February in Ocean I

Good Morning my dear granddaughter,
The chilly weather is nice so we all can wear our sweaters and jackets if we want.  It’s another part of the closet to visit! I hope you are good and happy and enjoying school.  As you get older, sometimes there are more challenges in the classroom and in your social groups.  I can remember when I was your age, my best friend was Patricia McBride and she had one sister, Nancy.  Their mother was always so understanding and kind.  My Mom was too but I never felt like the “the only one” in the room with my Mom because all my brothers and sisters were there and with their friends.  I liked both houses...Patricia’s because of the individual attention I got and mine because I was never without someone to play with and because it was my “home”.  Very important to know where you belong.  I was #2 of 7 kids and my grandmother lived with us.  My parents had great respect for her as she was a quiet lady but we all knew she loved us so much.  She tended to her garden and loved her beautiful lilacs and peonies.  She was widowed at a young age and without any government assistance like there is today, she had to make money for her family.  My mother dropped out of school so she could help with the financial obligations.  Well it all worked out. When Gram was older but not too old she got to travel with a wealthy family and took care of their children.  They all became like family.  They even gave us a dog named Eric.  He was a boxer who drooled a lot.  He was so kind to people and to us kids but he sure didn’t like cats. It was before all dogs had to be on a leash.  Gram left me with some beautiful memories and I feel so lucky.  She never smoked or drank alcohol but didn’t judge anyone who did.  In fact, I never heard her say anything bad about anyone.  Ever!
Well, my sweet little girl 👧, I bid you goodbye for today and until I sit myself down again to write to you.  I hope you are bringing happiness to people around you and kindness to all.  Your daddy is always with you whether you see him or not.  He is there.

You are loved from afar,  Grammie

Hi Emma G!

Do you remember Emma Grace from Outer Space?! Did Alexis and her parents call you that? Very cute :)

Zan and Taj and Auntie D-De were here for Thanksgiving. We stayed on Lake Superior at a beautiful resort. I wish you could have visited. It was very pretty to watch the sunrise over the lake and hear the waves crashing at night. There was a Thanksgiving parade in town and the people were throwing candy...of course the boys loved it, but just like your daddy used to do with you at Halloween, I gave the boys only 10 pieces to choose. Taj still doesn't like to brush his teeth but Zan is getting better!

We miss you more than you will ever know. I think about you every day. Several times a day. Every single day!

Are you still swimming or horseback riding? What kind of sports are you involved with now?

I love you, Emma G.

Auntie Jo

Another New Year

Good Morning Emma Grace,
It is now another new year and cold outside here today.  Gives me an excuse to wear your daddy’s sweatshirt from the Naples Winter Wine Festival.  The annual fund raiser is coming up and I’m sure lots of underserved children will be given more attention after this is over once again.  It’s so great that the wealthy can have fun while fulfilling so many needs for the poor and disabled.  Sometimes we’re not given a choice in life and this helps many people. I wish them luck and good fortune this year.
How are you, my sweet little girl?  Sometimes it’s hard to compose letters to you because I don’t know your interests anymore, your likes and dislikes, what makes you happy and sad.  I can only hope and pray that your life without all of Daddy’s family is ok for you.  I come and go from Naples and always look for you. In this age of social media, I think your mother keeps you hidden and away from so many who love you.  I pray that her mental illness will be taken away by the grace of God.
Your Daddy is with you protecting you as he always had to.  So make this year 2019 a great one and blossom into a wonderful young lady who cares for others and loves herself.
As always, your Grammie loves you......to the moon and back!

Christmas Time 2018

Hi Emma Grace,
Christmas is almost here and Grandpa and I will be staying home this year.  That’s okay because I planned it that way.  I needed to have a procedure done on my eyes so I dedicated this month to taking care of myself.  I will drive to Naples and have Christmas with your Auntie and cousins later.  Maybe Grandpa will go with me this time.  He would love the warm weather at this time of the year although it’s nice here in Ocean Isle and all I have to wear is a sweater.
Well, have a nice holiday and Love Jesus!  He’s the one who is keeping you safe from the drugs and alcohol that surround you.
I carry your Heart ❤️ with me everywhere.
Love, Your Grammie

Halloween is almost here

Hi Emma Grace,

I am in Naples, visiting and enjoying the warm weather here.  I always look for you wherever I go hoping I can see you again.  Leaving soon but wanted to show you your cute cousins.

We’re in front of Zan and Taj’s house where they ride their bikes and play. Hope you are happy and okay honey. Love you.  Oh I have some good news for your have another cousin born today. Her name is Merritt Putnam and was born this morning at 4:23am in California.  She is so precious.  Anyway, wanted to say hello to you and tell you that you are always on my mind. 

 Love you ten thousand times❤️.

Your Grammie

 

Happy Birthday Emma Grace

Good Morning Emma!

I hope you have a very, very happy birthday with fun and kindness.  You are 11years old today And I wish only happiness and fulfillment for you.  I haven’t seen you since you were six so I’ll bet you are beautifully tall and gorgeous.  Remember to always walk with your shoulders back like you were shown in yoga when your were little.  What are your favorites now? Food, color, subject in school, friends, sport, holiday...etc. 

We’re in Northern Virginia now staying with Grandpa’s son and family.  They have four children ages 8,7,3 and 11 months.  Busy, busy around here. This month grandpa and I have had to evacuate our home in North Carolina because Hurricane Florence was heading right for our beach. So we went to a beautiful little town inland. There were six adults, four dogs and a parrot in the same home and then we lost power there due to the hurricane wind and rain.  We had lots of fun conversations while we waited for the storm to pass. We had a generator so we were okay.  Five days later we drove home through flooded towns.  We saw homes that looked like islands because the water was up to their front door.  I felt so bad for them. People were there to help them too.  When we got home, Mr. Buddy, our next door neighbor, had lots of water damage to his house and lots of people are helping him rebuild his house.  We didn’t have any damage to our home so we feel blessed.

Auntie Jo flew down to see Taj and Zan and Auntie DDe. I drive down to Naples often and feel sad I can’t see you. Maybe your Mom will change her mind someday.  We’ll see.  

Well, my sweet granddaughter, have a super day and Grammie loves you to the moon and back!

Summer is almost over

Good Morning Emma Grace,
How are you doing? If you are still in Naples, then I know that school has started for you.  I’m sure you’re growing up to be a beautiful young lady.  Is your hair long or short now?  Blond or brown?  Your daddy’s hair got darker as he got older so I’ll bet yours is too.  Grandpa and I just got back from a mini vacation in the outer banks of NC.  We went to visit Grandpa’s daughter Kim and her family in Frisco.  A quiet town on a narrow part of the island.  We woke up every day to the sounds of the Atlantic Ocean. Kim and her husband Don have two children and they are close in age to you.  They were born 6 months after you and going into the fifth grade.  I really enjoyed walking on the beach with them, choosing just the right sea shells for their collection.  We were curious why some shells were different colors and shapes so when we got back, we “googled” it and that made our adventure even better.  Zan and I went sea shell hunting on our beach this summer too.  We made a sea shell frame with them.  Zan is really into erecting structures out of those small legos.  I’ll bet you’d have more in common with Zan now that he is older. You always were so good to both Zan and Taj so the age difference probably doesn’t matter anyway.  Taj has entered primary level now and doing better.  Progress is slow but he is a delight and he loves his cars!  Grandpa and I are planting gardenia bushes today.  It is so humid here.  Much like in Naples.  Looking forward to some dryer cooler weather.
Well, my sweet little girl, I will bid you farewell for now.  Be good, be careful and remember Grammie loves to the moon and back.
Grammie