The Oldest

He received his first cell phone the other day.  Yes, for graduating from the 5th grade and going into "middle school" his gift from his parents (my daughter) was his very own cell phone.  Not a smartphone, just a regular one, but a phone nonetheless.  And I was his first call.  My phone rang, I didn't recognize the number--I said hello, and heard the sweetest words ever.  Hi, grandma!

He was so excited.  Guess what I got?  My own phone!  We talked for a few minutes and then hung up.  The next day I received a text message from an unknown number.  It read--hi grandma, what are you doing?  And thus started our texting throughout the rest of the day, and then on to the next day.  He also sent a text last night--good night gma.  And first thing this morning--good morning gma.  I have to tell you something--there is no better way to feel loved and thought about than a text from your grandson, I'll tell you that right now!  Nothing can compare to the feeling of love that I feel for that boy as it floods through my heart.

He is my oldest grandchild, our very first and he turns 12 years old this October.  It is hard for me to fathom this bit of information.  You see, it seems as though my own children were just this age not too long ago.  And now?  Well, now I am conversing with my oldest grandchild via his own cell phone!  It's amazing and awesome and wonderful and scary all at the same time.  And that's just the point--time.  It goes by so fast now, there is no stopping it.  One month it's Christmas, then it's summer and then, we are planning for the holidays again.  Yes, that quickly.  So, it is my desire to enjoy every second of every day.  Especially when it comes to taking, playing or visiting with my grandchildren.  I want them to remember me.  I want them to know me.  Really know me.  And I want to know them, I want to understand their likes and dislikes, I want to know their hearts, I want to spend that quality time with each one of them.  And if I can't live in the same cities as they do, well, I'll leave them this blog, to one day read and remember when.  I'll do my best to document the fun times. I'll take lots of pictures of us together, and I'll share as many stories as I can.  I don't want them to ever wonder--what was she really like?  They will read this and know.  They'll know me.

I want to share a cute little conversation that took place yesterday between my grandson and me via texting--it went something like this.
Him--Hi grandma--how was grandpa's trip?  Did he like it?
Me--Hi, yes he loved it, did your mom show you the pictures?
Him--Yes, she did, I loved looking at them, the kids were adorable.
Me--Yes, I thought so too.  They reminded me of your cousin.
Him--Me too, she is so cute, just like them. :)

I could almost see him smiling through the phone, we were talking about his newest cousin, she was adopted from an African American family.  She is part of our family now and I knew that he was probably wondering about his grandpa's trip to Congo and the resemblance between her and the children of Congo.  I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable about it, so I thought I'd bring it up first.
It's important for me that my grandchildren learn to be accepting, kind, loving and inclusive.  Their parents are doing an awesome job of teaching them.  And it's a good thing too, as I am hoping and praying for even more grandchildren.  You just never know--we have 6 so far, however, I do wonder how many more we might end up with.  And we never know what their heritage might be.  But, we know one thing for sure--the minute they become part of our family--they are ours forever.

For now, I will look forward to those little text messages, those short phone calls, and that sweet little voice.  I will cherish each call and remember this time in my little grandson's life, for one day soon, he'll be too busy for grandma, but right now, well--we're phone buddies, and I love it.