You..me..talk!

After visits with my wonderful grandchildren, I was humbled and thrilled to witness their desire to communicate and be understood for the unique people they are. Natalie, who just turned 16, shared with me her diverse art projects and is giving me one of her paintings for my birthday. Her openness to ideas and opinions was exciting and refreshing. Andrew surprises me every time I see him. He is maturing into a bright, funny, caring young man. His desire to speak and be understood is palpable and when he feels like he is not getting in on the conversation he will grab your arm and say 'You...me...talk!' Through a combination of sounds, pantomime, sign language, and perseverence, he makes himself understood. His hugs are many and strong. He's quite a guy! Delaney and Mitchell visited here and we had a great many adventures. They tried horseback vaulting which is a method for beginners to gain confidence and balance on a horse. Mitchell in his quiet, self-assured way listened attentively to instructions and then proceeded to do the 'tricks' with nonchalance. Since listening well is critical to good communication, I think that Mitchell is ahead of us all. Delaney leaves no doubt that she wants to communicate - all the time! When she really wanted to get your attention she would exhort: 'Focus people, focus'. It cracked me up every time. I would not trade these moments for anything. These dear children teach, love, share and bring incredible happiness into my life. I am blessed!