And then there are the ones that make you think, Oh my goodness…am I really going to ask this? 😉❣️

Taking my granddaughter Tyla Lu to Italy was definitely one of those!

Tyla was about to celebrate a very special milestone—becoming a teenager on July 4th 🤩 during the year of our great country’s 250th anniversary. 🇺🇸❣️ And I kept thinking about what an incredible gift it would be to mark this time in her life with something she might remember forever.

Not another present.

An adventure.

And not just any adventure.

Italy! 🇮🇹❣️

Great Auntie Shawna & Blue had been my amazing tour guides on my trip to Italy the year before, and now an idea was beginning to take shape. What if Tyla came with us this time? Great Auntie Shawna, cousin Blue, Tyla Lu, and GiGi.

Four girls.

Suitcases.

Passports.

Italy.

Oh my goodness! This could be quite the Italy Girls Adventure! 🇮🇹❣️



But first, of course, GiGi had to ask Mom and Dad.

I told them that I believed this could be so much more than simply a fun vacation for Tyla. It could be an opportunity for her to experience history, culture, art, food, faith, and another part of the world in a way no classroom could ever quite duplicate.

I also wanted them to know something even more important.

Their daughter would be my first priority.

I promised that we would stay together, that everything would be carefully planned, that I would keep them updated, and that I would honor whatever expectations they wanted us to follow.

And then I waited for their answer.

When it came, I could hardly believe it.

“Tyla is good to go!”

They told me how excited they were for her to have such an amazing adventure. They immediately started talking about passports, documents, and all those important details that suddenly make a dream feel very real.

But tucked inside their message was something that meant even more to me.

They admitted that allowing their daughter to travel so far away from them was very tough.

And then came the words that touched my GiGi heart:

“We trust you very much.”

That meant everything to me.

They were entrusting me with one of the most precious people in their lives, and I knew exactly what a privilege—and responsibility—that was.

Tyla and I had already talked about the expectations. We would stay together. We would look out for one another. We would make good choices.

And, of course, we would have FUN!

The answer was officially YES.

Tyla Lu was going to Italy with GiGi! 🇮🇹❣️

But a GiGi Adventure this big doesn’t begin when the airplane takes off.

Oh no.

The adventure begins the moment you start dreaming about it together.

And we had a whole lot of dreaming, planning, dinners, lunches, packing, shopping and anticipation ahead of us before those four girls ever boarded that plane. ✈️ ❣️

Our Italy Girls Adventure had officially begun. 🇮🇹❣️

⸻

And ohhh did the dreaming begin in the most joyful ways!

Some of our very favorite planning nights were when we would all gather together and watch YouTube videos of the different hotels we would be staying in across Italy. 🇮🇹❣️ It made everything feel so real and exciting—like we were already walking through the lobbies, opening the windows, and imagining the views we would wake up to.



Capri 🇮🇹 ❣️

We would sit there together saying things like, “That’s OUR hotel!” and “Look at that view!” and the excitement just kept building and building.



Positano 🇮🇹❣️

Then one evening, we turned our planning into a full-on Italy fashion show! 💃✨





We put on fun runway music, rolled out our suitcases, and packed them like we were already leaving the next day. One by one, we modeled what we were planning to wear in Italy—twirling, laughing, and showing off our outfits like we were on a real runway. It was absolutely hilarious and so special at the same time. 🇮🇹❣️

Another beautiful memory was a special lunch we shared where each of us received matching travel surprises—shirts, bags, jewelry boxes, and shoes all coordinated for our Italy adventure. 🥰❣️ It felt like we were already part of a little travel team, getting ready to explore the world together in style and unity.

And yes…there was even a very special “beauty prep” moment too—Tyla Lu and I got our nails done especially for Italy! 💅🇮🇹❣️ It felt like one more little way to get ready for something magical, and we laughed the whole time imagining all the photos we would take with our “Italy-ready” hands and 💕





And then there was something very meaningful that tied both of our Italy trips together.

On my previous trip, I had found a book that I thought would be perfect for us to read during our travels. So on this trip, I wanted to do something similar for Tyla Lu.

At the airport, I went searching through a newsstand, hoping to find something special we could all share together on the journey.

And there it was.



A book I had never seen before… and sitting right there on the shelf were exactly four copies. 📚❣️

One for each of us.

It felt like one of those little “GiGi God moments” where everything just lines up perfectly.

It was perfect. 👌😍❣️

And just like that, our Italy Girls Adventure felt even more connected—four girls, four books, one unforgettable journey ahead. 🇮🇹❣️



GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
Proverbs 17:6❣️

When Tyla Lu and I first arrived in Italy, on the beautiful island of Capri, we were up early one morning and decided to head out and explore together. 🇮🇹❣️

We wandered toward the ocean along a little cobblestone trail, taking pictures and discovering hidden treasures along the way. We found an authentic Italian perfume shop, a beautiful flower garden, and even a museum to explore.

And then we happened upon something even better…

GELATO! 🍧❣️

There was a little gelato shop already open for business at that early morning hour, and Tyla LOVES gelato.

So, of course, we stopped!

Tyla ordered her favorite flavor—mango gelato. 🥭🍧

And that was pretty much the beginning of a new Italy tradition.

Gelato after lunch.

Gelato after dinner.

Gelato while exploring.

Gelato just because we happened to walk past a gelato shop.

And sometimes gelato simply because it seemed like the perfect way to end another wonderful day in Italy. 🍧🇮🇹❣️

Now, you should know that we were in Italy for 16 days.

That can add up to a LOT of gelato. 😂

But the very best gelato adventure happened on our last night in Italy.

Tyla and I were in our hotel room playing our nightly games of Gin and King on the Corner when we remembered that room service ended at 10:30.

It was about 9:00 when I looked over at Tyla and said,

“You know, I think we need to have some gelato on this, our final night in Italy.”

Of course, Tyla completely agreed! 😂❣️

So she called room service and ordered our favorite flavor at that hotel…

Strawberry gelato. 🍓🍧

It arrived, and it was DELICIOUS!

About 30 minutes later, I looked over at Tyla.

“You know…I think I might enjoy a vanilla gelato.”

Tyla agreed.

So she called room service AGAIN. 🥰❣️

Another handsome young Italian man arrived at our door carrying more gelato.

We ate that one too.

Then about 30 minutes later, I looked at Tyla again.

“Do you think we should try some OTHER flavors of gelato?”

Haha! 😂

Of course she agreed.

So Tyla called down AGAIN and asked what other flavors they had.

This time we decided on pistachio and lemon—because, after all, Italy is famous for its beautiful lemons! 🍋🇮🇹❣️

Those were yummy too!

By now it was about 10:25 p.m.

Room service ended at 10:30.

I looked at Tyla one more time.

“I really think we need to end our last night in Italy with our favorite strawberry gelato…but you need to call RIGHT NOW before room service closes!” 😂🍓🍧

So she called!

We got our final order in just in the nick of time.

And I must say, it was also pretty fun seeing each of those handsome young men arrive at our door carrying our gelato orders all evening. 🤩❣️

I don’t think they minded making so many trips to our room!

But our gelato story still wasn’t quite finished.

Since we were leaving early the next morning, we needed breakfast delivered before heading to the airport.

As Tyla filled out our breakfast order form, I had one final idea.

I said,

“Why don’t you just write at the bottom that we would really like some strawberry gelato with our breakfast?” 💕🍓🍧

And she DID!

Because really…

What better way could there possibly be to say goodbye to Italy?

💕🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧💕

GiGi’s Little Life Lesson

Life gives us plenty of days to follow the rules, watch the clock, eat our vegetables, and do all the things we are supposed to do.

But every once in a while, God gives us a moment that simply begs to be enjoyed.

So order the gelato.

Then maybe order another.

Try the pistachio.

Definitely try the lemon.

And if you are spending your last morning in Italy with your granddaughter…

Go ahead and order strawberry gelato for breakfast. 🍓🍧❣️

Because someday you probably won’t remember exactly what you ate for breakfast in Italy.

But you WILL remember sitting in a hotel room together, laughing until bedtime, playing cards, ordering way too much gelato, and making one of those wonderfully silly memories that becomes part of your family story forever.

💝 GiGi’s Faith Corner

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

—Psalm 118:24

I believe God wants us to notice and enjoy the sweet little gifts He places throughout our lives.

Sometimes they are big and important.

And sometimes they look a lot like a granddaughter, an Italian hotel room, a game of cards, lots of laughter…

and one more bowl of strawberry gelato. 🍓🍧💕

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever & LIKE You for Always❣️

Proverbs 17:6 💝

Not someone remembered for what she accomplished, but for how she loved.

May my Grands always know they have a GiGi who delights in them, points them to Jesus, and reminds them that they are treasured beyond measure.

That is a beautiful life.

In fact…just last week we had our TnT 🧨 (Treyton & Tyla) Dynamite Grands with us in McCall for an entire week of adventures. There is just something so special about having your Grands all to yourself for a few days. The laughter seems louder…the hugs seem tighter…and every little moment becomes another memory tucked away in GiGi’s heart. 🥹💝

All week long Grumpa was busy in his shop creating wonderful treasures on his 3D printer just for the Grands to play with and take home. 🤩❣️

The favorites were definitely the little octopus 🐙, dragons 🐉, snakes 🐍 and of course…dinosaurs! 🦖

Treyton especially loved playing dinosaurs with GiGi…and every once in awhile we could even convince Grumpa to join in for a little dinosaur adventure too. 😉❣️

Every morning started much the same way.

We would do our morning routines and then sit down together for one of Grumpa’s gourmet breakfasts. 🍳🥓🥞☕

Soon enough someone would always say…

“Hey…it’s time for our morning walk…or bike ride…to the Grumpa Tree!” 🌲❣️

And off we’d go.

I don’t know if it was the walk…the bike ride…or simply being together that made those mornings so special.

Maybe it was all three. 💝

During the week we filled every day with adventures.

One day we rode the chairlift all the way to the top of the ski hill and looked out over God’s beautiful creation. 🚠⛰️❣️

Another day we spent the entire day on the lake making memories that will hopefully last a lifetime. 🚤💙

Of course there was delicious food too!

We enjoyed meals at Shore Lodge and My Father’s Place. They couldn’t be much more different from one another, but somehow they were both absolutely delicious.

Not because of the food…

But because of the people sitting around the table.

After all…

When you’re surrounded by the people you love, almost any meal becomes a feast. ❤️

Then, as always, it was time to head back home.

As we drove, we decided to take the Longest Way Home…because why rush when you’re making memories? 😍❣️

One of our favorite stops is at the 45th Parallel sign.

There we stood together…

Exactly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. 🌎❣️

Treyton could barely fathom how this could possibly be true.

His mind worked so hard trying to picture the whole Earth…

“How can we be halfway?” 🤔

Watching him try to understand this huge idea was almost as much fun as standing there ourselves. 😅❣️

Those are some of GiGi’s favorite moments…

When a simple roadside stop becomes a wonderful conversation about God’s amazing world.

Then came one of those moments I’ll never forget.

As we climbed back into the car I asked,

“Which way should we head home?”

Without hesitation it was a resounding…

“Let’s take the Longest Way Home, GiGi!” 👍❣️

Oh my heart. 🥹💝

I don’t think they were really talking about the road.

I think they were talking about the adventure.

Because sometimes the very best part of life isn’t getting somewhere quickly…

It’s slowing down enough to notice God’s beautiful world…

Playing dinosaurs…

Walking to the Grumpa Tree…

Riding chairlifts…

Boating on the lake…

Sharing meals together…

Stopping at interesting places…

Asking big questions…

Laughing until your cheeks hurt…

And simply enjoying the people God has given you to love.

That’s what GiGi hopes these trips will always teach my precious Grands.

Life isn’t meant to be rushed.

Sometimes the sweetest memories are found on…

The Longest Way Home. 🚗💝🌲

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever & LIKE You for Always,

Proverbs 17:6 💝

Genesis 1:27❣️

I Will Ask for Your Help in All things at All times 😉❣️

John 14:16❣️

I Will be the Righteousness of God IN Christ by Conforming to Your Will for me IN Thought Word & Deed🙌🙏❣️

Romans 10:3-4❣️

Have a great weekend 😍❣️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18❣️

Holding one of his favorites, he asked, “GiGi, did this dinosaur ever really exist?”

I’ll admit…I didn’t know!

So together we looked it up. Sure enough, this spiky creature—the Kentrosaurus—actually walked the earth about 150 million years ago. It wasn’t something someone imagined. God created it!

The more I thought about it, the more I smiled.

Children are naturally curious. They ask questions that adults often stop asking. And when we don’t know the answer, we get the opportunity to discover something together.

Being a GiGi isn’t about always having the answers. Sometimes it’s simply saying,

“Let’s find out together.”

As we were playing dinosaurs, Treyton quietly said something that tugged at my heart.

“GiGi…I asked Grumpa to play, but he didn’t want to. He just sat there.”

I could tell he was disappointed.

Later that day, Treyton and I watched a little video of our dinosaur adventure. As we watched, something wonderful dawned on both of us.

Maybe Grumpa isn’t really a player…

Maybe Grumpa is a builder.

God has gifted Grumpa with the incredible ability to build things that most people only dream about. Over the years, he’s built beautiful cars, cabins, self-storage facilities, and countless other amazing projects. He sees possibilities where others see empty space. Creating and building is how God wired him.

That’s his playground.

And suddenly Treyton smiled.

“Grumpa plays in his own way.”

Exactly.

What a beautiful reminder that not everyone shows love the same way. Some of us build forts with blocks. Others build businesses. Some play on the floor with dinosaurs. Others build a life that gives their family a place to gather and make memories.

Neither is better.

They’re simply different gifts from the same Creator.

Today, a little dinosaur reminded me that learning never gets old. Wonder never has an age limit. And sometimes our greatest discoveries aren’t about dinosaurs at all—they’re about understanding the people we love a little better.

One little dinosaur…

One thoughtful grandson…

One wise Grumpa…

One joyful GiGi…

…and one lesson we’ll remember for a very long time.

What unique gift has someone in your family been given? Sometimes when we understand how God designed each other, we discover a whole new way to appreciate those we love.

💝 GiGi Will L💝ve You Forever & Like You for Always,

Proverbs 17:6

I Will Pursue Goodness & Kindness today in an Active Way👍❣️

John 13:35❣️

You are the Source of ALL Truth and I Know this is Your Will for me today😉❣️

2 Corinthians 13:8❣️

Let me be more like You today😇❣️

Mark 9:23❣️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
Proverbs 17:6

If I had to match these facial features to a dog, I’d say a Beagle puppy.

Why:

• Bright, cheerful smile — Beagles always look like they’re in on the fun, just like this expression

• Slightly rounded cheeks + expressive eyes — gives that friendly, approachable, “come play with me” vibe

• Playful, upbeat energy — the thumbs-up pose totally matches a Beagle’s enthusiastic, social personality

There’s a real sense of joy + curiosity + confidence here, which is classic Beagle energy 🐶

That’s a cute question 😊 — and what an adorable little one!

If I had to pick a dog resemblance purely based on facial features, I’d say something like a French Bulldog puppy.

Why:

• Big, round, expressive eyes — very similar to how Frenchie puppies look at you with that slightly serious, soulful expression

• Soft, rounded cheeks and face shape — gives that same “squishy” baby/pup look

• Calm, slightly serious expression — like they’re quietly observing everything going on around them

It’s that mix of sweet + thoughtful + a little bit serious that gives off the French Bulldog vibe 🐶

That’s a fun question 😊 — I can definitely see a few dog breeds that his features remind me of (not a perfect match, just similar vibes):

That’s a fun question 😊 — I can definitely see a few dog breeds that his features remind me of (not a perfect match, just similar vibes):

🐶 1. Golden Retriever (puppy)

Why:

• Warm, friendly expression

• Soft eyes with a kind, approachable look

• Slight smile that feels relaxed and happy

👉 He gives off that same “easygoing, everyone’s friend” energy.

🐶 2. Labrador Retriever

Why:

• Open, confident face

• Balanced features (nothing too sharp or exaggerated)

• Calm but playful look

👉 Labs have that “trustworthy and outdoorsy” feel—very similar here, especially sitting in nature.

🐶 3. Border Collie (softer expression type)

Why:

• Bright, attentive eyes

• Slight tilt of the head gives a thoughtful look

• Alert but gentle presence

👉 That mix of intelligence + sweetness comes through.

🐶 Overall vibe

He has a friendly, outdoorsy, kind-hearted look—the kind of face you’d associate with loyal, smart, and approachable dogs rather than intense or aggressive breeds.

Fun one again 😊 — this face gives a slightly different vibe than the last, a little more intense + expressive, so here are the closest dog “lookalike vibes” I see:

🐶 1. Siberian Husky (softer expression type)

Why:

• Strong, focused eyes that feel a bit intense

• Slight squint from the sun gives that classic Husky “what are you thinking?” look

• A mix of independence + curiosity

👉 Huskies often have that expressive, almost human-like look.

🐶 2. Australian Shepherd

Why:

• Bright, alert gaze

• Lively, outdoorsy energy

• A bit of a “thinking” or questioning expression

👉 Aussies always look like they’re processing everything around them—very similar feel here.

🐶 3. Collie (especially Rough Collie)

Why:

• Longer facial lines and softer features

• Gentle but slightly serious expression

• A calm, observant presence

👉 That mix of softness + awareness really matches.

🐶 Overall vibe

This one leans more toward:

✨ Smart, observant, a little serious, and very expressive

Less “goofy friendly lab” and more “I’m watching everything and thinking about it” energy.

This one has such a playful, mischievous, and bright look 😄 — here are the closest dog “vibes” I see:

🐶 1. Jack Russell Terrier

Why:

• Sparkly, alert eyes

• Slight smirk = playful troublemaker energy

• Compact, expressive face

👉 Jack Russells always look like they’re about to say, “Wanna see something funny?”

🐶 2. Beagle

Why:

• Warm, friendly expression

• Soft features with a happy, approachable vibe

• A little bit of curiosity mixed with sweetness

👉 Beagles have that “I’m sweet… but also curious about everything” look.

🐶 3. Boston Terrier

Why:

• Bright, animated eyes

• Fun, slightly cheeky expression

• Social, people-loving energy

👉 That little grin totally matches Boston Terrier personality.

🐶 Overall vibe

✨ Playful + curious + a little mischievous + super lovable

This one feels like the kind of kid (and dog!) who:

• Asks a lot of questions

• Has a great sense of humor

• Keeps everyone entertained

If I had to pick just one?

👉 Jack Russell Terrier energy all the way 🐕

Such a fun way to talk about Grands personality types and watch them giggle and laugh about what dog they might look like and act like 👍 ❣️

It’s all about helping Grands to Be the Person God Created them to Be in fun and lasting ways😉❣️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,

Proverbs 17:6❣️

One thing we always try to do each year is spend Spring Break with our Grands and their parents ❣️

Most years we head to Palm Springs with our 5th wheel and get the parents a hotel room nearby while the Grands stay with us. Those are some of our sweetest memories…little pajamas running through the RV, late night snacks, golf cart rides, sunshine, swimming pools, and endless stories before bedtime 💝

But this year we decided to change things up a little 😉⚾️❣️

Because of our Grand Cruzie’s great love for baseball, we packed everyone up and headed to Phoenix, Arizona for Spring Training ⚾️☀️❣️

And honestly…there may not be anyone in our family who currently loves baseball more than Mister Cruzie ⚾️❣️

Have you ever watched a child fall completely in love with something?

That is Cruzie and baseball.

He is only 9 years old and already pitches curveballs, which I am told is pretty unusual for someone his age ⚾️❣️ He practices almost every day after school for about two hours and on weekends too. But the cutest part is not even how talented he is…

It is how much he truly LOVES the game 💝

He knows current players, old players, statistics, teams, and random baseball trivia that leaves all of us laughing in amazement 😂⚾️❣️

His favorite teams are the Mariners, the Padres, and of course…the Dodgers 😉⚾️❣️

Next weekend he even gets to go to a Mariners game, and I think he may already be counting down the hours 🤩❣️

One of my favorite things is watching him pitch.

His teammates all cheer him on from the field when he is on the mound and he very consistently pitches “3 up and 3 out.” It is honestly amazing to watch such confidence and focus in someone so little ⚾️❣️

But even more than that…

I love all his little baseball rituals 😂❣️

He digs his toe into the dirt…
licks his fingers…
adjusts his hat…
winds up dramatically…
and swings his leg at the very end of the pitch like he is already pitching in the major leagues 🤩⚾️❣️

At least he doesn’t take after his Dad 😂

When Marshall played T-Ball as a little boy he would get so bored in the outfield that he would literally SIT DOWN and eat grass 🌱😂❣️

Now before you judge him too harshly…

I may have taught both my kids how to slowly pull the grass out and only eat the tender white part by sliding it through your teeth 😳😂❣️

And honestly…grass whistles were always pretty entertaining too 👍😉⚾️❣️

Watching Cruzie love baseball so deeply also makes me think of my Mom, Great Grandma Gini 💝

She and her Dad both absolutely loved baseball ⚾️

Sometimes while watching Cruzie on the pitcher’s mound I catch myself wishing they were still here to see this sweet little Grand who inherited that same love for the game ❣️

There is just something beautiful about seeing pieces of the generations before us living on inside the generations after us 💝⚾️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18



When I was between the ages of 5–8 years old, my Grandma Allen lived straight down the road—just four stop signs from my house 🏠

Every Friday afternoon, I would rush home from school and call my grandma to ask if I could spend the night.

My call would go something like this…

Dial 342-0824 ☎️
“Hello Grandma… can you call my mom and ask if I can come spend the night tonight? Can you call her right now? Ok!”

Then I would wait…

And if the answer was yes—I would jump on my purple Huffy bike (with the white banana seat my Grandpa Crowell made for me) and pedal down past those four stop signs straight to Grandma’s house 💜

When I got there, she would be waiting in the kitchen, and we would plan our time together.

I don’t ever remember my grandma saying I couldn’t come.

And I don’t remember us ever doing something that wasn’t what I wanted to do.

It was a time in my life where I felt:
I was important
I was smart
I had good ideas

And I was completely and unconditionally loved by my Grandma Allen 💛

Grandma Allen was very crafty and always had a project going.

She was also incredibly talented—she played the piano, organ, and accordion… and she was a wonderful whistler 😊

She had many nicknames—Birdie, Mammie, Kitty—and her given name was Verla Marie ❣️

She was my friend.

And through her words and actions, she showed me what Jesus’s unconditional love looks like.

Every time we were together, we would make little crafts for me to take home and share with my family.

We would also go shopping in her little black-and-white convertible Metropolitan car.

She would let me pull the choke to start the engine, and we would each wear a beautiful scarf to keep our hair from getting windblown.

And the best part?

We never, ever had to stop for gas ⛽️

Because Grandma would say…

“This car doesn’t need gas—it runs on love 💝”

One afternoon, we were out shopping a little later than usual.

When Grandma noticed the time, she said,
“Oh dear—we need to head home and make Grandpa his lunch.”

To which I said…
“Can’t he just make his own lunch today? We’re not done shopping!”

Grandma smiled and said,
“Oh no… I like to make his lunch for him.”

So I tried again…
“Could we just get him something and bring it home?”

She said,
“No… I like his lunch to be hot for him to enjoy at home.”

Still determined, I said…
“Ok… can we go home, make his lunch, and then come back shopping?”

And she gently replied…
“No… I think we need to be done shopping for today so we can go home and make Grandpa lunch.”

As you can probably tell… I was trying every angle known to a 7-year-old 😄

But the lesson I learned that day has stayed with me my entire life:

The people you love are more important than anything you are doing.

And it’s important to know what they like, how they like it…
and then do those things for them—no matter what you would rather be doing.

So thank you, Grandma Allen, for teaching me:

That I am worthy of being loved 💛
That I have good ideas and can create beautiful things to share that love
That people are the most important part of life

Near the end of her 100.4 years of life, she said something to me I will never forget…

“You know Kathy… I wake up each morning and say to Jesus—
Oh dear Lord, I guess I am here for another day…
So I will go about my business, and if You want me to do anything for You, just let me know—and I will be ready.” 🥰❣️

And that… is the story—and the heart—of how I learned to be, at least for me…

“The BEST GiGi Ever”🧡

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18❣️

Welcome to Joyful Gigi Adventures❣️—a place where I share real-life adventures with Grumpa and our Grands❣️

I hope you will find Joyful GiGi Adventures to be a Heartwarming space where Grumpa and I share real-life adventures with our Grands-full of Laughter, Faith, Family and the Simple Joys of making memories together. When I became a grandma, everything changed. I didn’t just want to be part of my grandkids’ lives—I wanted to be present in the everyday moments. The travel, the laughter, the simple memories that end up meaning the most❣️

Here you’ll find stories, ideas, and little glimpses into our life together—This is a place for grandparents, parents and anyone who Believes in Living a Joyful, Intentional Life can share and get ideas for Making Memories that last a Lifetime.

I’m so glad you’re here🧡❣️🧡

If you ask any one of my grands what their favorite bedtime story is… it’s not a book.

It’s the story of how Gigi met Grumpa 💛

No matter how many times I’ve told it—and trust me, it’s been a lot—they still ask for it every single time they spend the night. Even my oldest, now 12, still says, “Gigi…tell us your story.”

So I thought…what better way to introduce myself than to share the very story that means the most to our family.

This is the story of how it all began…

When I was in junior high, I used to ride the bus to school. I would ride all the way to the end of the line, and every morning there was this boy…

He would come running out of his house, jump over the hedge, run across the street, and hop on the bus—then go sit right next to the most popular girl in the whole school.

They would laugh and giggle and tease each other all the way to school.

And me? I would always hope he would sit somewhere in front of me… so I could watch his wet hair bounce and flow as the bus traveled along 😊

One day I had to go to the library at school, and there he was—sitting at a desk reading the paper.

As I walked by, he looked up and said,
“What are you doing in here?”

I put my hand on the desk, looked right at him, and said—
“I came in here just to see you!!!”

And just like that… he was gone.

(I always stop right here when I tell my grands and say—I have NO idea why I said that! I was not that kind of girl at all! Heehee 😊)

A couple of days later, I was walking across our driveway when a big green muscle car pulled in.

There was a girl driving—and that same boy sitting in the passenger seat.

He rolled down the window and said, “Hi.”

I said, “Hi.”

Then he said, “There’s a Borah High School dance on Friday… would you want to go with me? We could double date with your friend Julie and my cousin Terry.”

I said, “I’ll have to check with my mom.”

So I went inside and found my mom downstairs ironing.

“Mom… there’s a boy outside asking if I can go to a dance with him Friday night.”

She looked at me and said,
“Well… you have to start sometime.”

So I went back upstairs, stood there with my hand on the door handle, trying to decide what to say…

And finally I went outside and said,
“Sure… that sounds fun 🤩”

He smiled and said, “Great—we’ll pick you up at 7:00.”

Friday night came, and I’ll be honest… I was a little disappointed.

He showed up wearing his big clodhoppers and his hash jeans 😄

So when we got to the dance, he couldn’t really dance in those big boots! We mostly sat in the bleachers watching everyone else.

But… we did share a few slow dances 💛

At the end of the night, he opened the car door for me and gave me a little kiss…

It was the most tickly kiss I had ever had (more on that another time… Ha! 😄)

On the way home, my friend Julie suddenly announced,
“I don’t want to ride—I want to walk!”

Since she was staying the night at my house… I had to walk too.

So there we were, walking home in the dark—while the boys followed us in the car, shining their headlights so we could see our way.

The next day was Saturday, and then Sunday after church, the phone rang.

It was him.

He said,
“I’m going to the elementary school to fly a kite today… do you want to come?”

I said yes, jumped on my bike, and met him there.

We spent the whole afternoon flying kites 🪁

Around 5:00, Great Grandma Gini drove by and called out,
“It’s time for dinner! You have homework—it’s a school night! Time to come home!”

The next morning, I got on the bus… rode all the way to the end…

And there he was.

Running out the door.
Jumping the hedge.
Crossing the street.

But this time…

He got on the bus…

And sat by me.

I wasn’t sure what he would do. We were only in junior high, and we had gone to a high school dance… maybe he didn’t want anyone to know.

But the whole bus started whispering—

“Why is Scott sitting by Kathy?”
“Why is Scott sitting by Kathy?”

We just sat there… looking out the window… smiling… not saying a word 😊

Later that day, I was at my locker when one of my friends came up and said,
“Scott Weber is standing right behind you.”

I was so nervous to turn around.

But finally, I closed my locker and turned…

He smiled and said,
“Hi.”

I said, “Hi.”

Then he said,
“Can I take your books and walk you to class?”

I said yes.

And as we walked down the hallway… he reached over and took my hand.

Everyone stopped.

Everyone stared.

And all you could hear was whispering—

“Are Scott Weber and Kathy Allen a couple?”
“Are Scott Weber and Kathy Allen a couple?”

And that… was the beginning of that 🥰❣️

This February 12th marks 48 years since our very first date 😎😍❣️

And now, our greatest joy is the life and memories we’re building with our grands—one joyful adventure at a time 💛

~ GiGi Will L💝ve You Forever, Like You for Always,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I’ve always believed that the very first grandchild should have the honor of naming their grandma. So I waited patiently for my first grand—who just so happens to have been born on the 4th of July 🧨 (I always tell her she is my little firecracker 🎆❣️).

As my grands and I travel together—especially on our trips up the canyon to McCall, Idaho where Grumpa lives (about 2 hours from Boise…more on that later 😉)—we love to sing songs, play 21 Questions, and I Spy.

One of my favorite things to do is sing Jesus Loves Me with them… but instead of “me,” I put in each grand’s name.

It goes like this—

Jesus loves Tyla, this I know ❣️
For the Bible tells me so ❣️
Little ones to Him belong ❣️
They are weak, but He is strong 💪❣️

Yes, Jesus loves Tyla ❣️
Yes, Jesus loves Tyla ❣️
Yes, Jesus loves Tyla ❣️
The Bible tells me so ❣️

But what she heard was something a little different…

“Gigi loves Tyla, this I know ❣️”

And from that moment on…
I became Gigi—the joyful lover of my grands ❣️

And this blog is where I’ll share all of our joyful adventures ❣️

~ GiGi Will L💝ve You Forever, Like You for Always

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18