Wings and a Wand

9/7/2025 –

Grandparents shape our education as we grow up – especially if they live close by.  They may even help our parents with daily care just like my parents were able to do for their grandchildren.

Nathan was “God’s gift” at just the right time in all our lives. My parents were nearby and Mark’s parents were looking at houses the day this one picture was taken to move back closer to us. He was the only grandson on both sides and a long awaited miracle.  Little did we know that Mark’s dad would pass away months after this captured photo in September when we celebrate Grandparents Day. He was already preparing to teach Nate how to play ball with one of the first gifts he gave him, and was so excited to hold him in church on Labor Day  weekend.  Instead, we soon held Baby Nathan for our comfort (as well as his) with the loss of Fred, and later shared stories of his Grandpa so he would know him.

Nate became very close to my dad (and mom) as they kept him when I went back to work part-time, and then, into full-time teaching again. He read books, got the mail, learned how to fix things, played games, learned how to shoot a bb gun, and traveled extensively seeing history and wildlife with his Granddaddy for over 20 years. Thus, my dad’s death in this last year has been the hardest and most meaningful to him right now.

While we all miss my dad, Randy, we remember some of his greatest lessons which were how to love God with all your heart and treat others how you would want to be treated. Nathan has a compassionate heart, and I know many of those seeds were planted by his granddad.