Grandma, You Rock!

Karen O'Connor

Description

From the bestselling author of Gettin' Old Ain't for Wimps (more than 300,000 copies sold) comes a funny, heartwarming look at being a grandma. More than 80 stories based on real-life experiences express the wonderfully humorous joy of interacting with grandkids.Karen O'Connor, grandmother of 14, says, "Grandkids keep us youthful, humble, and wide-awake! They also keep us praying!" Each story ends with an encouraging Scripture and a brief prayer thanking God for the gift of grandchildren. A wonderful celebration of grandmas everywhere!Rerelease of Bein' a Grandparent Ain't for Wimps.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
• Date de parution: 01 août 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780736948951
• Langue: English

Extrait

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
All Scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Published in association with the Books Such Literary Agency, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 122, PMB 170, Santa Rosa, CA 95409-5370, www.booksandsuch.biz
Cover by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota
Cover illustration Dugan Design Group
GRANDMA, YOU ROCK! Formerly Bein a Grandparent Ain t for Wimps Copyright 2009 by Karen O Connor Published 2012 by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com
ISBN 978-0-7369-4894-4 (pbk.) ISBN 978-0-7369-4895-1 (eBook)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
O Connor, Karen.
Bein a grandparent ain t for wimps / Karen O Connor.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-7369-2405-4 (pbk.)
1. Grandparents-Prayers and devotions I. Title.
BV4845.O36 2009
248.8 45-dc22
2008028529
All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
To all the upstanding members of the best community of all -
The Grandparents Club.
Acknowledgments
I wish to thank these men and women for contributing their ideas, experiences, and story seeds-all of which have been woven into the fabric of this book in a creative way.
Dreama Amos Elizabeth Amos Barbara Anson Virginia Baty Betty Blyler Judy Booth Larry and Barbara Burkhardt Linda Carlblom Elaine Carr Kitty Chappell Joan Clayton Annetta Dellinger Ann Fetter Marilou Flinkman Charles Flowers Sandra Schoger Foster Kris Flynn Jennifer Fromke Cyndi Hall LeAnne Hardy Nancy Humphreys Pat Stockett Johnson Margie Lang Judith Larmon Patricia Lorenz Mary McCormick Carol Nicolet Lynn Morrissey Mary Pastor Mary Beth Robb Peggy Matthews Rose Jayne Schooler Joanne Schulte Beverly Bush Smith Terri and Ed Sutor Dave and Carla Talbot Sandra Victor Gary Winters
Contents
Acknowledgments
A Note from Karen
Proof Needed
Grandma, You Rock!
I Lost It!
Two Scoops Too Many
Don t Toy with Me
Forget Me Not
In Step with Jesus
Down to Sleep
Safe and Sound
Worth Saying
Pastor Gil
In Jesus Name
Over the Hill
Greenbacks
Wrinkles Be Gone
Practice Makes Perfect
Lookalikes
Up and Down
Older by the Minute
Tech Stuff
Tears of Joy
Ducks in a Row
Technophobe
Face-to-Face
Weather Report
A Real Stud
Batteries Not Included
Story Times
Loose as a Goose
Pop-Up
Staying on Track
True North
No Map Needed
Puppy Love
Teachable Moment
Pick-Up
Sibling Rivalry
No One Asked Me
Equal Parts
Push-Button Baby
Make Room for Brother
Missing Mommy
Good for Nothing
Second Best
Wait Until Dark
Not So Bad
End of the Road
Don t Rush Me!
No Lid, Please!
Heaven, Please Wait
Tongue Trippers
Word Play
Spanglish
No Baby Talk Here
Atta Boy
No Talk Zone
Grammar Police
Long Story Short
Two R s
Watch Your Language
Fruitful Conversation
No Questions, Please!
Healthy Living
Coughing Fit
Jumping Bean
EGGzactly
Hot Pepper
Fast Asleep
Not for Me
Candy, Anyone?
Not the Marrying Kind
Wiggle Room
False Expectations
Touching Experience
Closed Mouth
Attention, Please!
Try, Try Again!
A Camping We Will Go
Rest Stop
Top Secret
Baby Artist
Just Checking
Playing by the Rules
Inch by Inch
Sock It to Em
The Last Note
Sometimes True, Sometimes Not
Family and Friendship
Going with the Flow
Different Kind of Workout
Kind Deed
Future Hope
Tall Order
Proud Son
Free Treats
Nuts About Donuts
Celebrations
Shopping Spree
Long-Distance Birthday
Tis the Season
Garage Hoppers
Tables Turned
Potpourri
Ice Cream Man
Bowl Em Over
Saturday Breakfast
In a Few Words
A Love Letter
Karen O Connor
A Note from Karen
Happiness is bein a grandparent. I hope you agree. Grandkids keep us youthful, humble, and wide-awake. They also keep us on our knees, as well as in and out of malls and markets. We read books and ride bikes together, play Shadow Tag and Ring Around the Rosy, cheer from the bleachers at their soccer and baseball games, and weep at the sight of them in their first prom dresses or tuxes.
What would our lives be like without sticky kisses, heavenly hugs, adoring eyes, and hand-printed notes on our birthdays? To quote a well-known bumper sticker: If I d known being a grandparent was this much fun, I d have done it first!
I hope you enjoy the stories in this book. They re creatively based on true experiences in my life and in the lives of dozens of other grandmas and grandpas. And while you re reading, please join me in thanking God for the gift of these young people who help us live, love, and laugh in ways we never imagined.
Children s children are a crown to the aged.
P ROVERBS 17:6
Karen O Connor
Proof Needed
Grandma, You Rock!
L ucy was thrilled to hear that her grandson Vic s wife, Vanessa, was pregnant. Lucy and her husband, Jim, were going to be great-grandparents! Unfortunately the grandkids lived in England, where Vic held a teaching position at Cambridge University. Lucy hoped one day she and Jim would be able to visit and meet their new great-grandson. In the meantime they would communicate with the family via e-mail and telephone and trade photos through the Internet.
Four years later Lucy and Jim were finally making it to England. Lucy could hardly wait to see her great-grandson. She d heard so much about Peter from her grandkids and kids. Lucy and Jim arrived at the airport and were whisked off to their grandson s home. While driving, their grandson, Vic, briefed them on what to expect. He turned to Lucy and Jim, smiled, and raised his brows in a playful way. Be on your best behavior, he joked.
This time Lucy raised her brows! What kind of a greeting was this? She knew her grandson s sense of humor though, so she knew he was going to make a point.
And he did.
When I told Peter that you and Grandpa-my grandparents-were his great -grandparents, he asked matter-of-factly, What s so great about them? I guess it s up to you to show him!
After their visit, when they arrived back home in the States, Lucy reported great-grandson Peter s parting words: Grandma, you rock! Can you come again?
Reflection
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9).

Thank you so much, Lord, for my family and giving me the capacity to love.
I Lost It!
G loria invited her three-and-a-half-year-old grandson to spend Wednesday at her house. They would play a game of Candy Land, go to the grocery store, watch Sprouts on TV, go for a walk with the dog, and rest in the hammock in the yard. And if there was any time left they d do a little gardening. Tony liked to plant flowers and help his grandma pick weeds.
On Wednesday morning Gloria drove to Tony s house and picked him up. She noticed a change in him since the last time they were together. He hung his head and frowned. He was very quiet in the car and spoke only when Gloria asked him a question.
What s going on? she finally asked. Gloria pulled up to a stoplight and turned to the boy in the backseat. We re going to have fun today! I m excited about spending the time together. How about you? She then listed all the activities she d planned.
Tony remained quiet and moody.
Gloria let out a deep breath. Something was clearly bothering him, but he wouldn t say what it was. She decided to go ahead with their day and see what occurred. She pulled into her driveway and opened the backdoor to help Tony out of the car seat.
He pushed her away and started screaming, I don t want to go!
Gloria didn t know what to do. She stepped back and told Tony to unbuckle his own seat belt. She d wait for him on the front porch.
Tony kicked and screamed so loud that Gloria finally closed the car door so the neighbors wouldn t come running to see what was going on. She waited and waited. About ten minutes later the door opened, and Tony popped out of the car. He wasn t smiling, but he wasn t screaming either.
He trudged up the steps. Gloria got up and they walked into the house. Grandma Gloria pulled out a bottle of orange juice from the fridge. Want some?
Okay. Tony looked down.
Gloria could tell he was embarrassed about his behavior.
Sorry, he said, hunching his shoulders.
It s all right. I forgive you. What happened?
Laurie broke my airplane.
I see. Well, that hurts. Did she say she was sorry?
Yeah.
Did you forgive her?
Yes, but I m still mad.
I understand. It sounds as if you lost your temper. Maybe you d better get it back so we can have a fun day. What do you think?
Tony brightened and then ran out of the house.
Gloria followed him out to the car. What are you doing? she asked.
Looking for my temper. I think I lost it when you were driving.
Reflection
Be patient and stand firm (James 5:8).

Lord, if I ever lose sight of you and your teachings, please reel me in! I never want to be far from you. And help me share the joy of your presence with my grandchildren.
Two Scoops Too Many
L orna took her 7-year-old granddaughter and 11-year-old grandson out for ice cream at a genuine, old-fashioned ice cream parlor on the last evening of their visit with her during summer vacation. Heather s eyes sparkled at the long row of flavors behind the glass shield that stretched from one end of the shop to the other. She paced back and forth, choosing and unchoosing one flavor after another.
Grammy, I can t make up my mind. What should I pick?
You can have two or even three scoops if you want-and you can have a topping too. Your choice. No limit! Grammy Lorna held up her wallet. My treat. Tomorrow