We all need time to pause and focus our attention on what matters. This week is providing us time to do just that.

Last week we had an amazing time with our son, daughter-in-love and our four grandchildren in Tennessee. It’s sad to realize we hadn’t been together since Thanksgiving, but it makes the time we do have together precious.

The first four days our son took his bride away to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary. We were officially on Papa and Nana Duty. Actually it was more delight than duty.

As retirees, we have discovered this is one of the best parts of this season of life—being available to help your grown kids as needed.

We did all the things: went swimming, cooked good food, baked cookies, hunted rolly pollys, played XBox Golf, went Good Will hunting and took our oldest granddaughter birthday shopping. She will turn 17 tomorrow.

But the most time consuming of all was completing this 750 piece jigsaw puzzle:

When their parents returned we made them a special anniversary dinner of Beef Short Ribs with buttery mashed potatoes and southern green beans. It was fun to make a big deal of their marriage in front of their kids.

One day we visited our son at his work. He loves his job so much, it isn’t work to him. He lives the quote:

Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!

We toured the new event center and couldn’t believe how beautiful it is.

But our favorite of the day was getting to meet two of the personalities with Ramsey Solutions who happened to be hosting the radio show that day, John Delony and Jade Warsaw. Jason took us in to the recording studio during a break in the show to have our books signed.

We ended our week doing one of our favorites together—visiting an historic home that was the center of the Battle of Franklin during the Civil War. On November 30, 1864, the Carter House became infamously known for the bloody battle that ensued late in the afternoon.

Our guide was a retired history teacher and shared the events of this day as if he had been an eyewitness. There was a moment when the tour ended that he led us to a small white building. He had us stand in front of the closed door. Then he opened it and stepped aside. What we saw left us speechless.

We spent a bit more time reading the marquees all over the property which described the events at each spot.

It was quite the tour and one we highly recommend if you ever go to Franklin, TN.

It’s always hard to say goodbye to our family who live far away. But seeing them thrive in such an area rich with history, blesses us to no end.

Until next time…