The princess turns 5

In just a few days, my granddaughter will turn 5 years old. Boy, where did that time go? Seems like only yesterday we were in the hospital waiting for the arrival of our first grandchild. My granddaughter, LIlah Jeanne DuBose named after my mother and her other grandmother weighted in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces. She was born around 2:51 p.m. in the afternoon of Jan. 21 in Lansing, Mich. She came into this world with good lungs and so beautiful.

But doesn’t every grandparent think their grandchild is the most beautiful and precious? I do. My granddaughter is just about the most beautiful thing in the whole world. This statement is not meant to take away from the other two grandchildren that I have, who by the way are boys. They are both handsome and smart and so much fun. At least I think they are.

I think having a granddaughter is just way too cool. A mother of two boys could only say that. I find that dolls and dresses are too hard to resist. She really is into Princess items and anything Princess. I think because I call her my princess. She likes that. She calls me Nana and I love that. Lilah loves to watch movies with me or anyone that will watch them with her. Her father was the same way. I think he has seen every movie made two or three times. He can even quote sayings from the movies. So can my granddaughter. My husband says, “Plant a potato and you get a potato. Guess that holds true for Buck and Lilah.

Lilah is growing and maturing into a young lady and one day she will become a young woman. What do I hope for her? That she will be a productive adult. That she will remember her Nana and Papa and remember the times we had together. That she will be kind to others not as fortunate as her. That she will hold true to her southern roots and traditions that her family holds dear. That she will be respectful of her elders. That she will grow up in a loving home. That she will cherish the time she has on this earth and stop every once in awhile to smell the roses. That she is know how much I love her and how much she means to me. That she will choose the best career path for her. That she will live this old life in ways that will make her happy. And above all that she will have a personal relationship with our Lord.

So the granddaughter will be 5. Maybe to you that is not that important. You must not have grandchildren. But to those of us that do, it is a big deal. That means that I am older, wiser and have little ones around me again. If you have grandchildren, tell them how much you love them. Show them by giving of your time and let them know that they are important to you. Giving gifts is nice but not as special as spending an afternoon with your precious grandkid. Give them your all and you will not be sorry. Let them be your princesses and princes. It is so much fun and you will find that you will sow the benefits more than you ever thought.

Happy Birthday, my little princess, Lilah.