Dear Smiley and Rosebud

This is a letter that my wife Susan Payton has written to her Grandchildren

Dear Smily and Rosebud,

My Dear Sweet Grandchildren- You have opened up a brand new world for me, and I thank you both for the incredible love and uplift you have given my life.

Thank You Smiley

You opened up a brand new world for me, I didn't know if I was ready for you, or to be a Grandmother, but you opened the flood gates. You taught me what was old once, was about to become new for this aging little lady. You were born thirty-nine days before my fifty seventh birthday. You absolutely changed my life. You changed it for the better, and you provided me my first link, to the future. I nicknamed you "Smiley" , because you could always be defined by that great big smile. You were a happy child, and we had so much fun, and so many memories of you growing up. We would go down and pick you up and take you out to dinner, lunch, to the park and push you on the swings, to the beach, and to get ice cream. I can still picture you sitting in your car seat in the back of my car, in your car seat.

Yes, you opened up a whole new world for me. You taught me to be a Grandmother, and no matter how many Grandchildren were born, you always had that distinct honor. Your were my youngest son's first born, the baby of my baby, and you fullfilled your paternal Grandmother's prophecy of me being the mother of all boys. But you were everything I could have ever hoped or dreamed for. You were special, and you were the first, and it didn't get any better than that.

It is hard for me to believe as I type this, that you will be graduating from high school this coming June, and it is hard to believe that you now drive your own car.

I want to thank you in this season of blessings, for entering my life, and for giving me a reason to go on, after I was handicapped by that 2020 surgery, that I stopped breathing. You and your sister gave me a reason to go on, you gave me a purpose, and you gave me a mission to fulfill.

Thank You Smiley -My First Born Grandchild.

Thank You Rosebud

Well, I never would have dreamed life could be this good, in a thousand lifetimes. However, your Great- Grandmothers' prophecy was wrong. It took six long years, but finally another Grandchild for me, and you were a girl. - YES!!!!!!!!!

I want to thank you my little "Rosebud", for bringing such joy in my life. Your father texted me a photo of you, and you had such rosey cheeks, I called you Rosebud. But not before researching its meaning first. The meaning of Rosebud, is it signifies beauty and purity, so I know that it was a perfict fit for my Granddaughter.

I didn't see you until you were four months old, for reasons I just do not want to put in this letter. However, you were never far from my thoughts. I also did not let that deter me from shopping for my Granddaughter. I just bought things and put them away, until our first meeting. Unfortunately, some of them did not fit, however, I will never forget that first day we met. It was at that first meeting, I believe that we began our connection. All the family dynamics did not matter, and we were off and running. I remember you holding your little arms up to me, you always reminded me, that the best was yet to come. Thank you for the love you always showed me, you made me feel so very special.

We had phone visits, you were the best at that. I remember when your friend from Virginia and you were having a virtual sleep over, and you called me, and I told you a story about your Dad in Kindergarten. You would say, "And then what happened". Thank you so much for that memory, and letting me be a part of that virtual sleep over.

Thank you for going with us, when your brother felt he was too old to hang out with his Grandparents anymore. Thank you for always giving me the benefit of the doubt. Thank you for the love you always showed me, and for just being you, my "Little Rosebud", you truly lived up to the meaning of the word Rosebud. Your intentions were always so pure, and you were beautiful inside and out.

Finally, thank you for the last visit I had with you, before I was cut off contact with you again. You argued with your brother, and said you wanted to spend time with me. Thank you for your loyalty, your love, and your support. You have turned out to be the beautiful young lady I always thought you were, INSIDE And OUT.

Thank you for the incredible love you have shown me in your almost 13 years of life. It has meant the world to me, and has given me the incentive to never give up. You have given me the world, in that you have shown me what the love of a Granddaughter can do for you.

Thank You Granddaughter, - Thank You Rosebud For The Love - Thank You For Always Loving Me in spite of Family Dynamics.

For Your Love and Devotion, you will be left our home, and everything in it.

Thank You Sweet Girl - We Love You Always. If I do not live to see you again, I have kept a journal for you, it is in the desk of YOUR HOUSE, in the room I call the "Office".

With Love I End This Letter To My Grandchildren

Love,

Mom Mom