Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Grasshopper

So, my girl is pretty darn amazing, I do think so, and thank you for all the warm and generous comments about her. Today, I shared them with her, and discovered that I need to give my husband some lemonade love, too, because he's the one who told our daughter, "Sweetheart, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade." He gave her this piece of wisdom while I was going from counter to counter in the airport on Saturday trying every way I could to get us on a flight. She was crestfallen and her dad gently coached her on handling disappointment, setting an example by keeping his own cool, serving up no blame at all for our circumstances. He knew how crushed I was and he quietly determined not to add to it. He set the tone in the most loving way, communicating wordlessly that even though we were disappointed, it wasn't the end of the world. It's one of the things I most love about him. He sees and hears and understands what is not immediately discernible. He is our calm and patient grasshopper.

In this photo from another trip we took some years ago, the wise daddy grasshopper is on the left. We were on a road trip to Virginia with the little grasshoppers in training. We had stopped at a rest stop in Maryland where my husband and the children with us—my son, my daughter and one of our nephews—chose $3 sunglasses from a vendor booth. Here, they are modeling their uber cool looks for me. How lucky are we to be sharing life with this man!



14 comments:

  1. And he's not too hard on the eyes, either, Ms. Angella.

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  2. Love this picture...
    and here's to making lemonade!

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  3. They are looking way too cool with their sun glasses!

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  4. So, it seems that you have one amazing family. You are blessed and how wonderful that you know it. Hugs to you all!

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  5. Oh lawdie what a story (just read the previous post). You are truly blessed with a wonderful family - grasshopper hubby and daughter wise beyond her years.

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  6. Ms. Moon, well, I certainly do like looking...tee hee

    handandspirit, lemonade it is! nice to see you here and i love that picture, too. I just found it again and was looking for a chance to use it. this was as good as any.

    Kristin, don't they look cool, though!

    Bruce, in a word. yes. sending love to you, dear bro.

    Gary, hugs back to you! thank you, my friend.

    Deborah, lawdie it was a morning! but in the end, it reminded me of my blessings, and that's all good. love to you.

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  7. Beautiful family of grasshoppers and lemonade!

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  8. I'm so glad you have such a wonderful husband, Angella. Give him a big hug from me! :)

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  9. Elizabeth, grasshoppers and lemonade—sounds like a fine summer day. i'll take it.

    ellen, i shall enjoy delivering your hug!

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  10. *sigh* it's true...mom and I were talking about your kids this weekend...I commented on how exceptional they both are -- really beautiful inside and out and mom said, "it's true, they are exceptional...but they have really exceptional parents"

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  11. koshercritter, you and your mom are as kind as can be. i think as parents, we just got lucky, and let's face it, the story's not yet done. i pray, i really do.

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  12. 'He knew how crushed I was and he quietly determined not to add to it.'

    This made me cry. I think you two deserve each other in the best way.

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  13. Dierdre, such a generous thought, thank you.

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