I never met any of my grandparents. So when my husband's daughter and her husband in Iowa became parents, I worried if I would be a good grandmother. I found out quick I didn't need lessons on how to be a grandparent; it just come naturally. Their three children opened up a whole new world for me.

When we visited Iowa the three grandchildren and I walked in the woods, rode bicycles into town and it was the first and last time I slept in a tent. The ground was so cold and I did sneak back into the house and slept on the couch. When I opened my eyes the next morning all three of them were sleeping on the floor in front of me. I felt honored when Rick named one of his goats Dotty after me.

When Ken's son and family visited us, their two boys showed me how to find shark's teeth on visits to Galveston . They were fun to be with, too. When our daughter and her husband made us grandparents, we were so happy. My three granddaughters loved to read and I spent many wonderful moments reading to them. I wrote short stories for them and Rita still has a poem I wrote just for her.

My grand children have made my life so good with such wonderful memories. When  Heather told me she was expecting, I was more excited for my daughter than  for me as I wanted Norma to experience the joy of being a grandmother. I never thought I could love great grandchildren like I love my grandchildren.

How wrong I was.

When I hold Heather's eight month old Madelyn in my arms and sing to her and talk to her, the feeling is the same. I can't help feeling sad when I hold her because her father, James, is in Iraq and will be for a while. I wish it was him holding his precious child - watching her grow and being with her.

Julia has a five  month son and he is such a happy, cute little fellow and I love to hear him laugh. Rita will have a little one before the year is over and we are all excited about that. My grandson Rick and his wife, Patti, sent me a ticket last October to visit them in Neola, Iowa. While there I got to hold their grandson Drake. My grandson is so proud of that child and loves him so much. I had such a nice feeling watching them together. Lori in Maryland has a little granddaughter named Katherine. Lori is so good to send me pictures of her.

I doubt if I will be able to do all the fun thing with my great-grandchildren as I have had with my grandchildren. I have learned to take one day at a time and have faith it will all work out okay. I pray every day for our troops and hope  they will be home soon with their families and James will get hold his little daughter again.