Grandparenting: It’s what we were born to do!
I love being a father! Of course, being a father to two delightful children—Anna
Rose and Hailey—was a fairly easy task.
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| Hailey, Joanne, and Anna Rose |
They were exceptional young women who
grew up and became even more incredible adults, each with her own skill sets
and abilities. Joanne and I still just sit back and wonder how they turned out
so well.
Now, they each have two children, one girl and one boy for each of
them. This past year, we have been able to spend a bit of time with our four
grandchildren and have enjoyed ourselves immensely. We discovered anew that
being grandparents is what we were born to do.
Emiline and William helped me plant the garden at Anna Rose’s house. We
had a great harvest, too.
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| Emiline and William at Easter time |
We had a delightful Easter with all of them, excluding our newest who
wasn’t born yet. We BBQ’ed at Anna Rose’s house and had some pictures taken.
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| The Hammon Family sans Avonlea |
We went to Rigby, Idaho, to attend Mother Boltz's funeral. We stayed with Delaina and walked up the road. Both Emiline and William saw things they had never seen before.
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| Emiline with a baby mule |
Clark and I went to the BYU museum and looked at some of the exhibits.
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| Grandpa Hammon and Clark |
Emiline, William, and I went on a few hikes up the road and back. Of
course, we stopped every now and then to look at the birds, a twig on the side
of the road, a pine cone that had fallen from one of the trees, grapes that
grew on some vines along one of the neighbor’s fence line, and a variety of
other things.
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| Anna Rose, Clark, Emiline, William, and Joanne on a walk down the Clark Highway |
When we moved to our new house, the three of them have been over to
swing on the swings and slide down the slide. One day, Emiline came over and
said, “Did the swings miss me?” My answer was swift, “They miss you every day.”
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| Emiline |
We were able to have Thanksgiving dinner with Anna Rose and her family.
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| Anna Rose, Christiaan, Emiline, and William |
Then we flew on Friday to Hailey’s house and spent the weekend with them.
We
finally met our newest granddaughter—little sweet Avonlea—and spent some time
with her big brother Clark. We even blessed little Avonlea in their branch—first baby to be blessed
there in eight years. So, you know who’s the hit of the parade every Sunday
morning.
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| Avonlea in her blessing dress. |
Emiline and I were able to spend a sick day together earlier this fall.
It touched my heart that Emiline said to me, “I love you so much, Grandpa.” Of
course, this softy had tears in his eyes.
We’ve been to Emiline’s Christmas program at her school.
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| Emiline with Santa at her Christmas program |
Plus, we have many, many experiences with these four little
grandchildren. We love them very much.
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| Clark and Grandpa: the Dudes |
I have always loved children, and children seem to like me. Perhaps, it’s
because I look like some big oaf to them. There is something about grandchildren,
though, something that is almost inexplicable. It seems there is an instant
bond. When I met each of our grandchildren for the first time, I instantly felt
they were a part of me and had been from the pre-existence.
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| Clark and William at the sand dunes in Delta, Utah. |
Just recently, when I took Avonlea in my arms for the first time, I
literally felt the connection—a zing! We were one.
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| Grandpa and Avonlea, blessing day |
Grandchildren are truly gifts from our Heavenly Father to enjoy and
feel comfort and peace from them.