My Grandparents

Most 37 year old girls can't say they have 4 living grandparents. I have been SO blessed with the best grandparents a girl could ever ask for! 
There is not enough space in cyber world for me to sing their praises.
When I was young, I spent A LOT of time with them. When I was sick I wanted Grandma, when I was scared I wanted Grandma, when it stormed I wanted Grandpa, when it snowed I called Grandpa to come get me. When I was bored I went to Grandma's. As an adult, when I need advice, or I want to share an accomplishment, or need a pick me up, I call Grandma. As a teenager, I never wanted to do anything to cause them to be ashamed of me. I thought about things in terms of: do I want to have to explain this to Grandma? How would I feel if mom or dad told Grandma about this?
I could tell stories for days!
As an adult with a busy life and kids of my own I don't see or talk to them nearly as much as I should! This shames me. I use the excuse that I don't have blocks of time big enough to visit them. You can't just pop in & out! They like to visit, they miss me, the want to chat, they love my kids and want to hear every detail. I am selfish and do not want to take that time. 
But time is now running out. 

A year ago Grandpa Gooding was the healthiest 87 year old man I've ever known. He hurt his back helping Bill work on fire hydrants!! Some genius decided to operate on him. I have very strong opinions about how things were done. I am very angry that other things weren't tried before they opened him up. I am angry that no one wanted to listen to "little Chrissy" about options that could have been tried. "Little Chrissy" KNOWS because she had the same problem!! She KNEW the things that might have relieved his pain before resorting to surgery. In other people's eyes I am still 8. Surgery and recovery didn't go as planned, today, 6 months after surgery he is home from the nursing home. He isn't himself. He never again will be. It hurts my heart to see him, so I don't want to. 

married 67 years!

Grandma Gooding, however, is doing great! What a lady she is! Pulls no punches, tells it like it is! She has the biggest heart! 9 years ago we had a surprise birthday party for Grandpa with all his kids present b/c we didn't think she would live to see his next birthday. Other than not having great moblity, some pain, some forgetfulness, and low blood sugar spells, she is doing good. I think she thrived at the nursing home b/c she got to socialize, something she hasn't had a lot of in the last several years since she can't drive and get around so good. She makes me smile! 

Grandpa in his element (with my cousin Bryan who is a God send!)

Grandpa Lehr is 80. He is the last of the great generation of farmers. The kind who don't go to stores, besides the Farm Stores, don't go out to eat, don't require any fuss. He goes to the sale barn on Saturday's and church on Sunday's, other than that you can find him on his farm. His health has deteriorated over the last few years, not unhealthy, just doesn't hear well, won't wear his false teeth so he's hard to understand, a lot slower than he used to be, naps more, just general "getting old". They found cancer in his bladder. They removed the tumor then went back 6 weeks later to scrape the wall of his bladder to make sure there was no more before they proceeded to chemo. They had an "oops" and put a hole in his bladder so they had to open him up to repair it. He didn't heal b/c he's been on prednisone for 25 years, when they took the stitches out he basically prolapsed. They had to take him in for surgery #4 - there is a very good chance he will never heal and will never walk out of the hospital on his own 2 feet. As this is a new development I still haven't quite come to terms with this. I plan on stopping in to see him tomorrow. I'm sure it will break my heart. We want to remember them as the big strong men we've always known them to be. 

Wedding Day!

Married 62 years!

Grandma Lehr is sweet, loving, giving, kind hearted. I have seen her mad ONE TIME in my whole life! Jared got a spanking out of that! :) She is the epitome of sweet little old lady! She has waited on my Grandpa hand and foot for 62 years. She is the model homemaker and farmers wife. I never understood why she didn't tell him, just ONCE, to get his own water or ice cream! Now I know, b/c that was her JOB! She has had back pain for years that she's persevered through, in the last few years she has also gotten older and slower, but no real health problems to speak of. 9 days ago she had a stroke. I have to assume the stress of Grandpa in the hospital got to her. She is in rehabilitation at Blessing and will probably be leaving for another rehabilitation facility later this week. Her right side is weak & she isn't as quick thinking as before, but she is responding well to therapy & there is hope of her returning home in the future. I can't imagine how sad she'll be to go to their home they've shared for 62 years, and not have anyone to wait on or fret over. 

My Grandma's - Grandma Gooding has lost a lot of weight since this!

I love these 4 people more than there are words to say. God didn't make any better people than my Grandparents! I am blessed!