Two flowers

We have the 5 sweetest granddaughters ever created by a gracious God. Two of them, "the twins" were here two weeks ago, Sunday, spending some time with us before we went to OSU. They were playing with these flowers, showing me how they could make them 'bloom'.

I have spent almost every Wednesday with them since they were born. The last couple of years have become what we call "Lodi-Library Wednesdays". You have to say it close together and fast and enthusiastically, like you are saying "Cedar Point" or "Sea World".

They say the "Lodi-Library" is the best place in the whole world, and we can dream of being nowhere else on a Wednesday morning. The librarians love them, they feel safe and confident each time they walk in those large doors and Lodi has a whole section dedicated to nothing else but encouraging children to learn to enjoy a library.

After hanging out in the library, we usually visit the local McDonalds where they are learning to wave and say "hi" to people they meet, because we are all "neighbors" in this world somehow and while we do need to be safe, we also need to be kind; and then we eat the most horrible food this side of I71 - but they love it and do not want to go across the street to Bob Evans for any kind of switch-out bribe I can think up. So they sit and nibble on their nuggets, giggle and laugh about funny things like the shapes of french fries; and we eat our ice cream.

We then go back to 'Grandmumsy's house' to take a nap. They take turns sleeping in the baby bed - they still think it's something funny and fun and it makes them remember all the safe and good times they have slept here before; the other sleeps in the big bed that looks out over the backyard, and if you sleep there you get the 364 page 'Book of Birds' to peruse and memorize.

I lay down with them and read to them. Then we chat a bit. Then they go to sleep.

They wake up groggy and snuggly and we prepare dinner. Last year we added to our evening mealtime by telling them we like to eat this meal a little differently; we want to eat it slowly, and everyone gets a chance to talk and subsequently hear about everyone's day while we eat. I let them pick out the dinner dishes and the special drinking glasses from my vast collection - the glasses are all replaceable but making them feel special is not; they set the table, bring all of the candles they can find and we light them and sit down. Then they get excited and say "hold hands - hold hands" and we hold hands and bow our heads and pray.

Scott starts to pray and they repeat everything he says. It must be sweet music to God's ears; I know it is to mine.

Then everyone gets a chance to tell about their day. I tell Popop that I got a chance to take the sweetest little girls to the Lodi-Library; and how good they acted. They always smile really big and start to talk about the other children there and they process in their minds what is good behavior, and what has hurt others feelings. We talk about the elderly lady using a walker at McDonald's. We talk about the dirty bathrooms. We talk about how many amish buggies we saw on the road.

And they always want to talk about Jesus.

We play afterwards and then it is time for them to go home and they cry because the time always sneaks up on them; but I tell them Grandmum is tired and they get their boots on and walk out the door, with lots and lots of hugs and kisses.

I now have chemo-Wednesdays. I feel cheated.

But that Sunday they found those two flowers that I had bought for them when they were babies. Those flowers have been everywhere - over their bassinet; tied to the crib side; used in the car; and set just far enough away on the floor to encourage them to crawl to them.

They found them and started to hold them shut then take away their hand and say "SEE GRANDMUM!! THEY BLOOMED!!" Then they would hold them shut again, let them go and hold them in front of me making me laugh when they said "they bloomed!"

They know I love flowers, they love flowers; we have spent lots of time outside in the spring and summer working in the flower beds. It was a natural reflection for them.

We asked them what the flowers names were - one was "Sunflower" and after looking at the other one for a moment, they said the other one's name was "Love flower".

They are some of the most special things in my living room right now...