Laughter and Smiles…

Nana November 14, 2018 0Comments

Dear Guillianna and Elijah,

Just wanted you to know your thought of, and loved today and every day.  Here is a bright burst of love and laughter for you to see, may these images remind you of all the fun you have had in the Mitten, and all the love for both of you over all these years and still today.   THESE LOVE LETTER SNIPETS  ARE just a glimpse into your time spent with Nana and Poppy-as well as all your other family,  to make sure you always see how happy you were, how loved you felt.   Everyone I know in the Mitten is hopeful you  enjoy the new changes in your lives, hope that you will be happy and remember well the friends and family who love and care for you, and that you’re surrrounded by the love of your mom and dad as you adventure though the rest of your Army life with them.   Who knows where you may travel next, where ever work takes them, and what ever journey you are on, our love will travel with you.   We all want you to live as happy as can be, and we the hope the tears shed when leaving have subsided into lots of smiles and happiness as you entered the beginning of the next chapter.   We are always going to be your grandparents, and we will always be wishing you two with your mom and dad happiness and joy.   Never forget all the happiness, hard work you did at school, the fun and friends you made,  and know that your kind sweet hearts, are everything to us.  You make us proud !

No shortage of laughter and smiles that is for sure, and lots of wonderful memories for Nana and Poppy.   Thank you little sweethearts for all you shared with us, and know today and always, you are loved to the moon and back,

forever and always,

XOXOXOXOXOXO

❤️Nana and Poppy❤️?

Beanie and BOBO!

Nana November 13, 2018 0Comments

Dear Guillianna and Elijah –

We are still unpacking boxes and finding so many adorable things you’ve made us  or  have drawn for us.    It’s always fun and heart warming  to think of the memories!    Today I came across a giant Santa you and Eli made out of paper.     His arms and legs were almost as long as yours and his body  was giant too.     So creative!   Do you remember – We hung him up on the door in the kitchen !   When I begin to think about all the many fun times – the memories , they just keep pouring in …. Do you remember Beanie and Bo Bo?     The good morning song and our own version of  carpool karaoke!

Until we can see you or talk again we will keep sharing these amazing memories and hope that one day they will carry some value for you both.   I will write what we  are thinking, or about the every day activities and typical life photos we have collected over the past 9 years.  The purpose is  to keep full the hearts of love that were here for so long . To help focus on the good –  I got to thinking about making gingerbread houses, December festivities including birthdays , Christmas Eve,  Santa , Extravaganza glorious dancing in the living room and library, basement and all around the house, Elfie and Snowlfake ! So many fun days are ahead for you both !  It will be so exciting.  Remember when you filled the tree with post it notes!  Christmas wishes and when you both sang Christmas Carols?

We will not ever give up  hoping that you’ll be able to call, FaceTime or who knows maybe even a miraculous visit !   The one thing we have always said about this time of year, it is about believing in the spirit of Christmas, giving, hope,  and the magical way love and kindness make you feel.    It will be very strange for everyone to not have you here at Christmas ? that is for sure- but sincere wish that it is more amazing and more magical with every passing year !   I youre happy, everyone who loves you will be happy, and if you could feel our love, and the family support that is in all of our hearts, you would be smiling and as happy as you always were here in the mitten.   Love your both to the moon and back,

Forever and Always,

XOXOXOXOXOXO

❤️Nana and Poppy❤️?

Good things, great days, happiness, and love.

Nana November 12, 2018 0Comments

Dear Guillianna and Elijah,

Poppy and I as always are wishing you good things, great days, happiness and love.  We are a little more than a week away from the day we are supposed to remember gratitude.   So many years ago, people who were very different, had different opinions and different ideas of what “should be” celebrated the first Thanksgiving feast, and showed mutual respect for each other. Poppy and I  keep hope, if we love enough, if we wish for good things, happiness and love for you and your mom and dad, there will be many more celebrations in your future, celebrations with great grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and your Nana and Poppy.

Nana knows so many people who have been removed from a place they knew as home.   So many people in my 56 years of life, have been, and not all of them as babies.   Some were 8 or 9  or 6 like you two, some older, and every single one of the people I know has their own unique perspective, and some have adjusted well, and others truly struggle with it.    Every person with their own story, and yet some common factors.   We hope you never struggle with the fact that you have not seen or heard from people you have loved and depended upon seeing in your lives daily .   That you never question- did our grandparent care about us?   YES, FOREVER AND ALWAYS, TO THE MOON AND BACK, we have loved and cared for you and will forever and always care for you ….

While I am so grateful for the advancement of technology so that I can create these love letters…. I am also so sad that I cannot see your faces, and tell you – face to face – how loved you are and how none of the changes you have been through in the past 11 months is your fault and we could imagine that all of it could understandably be stressful emotional or emotions pushed aside inside of you to cope and make proud your mom and dad , who may not share the same feelings you do on the Mitten or us . That is a very difficult place for a child to be. We understand and hope this site can one day be helpful – When you are grown and read this historical Journal of love , it may not take way the loss felt as little ones … but it could help you to know something very important . I wish my own children knew when their little lives began changing – love doesn’t ever leave- Loss and grief are hard to handle for everyone and everyone copes with it differently.     We may not physically be giving good night wishes, kisses and hugs, hearing about your day or school, as we did in the past, and we cannot promise when we will be allowed to see you again,  but we can promise this ,    We will love you forever and carry your hearts in ours forever!

Snipet after snipet of video,  photo after photo, to show you the value we have upon you, to show you the love and special way you two touched the hearts of everyone you knew.  We will always hope that one day we can hear all about the new memories being made, the love you feel, the new experiences with other relatives and new friends.   WISHING YOU GOOD THINGS, GREAT DAYS, HAPPINESS AND LOVE, forever and always,

To the moon and back,

XOXOXOXOXOXO

❤️Nana and Poppy❤️?

A bushel and a peck…

Nana November 11, 2018 0Comments

Dear Guillianna and Elijah,

Today is Sunday and it was a day to spend visiting family, after Poppy went to work early in the morning we got the rest of the day going.   Todays love letter has a few of the people we got to see today.   We saw Great Grandma Sally who sends her love and is finally feeling better from a cold she had.   I will put up some random pictures for you both to help you smile ! There are just so many pics to go through, and I want you to get to see them all.  Despite the fuzzy faces if you just look the real memories are inside your heart !

We also saw Aunt Allyssa and Uncle Dwan and family.   They are remodeling a portion of their house, and are all doing well.  They send hugs and kisses and cannot wait to see you again.  They have only seen you on Facetime once in the past 11 months,  briefly, but miss you both every single day.  They are super busy too.  School and activities keep them going all the time as well.

Uncle Nick had to work out of town and Aunt Liz and Bash are good.   They are also expecting a new baby!   So we will have to see now, will it be a girl or a boy.  Luckily we get to FaceTime with them too!

Aunt KiKi FaceTimed us today as well.  Uncle Ricky has some work stuff coming up and so she will be keeping extra busy.  Mia made the honor roll this card marking which we would be willing to  bet you did as well.

Not sure if Eli’s grade level does letter grades at the new school or not but I have to believe your doing great.   I remember how amazing you have always done in school, and hope you continue to shine.   I think I wrote the other day about this fact, and that I wonder if youre doing a holiday concert.   Singing and Ms. Hall always a huge hit with you both.    If so we hope it is so much fun, and wish we had tickets to the show!  While we don’t see Aunt Arri I have no doubt  I bet and it would be my honest opinion that she is missing you both too!  Everyone does!     Friends and immediate family and all our extended family.     Teachers and families from NDPMA all send you love, kisses and wishes for Beanie and BOBO to be happy and smile like always !

Nana and Poppy send you these tid bits of love in writing and images to make sure you never forget how amazing you both are, how loved you are, and how proud of you we have always been.    We love you both ‘a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck…..’  AND WILL ALWAYS WISH FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY love and happiness.

We love you both forever and always,

To the Moon and Back?

XOXOXOXOXOXO

❤️Nana and Poppy❤️?