There's something about being a grandchild.
Grandparents have a way of making you feel like you're the most interesting person in the room, even when you're telling them a story they've already heard approximately 47 times.
They listen.
They encourage your dreams.
They celebrate the little things.
They remember things you forgot you ever told them.
And sometimes, they give you that look that says, “I know your parents said no, but I'm your grandparent. We can work something out.” 😉
There's a comfort in knowing that someone is completely and unapologetically in your corner.
That kind of love stays with you.
They Give Us Memories
As we get older, we realize that some of the things we remember most aren't necessarily the big events.
Sometimes it's sitting at the kitchen table.
The smell of something cooking.
A familiar laugh.
A particular saying.
A favorite recipe.
A holiday tradition.
A craft project.
A story you've heard a hundred times but would give almost anything to hear one more time.
Those little moments become memories we carry with us.
And eventually, we realize that those memories are some of the most valuable things we have.
Their Influence Doesn't Really Go Away
One of the beautiful things about grandparents is that their influence can continue long after they're gone.
The things they taught us become part of who we are.
Their recipes get made in our kitchens.
Their traditions get carried forward.
Their sayings become things we catch ourselves saying.
Their creativity inspires our creativity.
And their love becomes part of how we love other people.
Sometimes we're doing something completely ordinary and suddenly realize:
“Wow. Grandma taught me this.”
And that's when you realize their influence never really left.
It became part of you.
For me, I think about that every time I'm creating something.
When I'm sewing, painting, crafting, or trying some completely new medium because apparently I can't stick with just one, I know I'm continuing something that started long before Mandy's of Fargo ever existed.
A Little Piece of Them Lives On
I've always believed that the people we love leave little pieces of themselves behind.
Sometimes it's a skill.
Sometimes it's a tradition.
Sometimes it's a funny story.
Sometimes it's a recipe written in familiar handwriting.
Sometimes it's a piece of advice we didn't appreciate at the time but understand completely years later.
And sometimes it's simply the feeling of being loved.
For me, creativity is one of those pieces.
The women in my family helped teach me to create. They taught me that it's okay to get a little messy, try something new, make mistakes, and try again.
And honestly, that's still how I approach crafting today.
Not everything I make starts with a perfect plan.
Sometimes I have an idea.
Sometimes I see something and think, “I wonder if I could make that?”
Sometimes I just want to play with a new material.
And sometimes I make something because that's what my mood tells me to do that day.
That's the joy of creating.
And I think a little bit of that joy came from them.
It's More Than Making Something
That's one of the reasons handmade things mean so much to me.
When I make something, I'm not just making an object.
I'm using skills that were passed down to me.
I'm creating something with my hands, just like the women in my family did.
I'm taking something I've learned and putting my own spin on it.
And maybe someday, someone who buys something from Mandy's of Fargo will look at it and think about someone they love.
Maybe it'll remind them of their grandmother.
Maybe it'll become a gift for their own grandchild.
Maybe it'll simply make them smile.
And if something I make can become part of someone's story or memory, that's pretty special to me.
So Here's to the Grandparents
Here's to the grandparents who taught us how to make things.
The grandparents who taught us how to laugh.
The grandparents who listened to our stories.
The grandparents who slipped us an extra cookie when Mom wasn't looking.
The grandparents who encouraged us when we needed it most.
The grandparents who passed down recipes, traditions, stories, and skills.
The grandparents who loved us simply because we were theirs.
And here's to the grandparents who may not have realized just how much of an impact they were making.
Because they did.
They shaped us in ways we may not have understood at the time.
They gave us memories, traditions, skills, stories, and—perhaps most importantly—a feeling of being deeply loved.
And that's a pretty incredible legacy.
So if you're lucky enough to still have your grandparents around, give them a hug. Call them. Sit down and listen to their stories. Ask them about their childhood. Learn that recipe. Let them teach you something.
And maybe let them give you that extra cookie.
If your grandparents are no longer here, take a moment to think about what they left behind in you.
Maybe it's a recipe.
Maybe it's a tradition.
Maybe it's your sense of humor.
Maybe it's your love of creating.
Maybe it's the way you show love to your own family.
Because chances are, they're still influencing you every single day.
For me, I know they are.
And every time I create something with my hands, I get to carry a little piece of them forward.
Even if it's just by making something beautiful… or reaching for one more cookie. ❤️
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