How to Have a GRAND Father’s Day

the man who has been there. Done that. Proved himself.

My father and kid’s grandfather deserves recognition not only on Father’s Day but every day of the year. HE is the one who taught me to ride a bike. HE is the one who sneaks my children special treats. HE is the one who brings laughter to a room with his silly antics. HE is the one standing on the sidelines cheering me on because he’s been in my shoes. He KNOWS it is hard, but yet knows how great the reward can be! He is the veteran… He sees my struggles and sees my victories. He knows how to uplift me when I am down, how to encourage my weary soul. He knows that every day is worth it, both the good days and the bad days. He deserves something special and deserves to be recognized. So here are a few fun things you can do to honor the Grandfather’s in your life this Father’s Day:

Spend Time – There is nothing more special than the gift of time. I have yet to talk with a grandparent that doesn’t LOVE time with their grandchildren. They may sigh in relief when the noisy rug rats scramble out the door, but I KNOW there is a grin on their face because they understand just how fleeting these busy days are. I can attest to this because my Grandfather left us last year and is still smiling down from Heaven on every little thing my kids do. So take him out to dinner, go to the zoo, and pack a picnic lunch. Maybe he has a hobby you can take interest in such as going to an airshow or bowling as a family. Whatever it is, be present. Laugh together. Talk together. Show him the respect he deserves. Spend time reading together. Try Thank You, God for Grandpa. No matter what you call him, there is nothing like the love between a grandpa and his grandchild! With whimsical rhymes and charming illustrations, Thank You, God, for Grandpa encourages little ones to treasure God’s special gift of grandfathers.
Capture the “Now” – Take a generational picture. You may think “Oh I’ll take it another day.” Take it NOW. My grandma was insistent on taking a 4 generational picture last Thanksgiving. Little did I know, she would not make it through another year. So take the picture now. Grandfather, son, grandson (great-grandson???). You’ll never regret it and in this case, a picture isn’t worth 1000 words…it’s priceless.
Share Memories – He’s given you so many of your memories. Share those with him! Write him a letter reminiscing about days gone by. Remind him of when you were a child and he would pin you down in an all-out tickle fight. He’ll probably laugh thinking about how his knees don’t bend that way anymore. Remind him of the time he showed you mercy as a teenager and how you’ve learned to be more forgiving with your own children. Talk about the values he’s instilled in you. In the end, memories are all we have… share them!
Go Homemade – Who doesn’t love a card covered in glue, stickers and bright colored blue marker scribbled all over it?? When it’s from the heart, a grandparent can’t help but smile as they go over every tiny detail. A homemade gift may sound a little cliché but they sure do bring great joy!