It happens every time. The grandkids and their parents drive away and I have to start fighting the blues. Whether we get them for one night and a full day, as in the case with Lily, Lola and Layla a couple of weeks ago, or for a full 8 days like with Emily and Molly last week, it just feels … wrong … when they leave.

Right before this I re-posted “Letter from Bambi”, my blog from their visit three years ago. I’m getting better at processing their leaving. Really. This time I am focusing on what is different about their visit; snippets and memories that make me realize how fast they are growing but how much fun the older ages can be too.

Parts of Vacation Bible School songs roll through my head at random moments. “I’ll say Yes, Lord, Yes, to Your will and to Your way; I’ll say Yes, Lord, Yes, and will trust You and obey. When your Spirit speaks to me with my whole heart I’ll agree, and my answer will be Yes, Lord, Yes.” Or “Hallelujah, what a Savior, Hallelujah, what a Friend.” Bible memory verses: 2 Chronicles 20:6, Isaiah 55:3, John 1:12, Hebrews 4:7, and my fave verse from the week 1Peter 3:18, the one Molly could recite fully with Emily: “For Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” I can still see them in the sanctuary, speaking clearly and doing the hand motions we learned that go with the verses. As always, I wish I could bottle their voices at this stage to pull out and listen to when I am old and gray.

They swam like fish with Nathan at Aunt Lena’s very cool tri-pool community swimming pool. Swimming again with new friend Campbell at our neighbor Holly’s house. One of the cool things about this year was my neighbor who invited several of us neighbors to her home to get acquainted. Holly’s phone number and the invite for a play date was one of the great things to come out of that get-together. Because the girls were here I made a new friend just two houses over.

Sonic slushes. Bird watching early in the mornings with Emily, my early riser. Making sure to have hundreds of string cheese in the fridge when Molly comes – she eats them at will and calls them “make-you-strong cheese strings”. Sticky kisses. Spontaneous hugs. Shopping for toys for no reason, like the amazing remote controlled dinosaur. Bubbles on the porch, now with a battery operated bubble machine. Grandma is getting smarter – no need to blow lots of bubbles when a machine can do it for me and I can just sit on the porch swing near the fan and relax.

Legos. Lots of them. My collection is amazing. My kids grew up and left them with me so now they are mine. All kinds of Lego people and building pieces from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Emily and Molly usually pull out the huge plastic bin when they first arrive at our house and start on a massive project. As the week progresses, they will take some solitary time each day to go up on their own and add to it. The end result is fantastic. Creative minds at work.

Watching good quality movies checked out from Ms. Gloria at our church library. About horses, of course – my Emily is still horse crazy. One in particular was so good we watched it twice last week and Emily built Lego scenes depicting four of the major parts of the movie. The amazing thing was when she showed them to me I knew exactly which scenes they were without having to ask. So much talent in that tiny girl.

Molly asking for me to play the record (yes, I still play my vinyl) of Daniel in the Lion’s Den, the story narrated and punctuated by catch songs that stick in your head for days. Or weeks. Molly having to be corralled, whether at home or church or in the store or at the pool. Molly waving the glitter baton throughout the house, for the pure joy of it.

Bugs Bunny. “What’s up Doc?” “What a nin-cow-poop” “What a gull – a –buuuullll” And in ‘Duck, Rabbit’ Duck the line where Daffy Duck calls Elmer Fudd “Daniel Boob” and Bugs explains he is a fricasseeing rabbit not a stewing rabbit. Still using my VCR. Old school, I know. But it works and we love it. Try finding the classics on DVD, they aren’t the originals.

Conversations in the car or the kitchen about God, or how to make bread, or how our house is their favorite (yea!) Watching their mom begin to home school by teaching a unit on excavating precious minerals and having them learn to identify them. Going to Inner Space on their first day of school (home school can start any time of the year) and helping them formulate KWL’s. Holding baby Alex in-between feedings and split-ups and poopy diapers. Cuddliest baby ever.

Grandpa’s amazing dinners. This year’s salmon and garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed asparagus were phenomenal.

Wishing they were still here. Missing the noise. Wanting to hear Molly call “Grandma, come here quick!” or listen to Emily talk about the latest book she is reading. Loving how they love the library and went every day after VBS. Thanking God for their brains and hearts and curiosity and sweet love. Hoping they will move back to our city.

Withdrawal. I’m still in it but I’m no longer swimming in it. Just wading. Splashes of joy. Puddles of memories. Drops of lingering happiness, like the ‘cave kisses’ we got walking under stalactites. Things that will never dry up in my heart.