Happy New Year 2024!
Breast Cancer Awareness
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October 1-31, 2023), I have asked some of my grandmother friends who are breast cancer survivors or who are fighting breast cancer to share their stories with you. Please encourage family members, friends, co-workers and others to do regular self-exams as well as schedule their yearly exams with their healthcare provider. Please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation or any of the major organizations for more information.
The first article appears below for October 15th. I would like to thank these ladies for sharing their personal stories.
October 15, 20023
Breast Cancer Awareness Month causes many people to think about how breast cancer affects women, and the type of impact it has on their lives. We pay tribute by wearing pins shaped like ribbons, symbolizing that it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as well as wearing shades of pink in memory, or in honor of women who have had cancer.
I feel extremely blessed to be a woman who has carried on. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. At that time, my grandson was seven years old. He was, and is the joy of my life. We have a special bond that began the moment our eyes met, that still continues to this day. I did not want him to experience the feelings that were constantly with me. Feelings that would impact my life, feelings of despair, and feelings of being lost.
God showed me how cancer did not impact the love, and relationship I have with my grandson. His compassion was always there. He never treated me like I was battling cancer. He continued to treat me like who I am to him...his grandmother. There's strength in just being.
I underwent surgery to remove the lymph nodes, and was on medication for five years. It is now 20 years later, and my grandson and I still have our unbreakable bond. He still feels my pain, and knows when something is bothering me. Now, he asks me if I'm ok, and what he can do to help. What a blessing!
Brenda affectionately call “Ma”
Grandparent's Testimonials
In honor of all the wonderful grandparents we asked some grandparents to write a testimonial of what being a grandparents means to them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The feeling of being grandparents is such a blessing from God! The joy that comes from being with our grandchildren is simply Amazing! When we think about spending time with them, our hearts overflow with joy!
I am MeMe, and my husband is G-Dad to three beautiful, free-spirited, and Spontaneous little girls--Faith Elizabeth Brown who is nine years old, Hope Catherine Brown who is five years old and Grace Marie Brown who is three years old.
Coming to MeMe’s and G-Dad’s house is so much fun for them and for us. They love playing dress up, building a fort, and dancing on the deck to music.
As an educator, I realize while playing is great, I must also spend time with them making learning fun as well. One of the skills that I invest time in with them is vocabulary skills. A robust and broad world knowledge and vocabulary provide an academic advantage when introduced early to children. Having a large vocabulary also helps children to become strong readers.
For Faith, I have introduced WORDSCAPES to her. On our devices, we formulate words from a set number of letters. She loves competing with me and it also helps her with her spelling as well as preparing for the Spelling Bee. For Hope and Grace, we match pictures to words. When students identify pictures, it helps them with their phonemic awareness skills and makes word recognition easier.
As Grandparents, we must set our grandchildren up for academic success and help them develop a competitive edge for a successful future! Having a website such as Spoil and Return is a much-needed platform for Grandparents. It is a pleasure to be a part of such a great online community.
Dr. Deborah Hamilton Frazier
Grandmother, Principal, Mentor, Advocate, and Political Leader
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the month of July, my one and only grandchild and I had tons of fun!
My granddaughter spent a week with me for the first time without her parents being here with her. My daughter lives 7 hours away in another state which makes for a few challenges in spending time with my grand as often as I would love too.
Plans were set in motion prior to her stay and I tell you, I could barely wait.
Day 1 involved a visit to the local library for story time and reading, followed by a quick lunch and yes, even though I am more than a tad bit opposed to fast food, the choice was McDonald’s---giving in to your grand is fodder for spoiling. Ha-Ha-Ha!!
Up next, we splashed for hours at the YMCA waterpark, grabbed Italian Ice’s afterwards and headed home for down time, dinner, shower/bath, bedtime stories. prayers and lights out. Didn’t know that when a grandparent says “lights out” that your five-year old grandchild will respond with…” five more minutes please Mi Mi.” Again, giving in is fodder for spoiling.
Day 2 was a return trip to the library for the library’s pajama day and movie time session.
Day 3, we watched Disney’s Encanto (at home) which of course she had probably seen when it first aired in the theater.
Day 4 was popsicle day. We made popsicles by pouring different kinds of juices into the plastic popsicle holders that can be placed in the freezer. Ask me how many times she asked when will the popsicles be frozen and ready?
Day 5 we spent a couple of hours at an indoor soft play, video game, and trampoline park. Whew! I was tired watching her jump and play for hours. During the course of the week, I wrote simple sentences of each day’s activity, and with guidance, had her sound out and read each one.
The week went by too fast and I do wish the stay could have been longer. Again, I do not get to spend quality time with her often. Looking forward to the next time I get to “spoil” (my grand) “and return.”
Linda Foster
Retired Educator/Mi Mi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, I would like to give my husband and myself credit for raising such a wonderful daughter; who, subsequently, blessed us with 3 beautiful, creative and intelligent grandchildren. Spoiling and leaving them is exactly what we do!
From CASHAPP to DOORDASH, we can be called on for just about anything. And as responsible adults, we would like our grands to be financially and economically astute, but we’ll leave that to the parents. At this point in life, it is our job just to be a positive, loving influence on them. Driving 225+ miles to see football games, swimming lessons, dance recitals and more; we even go out of our way to sometimes volunteer for before and after school pickup J However, after having wonderful relationships with our grandparents, and witnessing to how our parents spoiled our children. We know that spoiling and leaving them is an essential part of a child’s development and when they’re older, they’ll look back, appreciate, and understand the love we had for them.
Ione D. Saxon
Retired Educator/ Mimi
______________________________________________________________________________
Welcome
A few years ago when my grandson Amir T’Challa was born, an idea came to me one day when I was rocking him. I have not acted on it, but in the last few weeks my daughter Akilah and my husband Andrew have mentioned it to me to get started.
The idea is to start a website for grandparents call, Spoil and Return. This will be a way for grandparents to link with each other by using Facebook and other media venues to exchange ideas and stories about their grandchildren or their grandparents. Since technology is the way of the future, even grandparents must embrace it.
On this interactive site grandparents and others will be asked to participate in the following:
1. Share testimonials about the influence of grandparents on the lives of their grandchildren or grandchildren can give testimonials about how their grandparents influence their lives.
2. Visit Tidbits to find helpful resources, to chat and to ask questions about everyday issues and solutions regarding grandparenting.
3. Feel free to post fun pictures of you interacting and spending time with the kids.
The host reserves the right to view articles, tidbits, pictures and comments before posting.
LOVE IS PATIENT AND LOVE IS KIND
Bernard and Mildred Powers
Rev. Maurice and Rev. Dr. Joretha Wright
Rev. Maurice and Rev. Dr. Joretha Wright
We celebrated our 77th wedding anniversary on January 12th. 2024. In order to have a successful marriage, you must put God first in your life. We as a family belong to a good bible teaching church and have a loving church family. We pray and study the Word as a family, so when difficult times come and they surely will, we have the w
We celebrated our 77th wedding anniversary on January 12th. 2024. In order to have a successful marriage, you must put God first in your life. We as a family belong to a good bible teaching church and have a loving church family. We pray and study the Word as a family, so when difficult times come and they surely will, we have the word of God and the Holy Spirit along with our faith to help us through those times and God gets the Glory. We have two grown sons who are church attending Christians.
Rev. Maurice and Rev. Dr. Joretha Wright
Rev. Maurice and Rev. Dr. Joretha Wright
Rev. Maurice and Rev. Dr. Joretha Wright
One year ago today, February 8, 2024, the doctor said three words that changed our lives. “You have cancer.” Following his words, there are about 30 minutes I still cannot account for. When I came to myself, Rita and I were sitting before a doctor at the cancer center getting the news that my cancer was already in the middle of stage th
One year ago today, February 8, 2024, the doctor said three words that changed our lives. “You have cancer.” Following his words, there are about 30 minutes I still cannot account for. When I came to myself, Rita and I were sitting before a doctor at the cancer center getting the news that my cancer was already in the middle of stage three.
He told us that I would need both radiation and chemotherapy, and I would have them at the same time for 8 weeks. Twenty-four (24) hours chemo to go and radiation 5 days a week (you do the math).
However, my immune system was so low that I needed to get three weeks of iron infusions before the treatments could begin. I was told about the surgery that would last anywhere from 4 to 6 hours and following surgery I’d have an ostomy.
I stayed in the hospital for 6 days and was released to continue chemotherapy. We got the word that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes and micro cells. Six more months of chemo would be necessary and now they would add a shot. It was unbearable and I ended up in the ER, sicker than I can even articulate. The past year has been hard, but I’m still standing.
Rita is a true testament of fulfilling the vows we took when we married, “for better, for worse, in sickness and in health.” Rita and my family have been amazing. I know they have had to deal with their moments of anxiety and it’s been a tough go for them. We have cried, laughed and just sat in silence. In sickness and in health has new meaning!
My congregation has supported us in every way possible. The officers stood in agreement with our decision to share this journey with the world. My village has come through in many ways calls, cards and even a little piece of money! The church universal has prayed for me and my family and we are grateful.
As I lay in bed recovering from this week’s chemotherapy, I remain confident of God ability to heal. I claim complete healing on this side!
Matthew and DeMariah Cotton
Rev. Maurice and Rev. Dr. Joretha Wright
Matthew and DeMariah Cotton
There is nothing in this world quite like marrying your soulmate. Together, there is truly no obstacle too big that we cannot overcome. We realize how blessed we are to have one another and with this unbreakable bond, our love for each other grows stronger every day.