What brought me here in case you are interested........
As toddlers, there is true wonderment in
what they do. Their curiosity, their energy, their
Since the addition of great grandchildren to our family I have felt the age factor creeping in without a doubt, but on the positive side, I've seen my daughter now become a 'Mimi' and my granddaughter become a Mom. How special that? Many never have that opportunity so I treasure it all. Nana, Papa, Grammie, Grandpa, Mimi or whatever you are known by, there is a ring to it that cannot be described....and I believe can't be duplicated. There are times I simply cannot get enough of my grandchildren and great grandchildren. They bring light and new love into my life. However, I have to admit that there are also times when my solitude and the silence of our home is equally as precious to my husband and me. Having the option to enjoy my grandchildren, my great grandchildren AND my solitude is one of the many benefits of being Nana.
Being the realist that I am, I know very well I will not
be around to see all that I hope to see of them. Time keeps marching on as
it is. With that in mind leaving something behind for them has become very
important to me. That is pretty much what stirred my creativity
In the very beginning, Tooth Fairy pillows became a way for me to be a part of the 'losing the first tooth experience' regardless of where I might be at the time. Special poems, handmade birthday cards, personalized play items, monogrammed t-shirts and arts and crafts aprons are just a few of the many ideas I came up with for each of them. For Mommy and Daddy I designed a Babysitter's Helper as well as the Caregiver's Emergency Information Sheet to communicate important and necessary details in caring for my grandchildren. As they grew and experienced new things, I....a.k.a. Nana.....tried to foresee more ways to remain a part of their lives. Personalized blankets have become a favorite graduation gift and they have traveled with them to college and beyond. When I started making special gifts for my grandchildren, feedback was extremely positive from a variety of sources. Many asked where they could purchase the items and were disappointed when they heard they were not available. Thus, the point of this story, those requests sparked "From Nana With Love". It was my hope that I could make my designs, keepsakes and other related projects available to a much wider audience. Once again, being the realist I am, it was certainly not my expectation to make a living through From Nana With Love or my Yoga Instruction which is the other love of my life. I do still hope however, that my handiwork will bring some enjoyment to others. Om Shanti..................God's Peace,
Nana
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The concept of
From
Nana With Love originated as grandchildren entered my life.
Although I have always enjoyed being creative, it came naturally and I think in my younger years,
while being too busy with the pressures of everyday life, I
took my skills for granted. In the midst of raising 2 beautiful daughters there
was always something that called for a creative eye from costumes to school
projects. My work in a Nursery School and later in a Rehabilitation Center
required a creative mindset as well so what to me was so natural proved to be a
highly recognized skill in the workplace.
I love my daughters
with all my heart and soul. They are without a doubt the loves of my life.
They are my most successful and significant accomplishments and their happiness
brings me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. They are fortunate in that
their husbands are their best friends, so whenever I see their families
together, I feel a sense a great pride. Still, I had heard over the years
that there is nothing that compares to being a grandparent. I understand
that now and I wholeheartedly agree. There is more than love I feel when I am with
my grandchildren and great grandchildren. When I think about them, as I've watch them grow or when I cared
for them over the years, I have felt my heart grow along with them. I have
thought it is probably the age factor or perhaps having time with them without
the daily pressures young families experience, and maybe it is a combination of
experience and age. I would watch any one of them as they played, as they
discovered new skills, as they succeeded at something or even if they failed and
I would be overwhelmed with emotions. Whatever the case, and regardless of
their age, I simply found
an appreciation of the miracle of their being. 
openness, their honesty
and their trust - trust in those they love and the world in general. I
found their
innocence enlightening and uplifting. Wouldn't it be wonderful to capture
that for a lifetime? Watching them as young adults in various sporting
events brings such pride in their accomplishments and even watching their
struggles brings an appreciation of their strength and willingness to keep
trying. Our youngest has some special needs that have made his years quite
difficult but despite his problems he is a handsome happy young boy whose smile
warms my heart. I am just so very blessed by having all of them in my
life. 
towards
children again. Each grandchild has a Memory Box that I made for them
using significant pictures and items specific to who they are. As the
years pass, I have given and will continue to give them mementos that I hope
will keep me in their thoughts. My goal is to give each great grandchild a
Memory Box as well, as long as it is possible for me to make them.
