With the first post, I promised you an update on my story about the New York Grandpa Joseph Cotton [you can access his story by clicking on this link] with another story, this time closer at home.
Here is Jeffrey story with his two boys Kian & Alex Van Buren. When I received Jeff's story, I phoned my friend and asked him: "Where is your ice-scream?" I know my friend, he will not miss out on an ice-scream. True to character, he replied: "I have probably finished mine when the photo was taken." I can verily believe that.
I can do no better to tell his story but by quoting him in full:'
"In this day and age, it seems that young married couples wait, making sure they are secure in their ways of homes and work.
My daughter and
husband both have high pressure jobs. As time passed we wandered will we have
grandchildren. It is a family tradition to gather as a family at one of the
family homes for a Sunday meal or birthday celebration. Before thanks giving this
particular Sunday my son in law went to his mother, announcing “I want you to know that there is a
little boy coming for you”. In the same breath he came to my wife
stating; “There is also a
little boy for you as well”.
What jubilation form
all sitting waiting for food. Tears in the eyes of future grannies; TWINS!
Yes, the expectation
and excitement was great. That prayer thanking God for the food turned into a
prayer of praise and thanksgiving for God’s gift of two new lives.
Each week and month
was eagerly looked forward to. Each doctor’s visit was an announcement that the
small foetuses were growing. The wonder of seeing a scan of our future
grandsons. As the mother’s body changed shape we knew that there were lives inside
a future mother. Grandparents thinking who will the children look like?
With the changing
shape of her body shopping experiences became a challenge having to put up with
comments from on lookers. Each outing had its own story to tell. The last story
that I remember was the shop manager taking my daughter to the front of the que
to make sure that she never gave birth in the shop.
Saturday morning 24
March 2012 just before my daughter went into theatre we committed her and the
nursing staff to Gods care and grace. Minutes later a phone call came from theatre
stating that they were about to start. Minutes passed when over the phone the
message came: the first baby is fine and then within moments the second baby is
in good health.
As a grandparent
going into the nursery was a going back in time remembering when my son and
daughter were born. Taking photos was a great pleasure, seeing the perfect
small fingers and toes. I remember going to the smaller of the two first who
seemed so weak and frail, looking down at this small frame I gave a prayer of thanks,
and asked God to keep His hand on him. Then walking over to the first born (2 minutes’
difference between them) I thanked God for him as well praying a special prayer
that they would both be strong and health knowing Gods hand of blessing upon
them as Jacob of old blessed his sons.
This was a special prayer for these two lives knowing that we do not
have tomorrow in our hands as we experienced more than 25 years ago when our 3-month
baby was taken.
Feeding them at the
age of 4 weeks was a joy and privilege, this experience was to carry on for a
number of years.
As time passed the
boys grew in body and mind. The early mornings while granny slept Pa-Pa (as I
would be called) read to them stories from the book they chose - the favourite
been a book of all the animals that went into Noah’s Ark. To make the story more
interesting for the boys I expressed the noise the animals made. Little did I
know that Kian would put fear into his brother and friends by roaring like a
Lion and all the children around him including his brother would run away
crying saying that they were scared of the Lion that they heard.
The time of them
riding on the small plastic motor scooters, using trucks in the sand, playing
ball on the grass and the occasional wrestling on the carpet, with Pa-Pa being
jumped all over, I saw these times as a training period for the future.
The closeness of
brothers came out when a muffin was left on the coffee table and one of the
boys found it. He broke it in half and shared with his brother. Also when the
one was reprimanded by granny his brother ran and grabbed granny by the leg
endeavouring to pull granny away from his brother.
When Ice creams were
had two were taken one for the brother.
How quick those first
years flew by.
The day came when the
boys were of age to go to nursery school. Water ice creams kept in the deep
freeze were the first port of call when the boys got home, after which an
apple, banana or yogurt were consumed.
From a young age the boys knew where granny kept their specialities.
New experiences
awaited Granny and Pa-Pa. We got a phone call from an irate father at supper
time, when he asked his son over the phone: “Why don't you eat your supper”. An
honest answer from a little boy: “I ate at Granny’s”
The swings followed
by the Jungle Jim, the fruit trees were all ways a challenge. The sprinklers
were a must, with two very wet boys running shouting “Granny we wet.” Imaginations
runs wild with a piece of grass been a shark, octopus or where ever their
imaginations took them. They themselves tell us they are a Wildebeest running
like one or like Spider man - shouting “WEBS”; this meant you had to stand
still because the Spider web has entangled you.
Birthdays being a
special day for the boys and parents alike. Photos been a plentiful showing all
stages of growing years, these I am able to savour at my leisure when all alone
in my thoughts. What they learn at home
comes out in the open - in church after the pastor says amen; they in unison
will both shout out loud “AMEN.”
Hurts are attended to
by granny. Should she not be there Pa-Pa will kiss that dirty toe, removing all
tears.
Seeing them run in
the garden I see a young version of father and mother strong in body and mind.
Teachings made will be their foundation for the morrow. What the morrow will
bring we don't know, but we do know is that teachings at this young age will
stand them in good stead for the years to come.
My prayer goes out to
God our Lord Jesus that they will both walk in his image."
Alex & Kian Van Buren working in grandpa's yard
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