Grandma’s House

When Daddio had kids he wanted his children to know their grandparents, so he decided we would go visit them as much as possible. Every Sunday we go to grandma’s house to visit. This is everyone’s favorite thing during the week. With out exception, every one of us commented that we look forward to this weekly tradition and hope to continue it as we grow older. It is good that we hope to continue it, because when I asked mom about it she said, “Going to Grandma and Grandpa’s has been a long standing family tradition going back at least ½ a generation, at least back as far as Allan and my marriage. It is one that I hope continues for many generations to come (hint, hint, hint).” Mom is right, ever since we were little we have gone to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house every Sunday night to visit. When we were all young both sets of grandparents were alive. So we would go to both sets of grandparents’ houses. In 1992, Grandma Martin died. Grandpa Martin then moved out of his house and in with his daughters, thus moving from one house to the next every couple of months, so we didn’t go visit him any more, sometimes he was at our house so we still got to spend time with him; this was the best! He has since passed away, also. So now we just visit Grandma and Grandpa Strong on Sunday evenings. When we were younger all of the cousins went to visit Grandma and Grandpa. It was great fun to run and play with all the cousins; we probably didn’t behave in the most appropriate Sunday manners. At Grandma and Grandpa Martin’s we often played games like “Kick the Can,” have snowball fights with the blossoms off the snow ball tree, or sneak down into the work shop and hide, or go for walks in the back ally. Naaman remembers, “At Grandma (Strong)’s we used to play all of her great kid games like “PayDay” and “10-4 Good Buddy” and eat all of her cookies. Now, we just sit around and talk to Grandma and Grandpa. We still eat all of their cookies.” Sadly, we are essentially the only family that still visits regularly. The focus has changed from playing with cousins to visiting with grandparents. I think we all have gained a huge love and appreciation for not only our grandparents as individuals but the example they set as a couple. THEY STILL FLIRT! Most of us have loved to watch how “in love” they still are after fifty five years of marriage. Grandma is still Grandpa’s “Little Lady.” In the world as it is, it seems that it would be near impossible to make a marriage work, but we have seen their marriage work and have learned that it is still possible to be in love after so many years! This is a valuable lesson that couldn’t have been taught in any other way. This is a great tradition. Rosalie says that “they are two of my favorite people to visit. I could easily sit for hours talking to them.” It makes me very sad that the rest of our aunts, uncles, and cousins have stopped visiting as often, and are missing out on such an amazing opportunity. Not only are they missing out on ton of learning and love, but they have left Grandpa and Grandma lonely. We all have made it a priority in our family to make sure we make it every week that we can, so that we don’t leave them lonely in their old age. Not only does it give us a chance to learn from them on Sundays, but it also gives us a chance to be there often enough to know when they are going to need help. Like for instance, Grandpa decided he needed to re-roof his roof, had we not gone on Sunday we would not have known about this. Brother B and I got to go that Friday and put a new roof on Grandpa’s house just us and him. It was great to be able to work side by side with him and learn from him. Also, going to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house on Sunday gives them the chance to be better grandparents. In the Proclamation it talks about going to extended family for help, it also talks about the divine duty to be a mother and father. How are they supposed to help or be a mother and father to children who don’t come around!?! Grandma and Grandpa have been a huge part of lives and have helped Mom and Dad countless times in ways of raising us. Our love for Grandma and Grandpa has been fostered through these experiences. I am grateful to have grandparents so close.