(Warning: l-o-o-n-g. This is probably a little mundane for family members who read here, but several ladies have asked for peeks into how our family handles certain events and what our family life is like, so . . .)
Well, it has been almost a week since a very important milestone in the life of our family, especially oldest granddaughter Kitty. Last Friday the 19th Kitty turned 18 years old. The anticipation was palpable, as it is for every event the first time it happens here. Kitty being the oldest grandchild and oldest in her family lives the life of a pioneer. Every milestone is precedent setting.
When she turned 12, we had a wonderfully touching “rite of passage” with the whole church-family. We had a ceremony with special song and charge, and her parents commended her once again to the Lord. We all signed a commitment to pray for her as a young woman and bestowed upon her certain privileges and responsibilities decided by her father and mother. Danny and I gave her a hope chest he put together and finished for her.
Each girl cousin who has turned 12 (5 so far) has enjoyed the same ceremony and gifts, with special touches specific to each family. The boys also (4 so far) have benefited from this same affirmation, although it hasn’t been quite as emotional (well, maybe for their mothers!). Danny decided to give each one of them a .22 rifle, and their parents settled on specifics for their families. It has been such a blessing to watch them mature with this milestone – voluntarily praying and leading in music in the church meetings, rising to the occasion when facing challenges.
When the girls (2 so far) have reached 16, Danny and I have offered to sponsor a ladies’ tea for them – so gracious and elegant! They love it! It is precious to see them and their sisters, cousins, and friends all dressed up and proper (although they are always proper!). The first grandson will be 16 this year, so we will see what precedent-setting celebration his parents and family will come up with – probably hunting related!
So this was Kitty’s 18th birthday. Her siblings and cousins and friends gave her a nice surprise party with games and music and gifts, but the grownups – Mama and Papa, Grandmother and Granddaddy, and the aunts and uncles – waited to take her out to dinner. We had a semi-private space and enjoyed a wonderful meal. Then her parents presented her with an heirloom piece of jewelry – a family brooch that her great-grandmother had given her mother, Beth. Beth was the top jewel in the crown, because she was the first (and only, at the time) grandchild. Tears flowed. Of course they did. It was our emotional family.
The aunts and uncles gave her items she has been collecting for her hope chest, mostly Desert Rose pattern from Franciscan ware, which she loves. Danny and I gave her pearls his mother (her great-grandmother) had worn for her wedding in 1946. There were more tears. We also gave her money and a gold coin for her dowry. We read to her I Thessalonians 2:19-20. She truly is our glory and joy before the Lord. What more priceless thing can we present to the Lord at His coming than our precious grandchildren?
It seems that those 18 years flew by – faster than my children’s years, it seems. Just remembering back to the very moment of her birth – she was the most alert baby I have ever seen come forth, eyes flashing with mischief from the very beginning – and watching her grow, bouncing through life with amazing energy and intensity . . . now she is a young woman, steady and faithful, beautiful and talented, but humble and gracious. Lord, you knew what you were doing when you sent us Kitty. You knew she would be the encouragement to us that Your plan and purpose will go forward beyond our years. Thank you, faithful Father, for Kitty.
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7 comments:
Well, after reading this the tears are here again! It was a special time indeed.
You are precious, mother. So many people have commented on how blessed we are to have such involved grandparents in our children's lives. That we are.
Daughter Beth
Oh, my dear Bonnie! You have a blog!!! I'm so excited to have found you. Thank you so much for sharing about your beautiful family... I so miss everyone from HAH!
Thank you, dear family and friends for your recent comments to the posts here. It is so encouraging! Shannon and Karen, how nice to hear from you! I trust the Lord is blessing your families. And of course my dear daughters are always a blessing to me. Y'all just feel free to chat it up.
Never though I'd say it, but time is going too fast. Kinda scary that Kitty is 18 all ready. At least she's still in the Country Cousins :D.
R.G.
Bonnie,
What a wonderful time for Kitty. you, your daughters and the rest of your family is very blessed! Christin turned 18 about a month before Kitty did. It's hard to believe she's already so grown up. Tell Molly, Beth and Katie I said hello. We'll be down that way again soon and I have something for you.
Lynn
Lynn, I am so glad to hear from you! Yes, these babies are growing up too fast -- but every day has the same 24 hours, it never stops and never slows.
I will tell the "girls" you said hello, and we would love it if you stopped by. Anytime.
Bonnie, I actually am staying online today long enough to do a little. What a blessing you have with your family! Our farm is staring to get cleared and fenced now. We have our horses there and our well dug so we can water them! Slow, but steady! Praise the Lord!
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