn’t handling it well. He’s so much a part of who I am…and has always been my loudest cheerleader…how could I possibly let him go? Especially without him knowing how important he has been to me and how influential he has been in my life. I couldn’t…and thankfully I didn’t have to.
But it did make me think a lot about the part that they have played in my life…my grandpa bought me my first sketch book (ok, my first 50 sketch books), and my first fashion books to sketch from, and my first camera (and then taught me how to use it). They also taught me how to drive a stick shift, use maps to take me where ever I wanted to go, how to plant tomatoes, and about my roots and where I came from.
I am not kidding when I say they are very literally a part of me…and I am thankful for them everyday. And I wanted them to know it so I decided that the best way to tell them was to put it down in writing…with a few drawings to, well, illustrate my point.
So I bought a photo journal and filled it with drawings of things they said, places we’ve gone, and favorite memories.
I also included some of the life lessons they have taught me…and how they’ve helped to shape me into who I am today.
After a lifetime of love, it wasn’t hard to fill the books.
And when I was finished I wrote each of them a letter and put that into the front page as well.
It didn’t cost a lot…and it wasn’t fancy…no layers of scrap booking and coordinating trims…just ink and water color and words….but now they know…I love them…with all my heart. It’s official. (It’s in writing anyways and that makes everything official!)
Sometimes I’m not sure those that we love best know just how much they are loved….and I need to work on being better at letting those people know…. because you never know…
Thank you everyone for stopping by and if you get the chance today, let someone you love know how much you love them.
-liZ
I LOVE THIS POST!!! Thank you for sharing ….. I can only imagine what that book means to your grandparents. What a priceless gift!!
that made me tear up-what a sweet book! I’m sure they loved it-priceless!
Sweet liZ. Now I have tears rolling down my cheeks. Thanks a lot! 😉
Do you know you are a good writer? If you don’t, I will tell you. You are a great writer. I didn’t know my grandparents at all. You are very lucky to have them in your life.
Hi. I don’t follow your blog on a regular basis and I think today I was pointed in your direction. I never had any grandparents and I would have loved to have known them. On the other hand, I am a grandparent and so I do know how much your book meant to your grandparents. I have a special bond with my grandchildren. I’m sure you know of what I speak. It’s not the same as a parent’s love, tho that is special too. I think I need to go make some of my own books so my grandchildren (and children, too!), know just how much they mean to me. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
This is beautiful! I love this method of showing your love. I love your watercolor paintings too… they are really sweet. =)
I love this!
Wow what a wonderful way to honor your Grandparents. I’m sure they won’t have a dry eye. Wish we could see their faces when theyread and look at this beautiful book. The love they shared with you. We can see it in your blog. How talented and caring you are.
You are incredibly lucky to be so close to your grandparents and they are so lucky to get such a wonderful heartfelt gift from you.