Jeana’s Journal

 

I have spent the past week visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and their children. It was lovely. From the moment I first arrived the grandchildren were open and ready to interact with me. There was no distance to overcome before our conversations and activities together were easy.

As many can relate, it is difficult to establish the kind of relationship a grandparent would like to have with grandchildren when they live far away. One obvious way to establish relationships is to visit often, but that is difficult for me with my work and with the distance, especially since air travel is becoming more difficult and expensive. However, I think I have finally figured it out.

On my last visit in November I spent a good deal of my time making a quilt for Granddaughter No. 3. Two of the girls spent much of the quiltmaking time then with me, keeping me company and helping with the project. Since the quilt remained behind it was a constant reminder of Grandma Jeana and our time together, so I was not entirely “out of sight, out of mind.”

  I also like to bring gifts for each of the grandchildren when I visit and I found on a visit last summer that if the gift is interactive, such as a game, you can enjoy it with them and the game will, again, be a reminder of you and fun times together. This time I brought only games. It was great fun for all.

This time I also made a dress for Granddaughter No. 1 for her baptism. She chose the pattern and the fabric and I made it while she was at school. It was an easy pattern and I made it in just a couple of afternoons. (At eight years of age children are baptized into our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [the Mormons]). It was a special occasion and an important event. I was glad to be there.

 Our daughter is doing well. In the photo above you can see her as and where she spends much of her time—in the kitchen and with baby in tow. Along with being a good wife and mother she is a wonderful cook. She finds much joy in finding new recipes and making healthy meals for her family. I think she is amazing!