Endless Gifts

It was about two years ago when I started my first book of One Thousand Gifts. Yesterday I recorded gift number 3,166. I have been pretty consistent through these months, although sometimes I go for several days without listing anything. I don't want to be legalistic about it!

It has been such a good experience for me, and I don't think I will ever stop. It's a simple exercise in acknowledging reality. Romans 8:28 says that for those who love God (and we do), and for those who are called for His purpose (and we are), He will cause everything to work together for good. And He does. My list affirms that He knows what He is doing, even when I don't.

So the list is filled with tons of gifts that look like blessings. Writing them down makes me acknowledge that my life is FILLED with good things. And the list also includes some things that don't look like blessings, but I believe are there in my life for His good purpose.

What Do You Call Your Grandma?

I had two grandmothers – I guess we all do, right? My maternal grandmother was Grandma, and my paternal grandmother was Memere. Grandma was born in Ireland, and Memere was born in Vermont of French Canadian parents. I have only one vague memory of each of these women, as both died when I was still very young. But whenever my parents or older siblings spoke of them, these were the names they used.

I had always thought that memere was French for grandma, but when I tried googling it this morning, I learned the French word is grandmere. So where does memere come from? Did my parents make it up??? A little more online searching revealed that memere is only used by French Canadians, not by grandmas in France. Makes sense, since my memere was many generations removed from her family’s roots in France. My search also revealed that memere is a French Canadian slang term for a fat old lady. Ouch!

My sister-in-law is Mimi. My sister asks her grandchildren to call her Granny, and from the time they are born she carries them and sings softly into their ears, “I’m your granny, and I’m your favorite!” I grew up in the southeastern U.S., where most grandmas are called mamaw. In the Philippines, a grandma is a lola. I like the sound of that. I am Lola to many little ones here at IGSL, so I’m used to it already. To our kids from northwest Myanmar, I am Pipi. This week, with a new Nepali baby in the house, I am Hajouraama—quite a mouthful for a little mouth!

So how about you? What do you call your grandma? I need to know—I will be one in three more weeks!

Intersection of the Last Two Posts

My last post was about our guest room, and the one before that was about Baby Sandesh. For the past week my world has revolved around Sandesh and his family who are staying in our guest room! Here he is, resting on the famous Bombay cotton sheets. Mom and baby came home from the hospital on Thursday, then Dad arrived from Nepal on Monday. It has been a precious time of watching these dear ones taking their first steps as a family of three. We have loved that it could happen under our roof.

Still having sleepless nights, but enjoying it all.