Blog The best sort of trip

Recently we visited our daughter, not to go someplace or celebrate some event. Our daughter and husband had meetings to attend for a couple of days—just during the day. It was in the area, but they asked us to watch the kids while they were gone. We’ve watched the kids before. Keith has changed many a diaper as the kids went from babies to toddlers.

But watching younger kids is exhausting, even though we were glad to help out. The kids are now 5 and 3. Better yet, they can handle the whole potty situation by themselves. They are at that willing to help stage. The “fun” stage if you will.

I planned and brought lots of activities, including a brand-new box of crayons for each along with pen with four colors they loved using. We colored, made popup cards, books, and origami boats and planes. They loved walking and dancing with grampa’s cane, especially when wearing his large shoes. I brought my DVD player with such classics as A Charlie Brown Christmas and an animated The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. They played games with grampa on his iPad.

In the mornings, they spent time outside playing with our grandson’s trucks and trailers, our granddaughter showed me how she could hang upside down on the bars of their swing set. What was nice was that the two get along great. During quiet time they could play together quietly. I even got naps.

What was different this time was that we did not end the day exhausted. Those two energized us, and brought so much happiness. When it was time to go home, I knew I’d miss those kids. Who wouldn’t miss those smiles? As I told our daughter, we were blessed to spend time with them. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I can’t wait to see them first part of September when they come to Kearney for Keith’s birthday celebration.

God is soo good,

© 2022 Carolyn R Scheidies

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Blog Miss those grandkids

When our son Chris’ kids were young, the family moved to Indiana for a job. We were used to seeing them once a week. Now, they were far away. That was before video was built into most computers and cell phones were for more than phone calls. We would so miss the three grandkids, but Chris had a video camera, and the plan was to make regular videos as well as phone calls.

What we didn’t realize was that the kids absolutely hated talking on the phone. Then Chris’ video camera went down. I had no idea the actual grief I would go through having our grandkids so far away. We were thrilled when they moved back to Nebraska a few years later. Every summer they came to stay with us for a week or two until they became teenagers with jobs and other activities. I missed those weeks, but we still got to see them periodically.

Chris’ kids are now young adults and on our way to or from Omaha to visit our daughter and family, we usually stop in Lincoln and go out to eat. Love talking to our grandkids. They are kind and intelligent and I learn from them. We usually find it difficult to say goodbye and head on home.

Our daughter married much later than Chris. Her kids are (in early2022) five and three—a whole different generation from Chris’ kids. But so much fun. We love their smiles. Chris’ kids are almost like an aunt and uncles to Cassie’s kids. We’ve visited for events, holidays, etc. as well to help out with the kids.

During Covid and even now at times, we stay in touch with Cassie’s kids using FaceTime. Ellery puts her hands on her hips.  “Mom, we want to talk to Grampa and Gramma.” We get a call and open FaceTime. Our older grandkids and I stay in touch through email.

We also are all close enough to share holidays—usually in Cassie & Kurt’s home in Papillion. High school graduations and Chris’ kids’ birthdays we celebrate in Lincoln in Chris’ home.

As we get older, the trip east seems longer, but so worth the effort. It was so hard having our older grandkids far away years ago and such a blessing when they moved back. Work and school might mean our grandkids will eventually move further away, but right now I am thankful they are all within three hours of Kearney. We can go there, and they can come here to visit. I am already looking forward to that next visit.

© 2022 Carolyn R Scheidies

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Blog Whistles, Safety and grandkids

After a surgery that left my throat injured, trying to raise my voice hurt. Yet, I needed some way to get a hold of someone if I had a need. It was difficult even to raise my voice so my husband on the other end of our one-story house could hear me. At the time, medical alert appliances didn’t work if a person fell, not automatically at any rate, which is what I would need.

I found an inexpensive solution. I bought a package of different colored whistles on expandable bands I could slip on my wrists. The colors coordinated with my outfits. If I needed to gain Keith’s attention, I merely whistled.

But the whistles became a hit in another way. My young granddaughter loved the colorful, clinking whistles. It wasn’t long before I came prepared when I visited. I’d wear several whistles on my arm. She, and later her younger brother, loved stripping them off my arm and marching around and whistling. I used my whistles to teach colors and counting.

The kids are getting older now and those whistles don’t carry the same draw as they once did. They may whistle a bit when we visit, then move on to something else. But for me, the cheap, colorful whistles still serve their original purpose, if I need to alert someone to a fall or other situation, I merely whistle.

© 2022 Carolyn R Scheidies

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