Grandmothers! They come in all shapes and sizes and are called by many different names. If we are blessed to have one or to have known one, more than a few images come to mind when you hear the name you once called her. I did not get that opportunity since one grandmother died when I was 3 months old and another when I was 8 years old. But I learned much about being a grandmother by watching others and especially the way my own mother was totally dedicated to being the best grandmother around to our two children. As a result, they each have more than a few special memories of time with her.

One such memory was one our son wrote about for an English assignment, and I tucked it away, so I still treasure it as he describes my mother (his grandmother’s) kitchen:

“Upon entering my grandmother’s kitchen, one can get a firsthand impression of the image of my grandmother. The layout of the kitchen is practical and well thought out, just as my grandmother’s use of her time is. The kitchen is nearly always in use. It seems at times that there is almost a cloud of commotion about it. However, at times the kitchen, surprisingly enough, has an inviting spirit about it. It yearns to be the answer to a person’s cry for company or companionship. It opens its doors even to be of use to complete strangers who are in need.

…The kitchen is a place known for emitting pleasant aromas. Likewise, my grandmother always smells sweet, whether of perfume or molasses.”

David Ecrement

Thankfully, she was blessed to enjoy reading the entire essay before she died and smiled with a bit of shyness at the accolades her grandson chose to describe her.

Lisa Carpenter has created a wonderful book that you might want to add to your ideas for gifts this Christmas season. The cover above tells the story: A Love Journal – 100 Things I ♥️ about Grandma. Tucked inside are one hundred pages for any grandchild to get prompts to answer questions about their grandmother that would bless her to read and enjoy for years to come.

Lisa’s book will be released December 7 (just in time for gift giving) and one place you can find it will be on Amazon where it can be pre-ordered now.

Here are a few of the prompts that Lisa has for a grandchild to answer before the gift is wrapped and given to a favorite grandmother:

“When we spend time together, I really enjoy that we _________________________________”

“If you were an animal, you would be __________________________________”

“You can tell we are family because ______________________________________”

“The top three things that make you different from other grandmothers are _____________________________.”

“Thanks to you, ________________________ and ____________________ are special books to me.”

These examples and so many others show Lisa’s keen insight into being a grandmother and what would bless the heart of any grandmother to read or hear. And guess what? It’s one of those things we need to do while she is still able to hug you afterward. There are no hugs quite like hers.

What is the last prompt Lisa gives?

“The top three things the world should know about you are… 1._______________ 2. _____________ 3.____________”

This little book is also a reminder to consider how we want to be remembered as a grandmother now or when we become one in the future. As I was reading it, it was a reminder to me as I consider our own six grandchildren moving into adulthood.