Show Grandma and Grandpa Some Love!

They often spoil us and sometimes they scold us, but the love of a grandparent is always special.

Their stories of the days of old bring our family history to life. Their recipes are tried and true and, hopefully, tasty. Plus they become trusted, free babysitters!

Now it's time to return some of that love. This Sunday, Sept. 9, marks National Grandparents Day, the perfect time to let grandma and grandpa know just how special they are to you.

According to the National Grandparents Day website:

"The impetus for a National Grandparents Day originated with Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County, West Virginia. Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide. President Jimmy Carter, in 1978, proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day."

You can see my grandparents in our gallery above.

The first photo is of my maternal grandparents, Dot and Charles Smith. My grandmother worked a full-time job and raised my mother alone until she and Charles got married in 1958. When my father was gone to Vietnam in the early 70s, my grandparents helped raise me while my mother worked.

My grandmother Dot passed away in 2002 following a stroke and I still miss her almost every day. My grandfather Charles lives in North Carolina.

The second photo is of my paternal grandparents, Lucy and Toby Craft. They will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on December 24th this year. My grandfather Toby golfs nearly every day, and my grandmother Lucy stays involved with church and several other social activities.

What wisdom have you learned from your grandparents? How have they enriched your life and the life of your children? Got a great pic of them? Share it all here and let all of our grandparents know that, well, no one's better than them.