On this gorgeous spring day I can’t help but think about my afternoon date with a very handsome fellow.

His sparkling liquid eyes fill with excitement and anticipation as we chatter about the afternoon we plan to spend together.

Just the thought of an outing with this guy causes my heart to sing.

When I’m with him the sky is bluer, and the sun shines brighter. Even rainy days are filled with sunshine from his smile. He thinks I’m pretty special too, which makes our moments together infinitely more wonderful. Yes, I’m definitely in love, and it was love at first sight. The moment I laid eyes on his I intuitively knew my life would never be the same again. When his tiny little hand first clutched my finger happy tears overwhelmed my grandmother heart and flowed freely down my cheeks.

That September day five years ago when Gauge Robert Penton entered the world I was thrilled to have another grandson to love. In a few days he’ll graduate from preschool. I’ll sit proudly in the audience as he receives his diploma. A short summer later, and it’s the “Big K,” kindergarten that is.

In my mind’s eye I can see his Aunt Melinda’s kindergarten graduation. She was darling in her white graduation gown trimmed in red. Wasn’t it only yesterday when she started big school? The years speed by so quickly it is almost hard to believe that Aidan, her son, is fifteen years old! With these darling boys of mine growing up I think it’s time for another little one.  Unfortunately, Ryan, my youngest, is still enjoying the single life. Wait. That didn’t sound right. I am glad that he is enjoying his life, but when the young lady of his dreams comes along I will be dancing with joy.

With a little one around I can still do fun stuff.

I may not have ventured out to see “The Jungle Book” without my little man in tow. To see and enjoy the world through the eyes of a child is one of the joys of life. With all the evil running rampant in our world it is refreshing to see life through the eyes of a child.

Many times I turn the TV off or watch an old rerun from simpler, more innocent times. When I watch the old shows I grew up with I am distressed at how times have changed.

Thankfully, my grands are growing up in homes where their parents pay attention to what is allowed to enter the impressionable little minds of their children. Now, more than ever, it is so important to guard what little eyes see and what little ears hear.

Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it (New King James Version Proverbs 22.6).

Jan Penton Miller can be reached at lilsisjan@yahoo.com.