Counting two grandmothers with a thankful heart.

I'm especially homesick these days. The fact that my Mississippi State bulldogs are the #1 football team in the nation makes me want to plop right down in the middle of campus and just stay there!! (Did y'all notice I found a way to mention my team being #1 again?!)

Added to that ever-constant desire to be back at MSU, both my mom and Wade's mom have had a rough year.

Grammie with Baby Cate (Because she is not getting much attention in my blog series...I thought perhaps a few pictures of my Little Red were in order!)

Grandmar and Cate.

My Mom has bounced back beautifully from her heart issues of last fall. But even as she was in the midst of all the new routines the doctors put in place for her, a tornado hit her neighborhood damaging most of the homes and much of her town in general. It was a scary time for me and my brothers as we could not even get to her to help (Amazing family and friends jumped right in and took care of her for us -- I am ever grateful!).

And this week, Wade's mom began radiation therapy in a battle to fight breast cancer. The doctors are optimistic that they removed all of the cancer but the radiation is an extra measure of assurance. The distance to Mississippi from the desert seems increasingly far.

So it seems only right that tonight's post in my 31 day challenge should be about my precious then-not-quite-two-year-old Benjamin talking about his grandmothers:

Feb. 26, 1999 -- "Benjamin has started saying "Nanmar" and "Nammie"....what originally was Grandmar (Wade's mother...Grandmother Marsha....get it?) and Grammie (My mother....just cause I liked it!)....we'll see if the other two pick it up! He is such a loving little boy. I've been showing them pics of Marsha and Mother trying to teach them their names. And Wednesday night when Benjamin said Nanmar for the first time...I told Wade to show him the pic and ask him who it was. Well, Wade gave him the pic to hold...when I came back into the room I could hear Benjamin saying "Ooooh--weee" and I looked around (I was dressing Mason) and Benjamin was kissing the picture of Marsha! It was the sweetest thing! What a love!"

Even though the triplets grew up far away from the grandmothers, there was never a time that they did not know them. In the days before FaceTime, I would have pictures of these women sitting around their room in an attempt to teach them exactly who they were. And they knew.

Cate was no different. We talked about Grammie and Grandmar and she always knew. There was never doubt about who they were when they visited! What a gift.

Counting the miles from home can be a bit daunting.

Counting the joys of time together is a much better use of my time!

The Masons visit Arizona

I am the oldest of three kids. And the only girl. So pretty much, I spent my teenage years bossing around my little brothers and then my young adult years hoping they would love me anyway.

And when our Dad died way too early, we reversed roles and I looked to both my dear brothers for the unconditional love my Dad used to shower on us. They stepped into the role loving my kiddos in such an amazing way that they can see how loving our Dad was!

For this season, we are blessed to have Len living with us. He helps me more than words can ever describe and is a God-given answer to prayer in the care of my kids. However, miles separate us from Talley and his beloved Sarah. They live in Minnesota. And of course, Mama is in  Mississippi.

But this weekend -- for far too brief a time -- all of us were gathered under my roof to celebrate Mama -- and her 65th birthday!

Grammie's girls cooking in the kitchen together!

We squeezed in as much fun as possible. We swam, cooked, made s'mores and did a run to Sedona and the Grand Canyon! We laughed, talked and made memories.

Claire and Cate making s'mores with Aunt Sarah!

In Sedona, Arizona!

Mason on the edge...in Sedona!

Different geography doesn't negate that we are family. We don't see each other often and never for long enough to cover every subject and spend enough time together, but this trip was a blessing!

Grammie with her crew!

Mason relaxing while riding the Grand Canyon Railroad!

Benjamin and Uncle Talley -- the boy misses the Uncle every day!

My cute girls on the train!

Mason making his Gramster get as close to the edge as possible at the Grand Canyon!

I want to hear what she is telling him!

Love this one of Grammie and Claire!

Cowboy bandits on the train...scary! :)

Counting the blessings of being family -- while celebrating the blessing that is our Mom and Grammie -- made for a wonderful weekend!

Leaving a legacy...

When the Army called Terry Mason to enlist, he had to leave his wife and six-month old baby girl. The war in Vietnam needed him and off to basic training he went.

On our recent visit to Mississippi, we had the opportunity to visit the Veteran's Park.

He was among the fortunate -- his unit was sent to Frankfurt, Germany, where he would spend the next three years in support of the troops in Vietnam. His wife and precious daughter (did I mention that would be me?) were able to join him after six months of separation.

Grammie and her grands looking for Granddaddy Mason's memorial .

This weekend, we heard a sermon on leaving a legacy. The pastor was directing his message to grandparents and he spoke about being purposeful in the love we give our children and grandchildren; being purposeful in teaching them about the hope found in Jesus; and being purposeful in teaching them about their worth! I couldn't help but think about the man sent to Germany so many years ago.

I was a Daddy's girl from the word go. My little baby-self grieved his service to our country (I didn't understand that!) and I basically just sat and waited for my family to be reunited. I am so thankful that we were able to be with him during his time in Germany. My Daddy adored me. I know he did. Perhaps because of the time we had to be separated -- or perhaps it was always his nature -- he never failed to tell me how special I was.

My Daddy answered my questions about Jesus. And it was my Daddy that knelt with me in praying for salvation.

Today, my precious Daddy is grand parenting long-distance -- from heaven. But I have to tell you that BECAUSE he was purposeful in  loving me and my brothers; and because he was purposeful in leading me to a saving relationship in Jesus; and because he was purposeful in assuring me of my worth in God's eyes -- his legacy is felt by his grandchildren. They reap the products of the seeds he spent years sowing in me, Talley, and Len. I am so thankful.

Grammie and her grands celebrating Granddaddy Mason.

My Daddy was intentional in leaving his legacy. How are you impacting your children -- and therefore the generations to come -- for the kingdom?

I assure you, there is no greater blessing.