Receiving an envelope filled with love...

I was having a particularly stressful day the other day when John brought in the mail. "This will cheer you up," he said as he dropped an envelope on my desk.  It was addressed to Grandma Becky from Chloe so I couldn't help but smile. I didn't tear into the envelope right away.  I finished up a few emails that I had to get off  so I could open the envelope without any distractions.  I wanted to be able to completely enjoy the moment. As I tore through the envelope, I expected a fun, colorful picture from one of the grandkids or a handwritten note that I had to decipher, but instead the envelope contained four dead dandelions.  It couldn't have made me happier if it was a dozen roses.  I called to thank Chloe but she was taking a nap so I told Jen to make sure Chloe knew I got the "flowers" she sent me and that I really loved them.  The next day I got a call from Chloe and the conversation was priceless. She told me that when she sent the flowers she was sending me all her love.  Then she asked in the sweetest voice if it the flowers she sent me had made me love her more .  I thought to myself, "how could I love Chloe any more?"  I love all my grandkids so much!  And I miss them terribly.  I miss picking Morgan up from school and seeing the excitement on his face because his Grandma is picking him up today. I miss going for bagels after school or meeting for lunch or having Jen and the girls drop by to say hello while they are out running errands.  I miss Sunday dinners and movies in the basement...and I miss sending them home each week with a little bag of treats.  It is hard having them so far away but since I can't change it, I am trying to look at the good things....so here goes...It is nice that when I get to go and visit, I get to be with them in the morning and have them snuggle in bed with me. I get to fix them breakfast and walk them to school. I get to tuck them into bed at night and read them stories and I get to be the guest reader at preschool.  I drink much less Diet Coke because the kids are always sneaking sips and I get to sit and talk to my daughter without a headset or a cell phone or skype.  So until I get them back here, I will have to hold onto the good things and try not to miss them so much and envelopes filled with love will always make me smile.