Dear Guillianna and Elijah,
Do you remember this chocolate smelling stuffy you got Poppy? It still smells like chocolate! He walks by it everyday at his desk and of course thinks it smells delicious but mostly thinks how much he wants to give you both hugs and talk to you for hours just to catch up on all that has been happening in your lives Playing baseball ⚾️, running, video games, new interests, school There are so many possible things to hear about !
Hard to believe Thanksgiving was a week ago isn’t it? This means you are almost done with another week of school and so much closer to Guillianna’s special day.
Today’s photos are like all the rest we have , super adorable, and super special to us. Hope you will enjoy them. I wonder what Guillianna’s birthday party plans are, and what special things you will do this weekend with your friends, and family. Never forget that photos of birthday number ten will surely get taken and one day even if it is not soon – but one day – we will see how happy the days events have made you. As I think of celebrating- I wonder if I could get a video of your friends here in the Mitten singing the traditional NDPMA Polish version for you. Wouldn’t that be fun! Pretty sure I cannot get that on this short notice, but to be honest I do have a video of it from prior years, and I will definitely work on how I can get your face on the video pixellated so I can post it publicly, or I will certainly enclose it on the private pages for future viewing.
Poppy is doing well, he has a busy morning tomorrow, but then is off for the weekend. We will take Great Grandma shopping and maybe to a special Christmas event. I will take some photos for you what ever we do so you can catch up on things in the Mitten.
When the day comes and you’re able to read all of the love letters, see yourselves in the photos and remember these past days it is hopeful that you will be happy. You will have grown up with mom and dad loving you more than words could say. Have a million memories both from the Mitten and all the other places you may or will go as you continue to grow and enjoy life . People never really leave if you can hold them in your heart. There will always be question in life, things we can’t easily explain or that are so difficult to understand, but LOVE ❤️ is something you’re both lucky ? to have known your whole lives. Love from everyone you have ever been near, and has had the wonderful opportunity to know you! So many people , who love your smiles your laughter and the time spent with you ! The love letters written years ago had so many people in our family who loved watching you grow and who were dedicated to making sure you felt all the love that these people in the Mitten had to offer . They all miss you and are wishing you happiness beyond measure.
The way things are in these recent months is very non traditional and completely unexpected. That is why this is so difficult for everyone to understand. It’s certainly not the expected outcome after years of love and every day life as it was to be certain – and is unimaginable that no one sees or speaks to either of you. It is definitely sad that you’ve not been able to be back for a visit yet , and it seems the Army and circumstances keep families so busy and unable to attach, and maybe the “Army life” makes leaving and not talking simpler for some, I suppose, if there were less Mitten connections ? Yet love, support, familiarity, the role of cousins, aunts, uncles, school friends as pen pals even , great grandparents, or grand parents cannot be worthless in the life of a child …. and THAT is why we write. Writing now, does not interfere with the journey you are both upon, but will provide you the knowledge of how important you truly are to us – to others – to friends and family in the Mitten ! These letters allow us to share with you so much gratitude for our special years and hope you and your parents too will feel loved today and always !
We truly saw the effect childhood trauma, issues of abandonment and loss have had in our own lifetimes and we have been counseled on how any steps we take to make certain you never could believe we would leave your side as grandparents is so important. What is the fact is we are and always will be your grandparents! All of the people in the Mitten love you with all their hearts and only want your happiness. They want to share in your lives. There are so many reasons to support these relationships and we hope the relationship between grandparent and grandchild is one that we all could feel grateful for, to value and to nurture. Our physical disappearance, for nearly 12 months now or for how ever long into the future this continues, is going to be a huge issue to resolve in your own minds at some point- after all, what possible reason has been given for why after so many years suddenly to not be calling or FaceTime us as you were promised you could, that we have not visited and you never came to visit here or get any of your things. There is no truthful, rational or legitimate explanation for withholding love and friendship from children with so many firm foundational roots interwoven through the past nine and six years. Because of that fact, because of the fear, of “what” could have ever possibly made anyone go from loving the way you both did- your Nana and Poppy, to what we are currently hearing ? Oh my goodness- it is just so unimaginable, It’s beyond anything either of us, as grown adults, can understand- so we can only imagine what will happen to the development of your own youthful emotional lives.
The only offering we have today and until the day your old enough to understand the dedication in our hearts to you both …. is a promise. NOTHING will change our love for you. Nothing.
LOVE YOU BOTH TO THE MOON AND BACK, forever thankful for you both, forever and for always❤️ ,
XOXOXOXOXOXO
❤️Nana and Poppy❤️?