Great-grandmother Mary Kerner was recently treated to a visit by her granddaughter Kandace King and her three children at the Dickinson CountryHouse residences.
It was an opportunity to talk about days gone by and to see how much the twins, Kendra and Colton, have grown since the last visit. King's daughter, Regan, is a second grader at Lincoln Elementary School, while the twins turn 5 months old this coming week.
"It's fun to see how much they change every day," said Mary.
Kandace has a favorite memory of visiting her grandmother.
"...baking sugar cookies," she said. "We played card games and board games.
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"She loved to help bake cookies," added Mary.
Mary and her husband, Val Kerner, farmed in the Versippi area until moving to Dickinson years ago.
While holding one of the twins, Mary said she didn't have any advice on rearing children.
"She knows enough," she said.
The King family hopes to return to CountryHouse for the celebration of Grandparents Day today.
The following Grandparents Day activities are planned for Dickinson:
E CountryHouse is having a bake sale and lemonade stand from 1-4 p.m. in the parking lot at 628 24th St. W., Dickinson. All proceeds benefit the North Dakota Alzheimer's Association.
The Dickinson Fire Department also is providing a fire truck and live fire safety demonstrations during the activity.
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E Evergreen is having a get-together with numerous activities from 2-4 p.m. The activities include karoke, making bracelets and a T-shirt give-away.
E St. Luke's Home is having a Grandparents Day Celebration from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Cheese cake and coffee are being served. Wanda Bonicelli is providing entertainment with accordion and piano. The activity is for all residents, their families and friends.
E St. Benedict's Health Care Center is hosting Leo and Diane Sand with old-time music from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Cake and coffee are being served.
"We want to encourage grandkids of our residents to come in. It's an opportunity to share one more special day with their loved ones," said activities director Bonnie Goldsberry.
On a Grandparents Day Web site, the day was described as an opportunity for grandparents and grandchildren to show their love for one another. It helps children become aware of the information and guidance older people can offer. Many times, only grandparents have knowledge or answers to questions about family histories. When this information is passed down to the grandchildren, everyone can be assured this heritage is being preserved.
Families may hold small private gatherings or create story-telling time, allowing grandparents to relate stories of their past. An important part of such gatherings should include an update of family albums. Names and dates should be put on old photos.
A campaign to establish Grandparents Day was headed by West Virginian Marian McQuade, mother of 15 children. Sen. Jennings Randolph (D-W.V.) introduced the resolution to the United States Senate in 1973.
Five years after its inception, Congress passed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day.
