Friday, May 23, 2008

Dear God,

It rained on our tent. My cell phone was lying in a tiny puddle. The edges of the sleeping bag and the pillows were wet. Yet, as I lay there trying to get warm since somehow in the night my sleeping bag had unzipped, I felt so blessed. The gentle rain was watering the garden and the blades of grass were lapping up each blessed drop.

I was still tired. I hadn't fallen asleep right away. When Sophie closed her eyes, she was gone, instantly asleep. But I had tossed and turned, getting myself accustomed to all the night noises, the highway, train, airplanes and cars driving through the neighborhood, even the sounds of the tent when the wind picked up whipping the nylon rain cover. I had no idea how much commotion there is at night.

Even though I was trying to go back to sleep, I heard the soft stirring beside me. "Grandma, are you awake?" Sophie and I turned toward one another in our sleeping bags. We talked to each other until she decided she was hungry and I had figured out a way of getting us out of the small tent and into the house without getting too wet in the gentle, falling rain.

I know the day will come soon when I will be pushed aside by new friends. Sophie, my seven year old granddaughter will make even more friends and she will want to spend her time doing girl things with her friends. She won't have as much free time to be with Grandma. But that's
okay. It's the way it works. It's supposed to be that way. So I'm spending my time making memories, memories that I hope will last a lifetime.

Memories, precious images of special happenings between two people, any two people that are filed away for a "rainy" day, memories that can fill the heart with hope and love and joy and peace. At any time, on any day, for any reason memories can flood the soul.

As I grow older and less able to crawl into four foot tents, I will sit back and remember all your good gifts. I will sort through the annals of my time and my life. I will remember each sacred soul you have brought my way. I will close my eyes and allow my heart and soul and mind to flood to overflowing. I will remember and give thanks.

Loving you
is so easy.
Every day
is yet
another day
with you.
I see you,
I hear you,
I feel your touch.
And I know
I am
in your presence.
How can
I be
so blessed?
In your company
I see
my life
from the perspective
of heaven
and I know
heaven's Source.
I revel
in memories,
cherishing each one.
I am blessed,
so incredibly blessed.

Loving you always, Andrea