Goodbye for now, Ellie.

[Dennis S]

Early tomorrow I leave Ellie & Puerto Rico for a while. Barb left earlier to keep her teaching commitments. I got some extra time, since flying on an “off” day saved a bit of money. Ellie is the master of saying “bye”. When Daddy goes to work she will stand at the window waiving and saying bye till he finally turns the corner and is out of sight. She loves to waive and say goodbye, and that dose of joy in the morning will make it easier as I head to the airport.

This is a picture of a little trip Ellie took with her grandma & grandpa on our last full day together on the island. I don’t know what I did right to have this lovely child in my arms now and then. (Besides picking a beautiful woman to be her grandma). I wish she lived closer, but I can’t really allow myself to complain. There was a significant possibility that we couldn’t have this grandchild. And there is a substantial possibility that she will have to be the only child in her family. But we do have Ellie, and I will never require anything beyond what she has given me-I am the luckiest grandpa who ever lived. I will count down the days till our return.

 

[Karlynn]

Just beautiful!

 

[geebee]

Make more memories, Grandpa - you still have a few hours. You are truly blessed.

 

[Phyllis]

Just a beautiful picture, Dennis. Grandparenthood is the best and parting is such sweet sorrow, but I know the waves goodbye from Ellie will help- just don't cry- as I always do!

 

[aussiemember]

She really is such a cutie Dennis

 

[Emma]

Ellie just looks more grown up and beautiful in each photo! Shes gorgeous!!!
And what a beautiful part of the world they live in!!
You talk of her so lovingly that I'm sure she knows shes just as lucky to have you as her Grandpa as you are to have her!
Love Emma
xxx

 

[Kathleen]

Dennis
You have described the toughest part of being a grandparent. I hope you are being strong this morning and planning your next trip. Luckily we were able to move right in between our girls. We have one named Grace that they had to make specially for their parents and she will be the only one. She is almost three and tells me when she gets big she is going to fix grandmas hearts---I think she has a great marketing strategy. They come here every day so I don't miss a moment with them. My heart goes out to you.
Kathleen

 

[Christina]

No Greater Love..

No Greater Love..

Dennis,

Your little granddaughter looks precious and I can understand your love for her. I am a grandma of three and have one granddaughter and two grandsons. There is no greater love than the love for a grandchild. My grandkids all live in town. I feel grateful that they do, but they are a "military" family so that can change in the future. Their dad is in Afghanistan at the moment. So far so good, he's okay. One rocket attack right outside the base got him pretty shook up though.
Please keep all our armed forces in your prayers. They need us!

 

[Dennis S]

So true.

So true.

Ellie's daddy has spent two tours in Iraq. He missed her birth because he was over there. And the war is still something to deal with even when you are home. While he was in Iraq, Joe decided to take up surfing when he got home. My daughter says he sometimes paddles his board pretty far out into the ocean and sits on it, riding the waves. This is just my opinion, but I think he is using the ocean to convince himself, on an emotional level, that Iraq is far away, and not a part of his life any more.

To everyone who reads this post-don't get me started on this war, and please don't head this thread, or any other, in that direction. There are plenty of other places for those discussions, and I love the fact that I can always come here and find an oasis. At the same time, it is very encouraging every time I read that we want to support the people we have sent there. I pray for the safety of all of our sons and daughters, and pray that we never lose sight of the sacrifices they have made. After Ellie was born, Joe got to see his wife and daughter for a few days, and then was sent back.

Our support can be critical. Because of the constant moves, our military folks, including their spouses & children, are separated from their extended families. My daughter graduated from law school, passed the bar exam and had a baby. Because she wanted to stay with her husband as much as she could, all of these things happened while she was moving between Colorado, North Carolina, etc. Even so, Joe missed each of these milestones while in Iraq.

I think many of us really do want to support our troops and their families. I would like to repeat a suggestion I have heard elsewhere. If your neighbor's husband is overseas, it is nice of you to tell her to call if she needs help--but she won't call unless she's desperate. But if you call and say, “I would like to mow your lawn, would Saturday morning after 10:00 am be OK?” you have done a great thing that will really help her. When Stephanie was pregnant with Ellie she had just moved to North Carolina, and Joe had just shipped out to Iraq. She didn’t know her neighbors, and they didn’t know her. I had gone down there to help as Joe left, and Barb arranged everything so she could be there for the birth, and help care for her infant grand-daughter as Stephanie tried to get ready for the bar exam scheduled a few weeks after the birth. But there are limits to what a family can do when you live so far apart. Stephanie’s neighbors hadn’t had time to get to know her. But, they did know Joe was gone to Iraq, and these wonderful people organized a surprise neighborhood baby shower. Stephanie still can’t talk about it without a catch in her voice. Thanks to all of you who support these wonderful people.