Grandma's magnifying glass lesson

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My two oldest grandsons, Bubby and Mac, love Scooby Doo and the idea of solving mysteries. So when I visited them in January, I brought along an old magnifying glass we had lying around.

The boys got a kick out of taking a closer look at bugs and rocks—as they previously had with a toy magnifying glass I once brought—and pretending they were on the path to discovering clues that might solve a case of an imaginary Scooby Doo and the gang sort.

magnifying glass and boys 

When I packed my grandma bag for this current visit, I figured I'd...

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An award for Mac, plus GRAND Social No. 156 link party for grandparents

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An award for Mac

As long-distance grandparents, Jim and I rarely get to see our grandsons' games, school performances, or award ceremonies. Which is why we were especially pleased to be a guest of Mac's at his end-of-season pizza party for his T-ball team on Saturday where Mac (like all the mini players) received an award for his season-long efforts.

t-ball award 

We never had the chance to see Mac play a game, but...

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Grandma's growing weeds

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“The strongest and most mysterious weeds often have things to teach us.”
―F.T. McKinstry, Ascarion

My grandsons are growing like weeds! Or so it seems from the photos Megan recently shared.

Their growth and maturity astonishes me. Where, oh, where did these fine young men come from and where did my babies go?

To wit:

baseball brothers

Even Jak—though...

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Here and now: April 16, 2015

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Right here, right now, in my world.

here and now 

On my mind...

My grandma bag and what to put in it. Why? Because in exactly one month, Jim and I will be in the desert soaking up the sun and sweet, squishy hugs from Bubby, Mac, and Jak! Hooray, hooray!

I'm on the lookout for some pretty awesome activities, crafts, and...

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Stories that complete me

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I firmly believe that I didn't need anyone but me
I sincerely thought I was so complete
Look how wrong you can be.

—Rod Stewart, "Every Picture Tells A Story"

Every picture indeed tells a story. These are some of the stories sent to me from Megan—my daughter and mom to my grandsons—over the past couple weeks.

brothers

These stories fill...

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Last resort for a long-distance grandma

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grandsons

I can usually go about two months without seeing my grandsons before the loneliness takes hold.

I didn't make it two months this time.

I last saw my grandsons...

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When grandchildren move away: 10 things to send with them

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When grandchildren move away: 10 things to send with them

Sometimes, regardless of how much we wish things could be different, grandchildren and their parents move away from Grandma and Grandpa. Perhaps there's a better financial situation for Mom or Dad farther away, or maybe it's a marital split that results in beloved grandbabies being relocated farther from grandparents than ever before.

I have always been a long-distance grandma—my grandsons have never lived near me. So I can only imagine how heartbreaking it must be to learn grandchildren who lived nearby will soon live miles and miles away. Such a transition is surely hurtful not only for the grandparents, but for the grandchildren, too.

when grandchildren move away

As a longtime long-distance grandma, though, I do know there...

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