Aunt Allyssa’s birthday and the super bowl

Dear Guillianna and Elijah-

Some of todays pics are from a long time ago and bring back lots of fun memories!

It is your Aunt Allyssa’s birthday today and it is Super Bowl Sunday –

Lots of fun and family today.  We saw great Grandma in the morning where we snap chatted this little pic, and some of our kids in the evening !  The cousins are getting so big – and Aunt Allyssa seemed like she had a nice birthday.    You were all missed, very much!  It’s always been fun to celebrate with family, and we never gather without thinking how much we all wish you were here l, celebrating with us !

Sure do miss baking with you two – haven’t baked much since you left and didn’t bake this cake either …. just added some caramel and “honey chocolate” to it …. which is what you always called chocolate covered caramel !       Move you both so very much , to the moon and back –

forever and for always ….

XOXOXOXOXOXO

❤️Nana and Poppy❤️?

 

 

Why should love win?

Dear Guillianna and Elijah-

To believe in love, hope … kindness, good things, it is all we have ever done.   It’s what we do everyday.    It isn’t easy to do when your in the middle of something so difficult there aren’t words for it, but we still try as we hope you will always do as you grow.   We have to believe in what we know, who we are, and no matter how hard it is to have hope, believe in good, love,  and better days, we  do it.   We take each day and battle all the things that try to dim the idea of love, kindness and helping, the things that live inside of us.  Kindness does win, because when you try to give of self, when you try to do right, it may not always feel like you’ve succeeded, and not everyone will see your effort,  and you may fail,  your love may even feel as though it it was in vain, for there will be those who don’t want you, but YOU will always know that as imperfect as every single person can be, if you try your very best, that is what matters.   YOU-  will know how much you loved, tried, gave, and believed.   Just like with time spent in the Mitten YOU will know how you laughed and played, how happy YOU were seeing your Nana and Poppy, you will know how much you looked forward to summers spent, rides to school, specials with either Poppy or I to go do something while one or the other of you had activities, or specials where we all went together.   You will remember dancing and playing, trips and baking. You will remember so many things!   It’s those memories that will make you heal and show you, that love can win.   Your mom and dad love you so much, how THEY feel about us created so much confusion for you both.   It is they who have chosen to prevent us from seeing you, speaking to you or their dislike and personal reasons that have influenced your thoughts or actions in being able five see those you had  always loved for now, but one day, somewhere,  love will win.    The victory of love may be something as simple as when you’re doing something in the future you’ll have a warm memory that gets you though something, it could be when your a parent yourself that you’ll see the role of grandparents is one you wish for your children to have,  or maybe it will be that you will make good healthy choices because of the things you see if someone doesn’t, like Aunt Alyx.   All the events of a life have the potential to bring a learned experience that can help us, that can  help strengthen us – and lead us to ideas or ways to make things better.    That is how love can always win.   There a million different ways to say it – ‘if life gives lemons, make lemonade’,  ‘when bad things happen you can let them define your or let them strengthen you’,  and so many others , yet no matter verbiage, the message is the same.   We have to choose for love to win.  We have to choose to be grateful for all those who have touched our lives.   And no matter what direction the relationship with us takes, we will not change our love for you, our memories, our hope.    No matter what has been said about us, no matter how contorted the facts of your lives in the Mitten will become or have become – the truth is the truth – and there is so much that at 7 and 10 you cannot understand.    We hope one day for the love of mom and dad, and all of your extended family to be able to co-exist within your lives.     We know that you are the innocent in all of what has transpired and we also know your lives, the lives you lead into your tomorrows  are and always will be the result of love.    Your moms love for your and hope for your future, our love for you both, the love we have for mom and all our children, the love Poppy and I have for each other – that  is part of the  journey of the lives of mom and all her siblings –    Love brought so many opportunities to so many people – and what each person does with those opportunities is another chapter in a story that begins and ends with LOVE – that love can be seen in every photo, every single memory.

Here we are at the end of another week and looking toward a fun weekend with mom and dad.   It’s super bowl weekend and Aunt Allyssa is having a birthday.   We will see some of your cousins on Sunday to celebrate her special day and we will surely be thinking of you all as well. You will be missed it’s important you know that not a single day goes by where Poppy and I don’t think of you both   We wish that you are both feeling happy, enjoying mom, dad, friends,  new memories made with dad’s family, extracurricular activities and school.   Before you know it – this school year,  will be behind you and you’ll be on your way to being fifth and second graders!   We will keep hoping to hear and will keep wishing you good health and happiness- who knows maybe we will soon hear from you or see you soon, we will surely hope.   Hope is what we have, and will continue to have.    Why ?    Because of the stories in the pages of this website, yes these images show you your history but these pages are only a portion of the history that love has created.     They tell your story yet there are also the lives of all our children and their children and the good times, the sad times, they are all part of many lives that have had many different opportunities, all in individual journeys that  each began with love, hope and dreams, and have lead to lessons learned, choices made, and for every sad moment, every heartbreak there are a million fold more happy memories, a bazillion more good and valuable things to be grateful for.  Why?  Because we have lived our entire lives hoping and believing in love.   Poppy is as good of a father and grandfather as any human being could ever be.   He has intentions that are pure and kind.    While this past year  has been the hardest we could ever imagine, we are still looking to what we are grateful for.  We are grateful for all of what we have learned, for all we have had, and for memories and dreams yet to come.    We love you both, to the moon and back ,

forever and for always,

XOXOXOXOXOXO

❤️Nana and Poppy❤️?