Granna's Letter to Madeline

5-07-2001

Dearest Madeline,

I just returned from spending the past two days with you and Kate and your mommy and daddy. What a big girl you've gotten to be. You are so very polite. You say "yes mam" now. Sometimes you even say it when you mean "no mam". You can say the complete alphabet. You sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" and many other songs. You seemed so glad to see me and your mommy said you had been saying "Granna coming". We all went to Sunday school and church together. I watched you and Kate while your mommy and daddy worked on the fence and then went on a date. You now have a nice fenced-in backyard so that you and Kate can play outside.

Since I spent the night and slept in the room next to yours, I heard you wake up early and I rushed in to get you. I don't think your mommy was pleased as she wanted you to sleep later. I wanted to get you up so we could play before breakfast. I had planned on helping your mommy clean the house this morning, but we aborted that plan and decided to go shopping.

We went to Stein Mart to buy your mommy a new spring outfit. You were in the dressing room with her and I was holding Kate right outside the door. After she tried on a couple of things she asked if you were with me. I said "no she isn't." We started searching the store checking every where in every department. I ran to the front and asked if anyone saw you. The manager asked all of the clerks to look under all the rounders of clothes and to lock the door We were so frightened and kept calling your name. We were told not to do that. We were so frightened and wondered if someone had taken you. We prayed silently as we searched. We looked for several minutes but it seemed like an eternity. Suddenly a woman came out of he dressing room and said she heard a child and she opened a dressing room door and there you were up on a bench in the corner. Your mommy had looked under all the dressing room doors but couldn't see you up on the bench. You had gone in there and dirtied your diaper. Your mommy grabbed you and said "when we call Madeline you say mommy or granna." We were so very thankful you were safe. We both said a prayer of thanksgiving. I can't imagine life without my Madeline. I love you more dear child with every passing day!

Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15: 3-7

Granna's Letter to Sarah Beth

5-12-03

I just talked to you on the telephone this morning and you said "Mommy planted flowers and I helped and I dig worms." I asked "Are you afraid of worms?" You said emphatically "No, I like worms." Your mommy said you had the worms in a cup outside yesterday and when she asked you where they were you said: "I show you." You took her inside and showed her that you had put them in her purse. She said there were probably 25. You love animals and creatures of all kinds and you are certainly not afraid of them.

I was not working today and hadn't planned to see you; but after hearing your sweet voice I changed my plans and headed to Nashville for some Sarah Beth and Emily time. I received lots of hugs and kisses and thank yous for the Dorothy dolls with red slippers that I surprised you with.

You want to be Dorothy for halloween and you told your parents that you want a Toto. I promised I'd make you a Dorothy dress. I will keep that promise for keeping promises is very important. I promise to love you forever! That will certainly not be a hard promise to keep

Love,

Granna

4-03-06

My Little Kate Bradley,

You are just too funny! Your mother just called and shared with me something so hilarious that you said. You were not being nice to Madeline and Madeline said to your mommy:"Kate Bradley is being mean to me." Your mommy asked you why you were being mean to your sister and you said: "I'm just trying to teach her to love her enemies!"

October 26, 2003

Dear Emily,

Your daddy invited me to accompany him along with you and Sarah Beth on a short trip to Watercolor, FL. while your mommy vacationed with friends out east. I readily accepted the invitation and I am so thankful that I got to spend such a special few days with you.

We had so much fun at the beach and riding bikes on bike trails through the woods and by the inter-coastal lake. Your daddy and I pulled you and Sarah Beth in carriers behind the bicycles. You absolutely love the beach and playing in the sand. You like to tease me and tell me that the sand is snow You remembered burying me in the sand from our previous trip so you would shout and order me: "Granna take naps!" That was your way of saying to lay down so you could bury me in the sand.

We went for doughnuts one morning and we were amused to see what a serious doughnut eater you are. After a time you thought I had taken the last one so you reached over and took it off of my plate and gave me the remnants of your doughnut! You couldn't see that there were six more hidden in the box.

We went to a pizzaria one evening and ordered our pizza and then took our seats to wait. Every time a pizza came out from the oven to be delivered to another table you stood up, waved your hands and shouted: "Over here!" Everyone seemed to be so amused. The waiter came over to our table and reassured you that he was hurrying up our order. You just didn't seem to get it as you have always had pizza just delivered to your house and you hadn't watched as others received their pizza first. Plus I have observed that you might need some help learning patience. You are so funny Little Emily and I love you so. Granna

Gal 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE , kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.

June 5, 2005

Dear Abby,

It's just you and me, as Pa is in Nicaragua on a mission trip and your sisters and parents went to Washington D.C. for your Dad's cousin's graduation. We have had fun together with building blocks and puzzles, going for wagon rides and eating ice cream.

There is no one sweeter or more adorable than our Abby! You are so smart and you are busy every minute. You no longer love for me to rock you and sing to you for you know that precedes going to bed, and you fight that. Though your vocabulary is limited you understand almost everything and you follow instructions. You stop what you shouldn't be doing when I tell you "no". You give me kisses and you give me good love laying your head on my shoulder. You smile easily and often and with that smile you melt hearts. You laugh and giggle easily and heartily. You are beautiful, happy, and fun. You are perfect in every way and a true God-given blessing. I'm just crazy over you and I thank God for you, praying always for your health and protection and for your soul.

You are walking and have been doing so for a couple of months now. Though you can walk across the room, with every step it looks as if you will fall. You are so unsteady on your feet and you walk with your legs so far apart that it is funny! You just haven't learned the leg posture yet. You are so proud of yourself to be walking and when you fall you laugh and giggle, get up and take off full speed. I love you little Abby and I will love you forever! Granna

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

As little Abby was so unsteady on her feet when she began to walk, when she would hold to our hand and we would guide her giving her encouragement she was safe and would not fall. Are we any different in our walk? As long as we hold to God's " righteous right hand" and hear his voice we will not fall. When I first learned this verse I thought of the way as being the path, but it has occurred to me that the way is the Word. Amy Grant's song "Thy Word" came to mind. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my WAY. This way or word comes from behind from someone we don't see but who sees us. God's spirit sets us straight and keeps us from going wrong; and we shall hear what God has spoken only if we have perceived it through the Word.

June 26,2009

Dear Madeline,

Well we finally were all able to go as a family on the Disney cruise after waiting a very long time.  It was planned for two years ago but cancelled and rescheduled because of Pa's heart attack.  So after scheduling it for the third time we were all able to go including Matthew. God's timing is always perfect and this was the year He had planned for us to go.

You had a wonderful time with your cousins and it is such a blessing to see you and Sarah Beth together.  You adore each other so and you shared a lot of special time together for four days.

The Disney Island Castaway Cay was so gorgeous and the weather was perfect.  You spent most of the day at the beach with your sisters, cousins, dad and mom, and Uncle Doug and Aunt Kelli.

Pa and I spent the day lounging under a palm tree enjoying the breeze and scenery.

Though you no longer believe in the princesses  you still enjoyed getting your picture made with all of the characters.  We all enjoyed the evening meals in the different dining rooms and the shows were just fantastic - especially the Golden Mickies.

The day we went to Nassau and your parents agreed to let you and your sisters get your hair done in island beaded braids was an experience none of us will ever forget.  Uncle Doug and Aunt Kelli agreed for Sarah Beth and Emily to get it done also.  Your Uncle Doug was going to find the place where they could get the best price for five girls to get braided hair.  We passed up one group of island ladies doing it under an outdoor pavillon.  We walked through the straw market and into town.  A lady on the street agreed to a price of $25 each and led us upstairs into a dark place where there were bad paintings on the wall and they were burning incense. On one side of the room they did tatoos and in the back room they did body piercings.  Emily and Kate Bradley sat down to get their hair braided.  You immediately wanted to leave as your pure and tender heart told you that this place was sinful.  It was definitely not a Disney-approved place.  I left with you and we went back to the pavillon to get your hair done.  I held your hand tightly as we walked that street in Nassau.  You were so disturbed by what you had witnessed.  Your strong sense of what is right and good and pure is what makes you such a beautiful and special young girl.  

I did my best to explain that not everyone makes good choices and that there are people that do not recognize sin as sin.  I tried my best to help your troubled spirit.  We found a lady to do your hair and soon the rest of the family joined us.  Abby and Sarah Beth got their hair done with you.  You all looked like beautiful island princesses.  We took lots of photos of you.  You later said to your dad "If I could say the word hate I would say I hate that place!"

My prayer for you Madeline is that as you fall more deeply in love with Jesus that you will hate sin and satan more and more.  May you always choose to walk away from sin as you did that day.  As your Granna I can say that I feel confident that you will.

Back to the cruise - it was a wonderful time for our family and I was so blessed to share such a special time with you.!

Love, 

Granna

Phillipians 4:8  Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any excellence, and anything worthy of praise, think on these things.

Today is the first day I have written since The Titus 2 Group moved from Facebook to our unofficial site. Teresa asked me to post my past Letters From Granna on this site so those of you who were not Facebook members could see them also. The following is the introduction and the first ten postings.

Hi Titus 2 Friends,

I would like to introduce myself as perhaps one of the more mature women in the group. I say more mature because it resonates better than older. Senior, for some reason, does not have the same meaning it did in high school; but I am thankful to be one and blessed for certain. I am the proud grandmother of five young granddaughters and one young grandson. Madeline, my oldest granddaughter, will be ten in June and little Matthew will be three this month. Sarah Beth is nine, Kate Bradley and Emily are eight, and Abby turned five in March. They are truly the joys of my life and I often feel that my heart is not capable of holding all the love I feel for them. My cup is truly full and overflowing.

Since the days of their birth I have written them each letters and kept them in individual journals to give them some day. These are their letters from Granna recounting some of our times together and including my hopes and prayers for them. 

Though these were written and meant personally, I was overwhelmed to learn from Teresa that others might enjoy and even learn something of a grandmothers love from them. Knowing that all God has given me he has given me to share; I look forward to letting you inside these diaries and inside my heart. May you enjoy where you are today, but look forward to the autumn of your life when you will continue to find golden treasures daily.

I hope you have gleaned treasures and riches from being part of the Titus 2 Group as I have. Our only true hope is in Jesus and Teresa has done an excellent job in sharing His message as she is always listening, looking, and seeing. Thank you Teresa for showing us truths presented so simply. Thanks for your heart for Him and for others. Thank you for your ministry and gift of writing. Thank you for being my friend.

Yes, Teresa and I are the best of friends. She probably knows me better than anyone besides my family. We have spent endless hours laughing, crying, praying, shopping, vacationing, sharing meals, etc., etc., etc. We have been through the good times and bad together. My children are a decade ahead of hers as I am a decade ahead of her. Needless to say, I went through many things ahead of her. She was always there to encourage, listen, share godly truths, and pray. When it comes to listening she does it well and with her heart. I know I have worn her out with all the stories of my grandchildren, but she makes me feel like my joys are hers as well. She is the reason and my encouragement in sharing my joy of being a grandmother. So please just seem as interested as Teresa and I will keep on sharing. I look forward to the day when we will all be in His presence together sharing all of our hearts and souls. 

Please look for the first letter on May 14.

Love In Him, 
Ruth Hudson,Granna