MAMAW & PAPAW

Sweet Lisbeth,

I want to tell you about your grandparents, especially becos there is a chance that they won't be here when you're old enough to remember them.

They are good people, despite the fact that they have had a lot of troubles in their lives. Your papaw is blind with cataracts and crippled, he has no endurance to walk becos his heart is failing. He turned 72 just a few weeks after you were born. 

Your mamaw has been in a wheelchair for the past two years, she broke her back after getting out of the hospital for heart failure. She is back in the hospital now due to a broken hip. She's been there for 3 weeks, though she should be out this weekend. She is 61, and her birthday is just 4 days after Mommy's.

I feel it's so important to tell you about them becos they love you so much. They have a lot of troubles and things that make them tired and depressed.

When your cousins Lillian and Selena were born, Mamaw couldn't be with them. She wanted so badly to be a part of their lives, but for one reason or another, she has never gotten to spend any real length of time with them. 

Your Papaw has many grandbabies, your cousins Shain, DJ, Austin, Jessica, John Paul, Lillian, Selena and you. Like Mamaw, he has never been able to be a part of their lives. Mamaw and Papaw love their grandbabies but never get to be with them.

That is part of what makes you so important to them. Mamaw was there when you were born. She got to hold you when you were only minutes old. You were playing with Papaw and kicked his hand when you were still in Mommy's belly.

Your grandparents love you so much. You are the only one of the babies that they have ever gotten to snuggle and hold and give hugs and kisses to. When they see you, they are just beaming with love and joy. I think they love you more than their own children.

They have both told me several times that you are their favorite grandbaby and that they can't remember ever being as happy as they are when they hold you. They love to cuddle with you and see your beautiful face. 

You are such a treasure to them. They are old and weary and you brighten up their entire world and ease all of their pain and worries. I really truly hope that they live long enough for you to understand how much you mean to them, and for you to remember them loving you.