Overhearing a Conversation Made Me Almost Cry
By MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
United States
December 10, 2016 8:33am CST
After reading a post from @ramapo17 about The Greatest Christmas Gift where she is going to surprise her grandsons and daughter for Christmas with a visit. I'm sure her family will be thrilled to have her visit for the holidays especially her grandson that misses her terribly.
This gave me an idea after overhearing a conversation my granddaughter had with my daughter last time she was here. When they used to visit I would cook a big meal and her favorite was always spaghetti and meatballs. However, since we don't live close anymore when we visit it's usually take out, pizza or something simple.
Well, my granddaughter told my daughter that she guesses that she'll never ever have my meatballs ever again (she's 12). When I heard this I felt terrible and realized how lazy I've become and how something so simple could mean so much to her.
So, I went to the store, got all the stuff I needed and made a whole batch of meatballs and put the in the freezer.
When she comes on Christmas I'm going to surprise her with her very own batch of my "special" meatballs. She asked me once when she was younger what my special ingredient was that made them so good and I told her I pack them full of love 
(I really don't have anything special that I do)
This makes my heart happy and I'm hoping she'll be smiling when she gets her meatballs.
It's true what they say....giving is better than receiving
(I really don't have anything special that I do)
This makes my heart happy and I'm hoping she'll be smiling when she gets her meatballs.
It's true what they say....giving is better than receiving31 people like this
36 responses
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
10 Dec 16
I love that. So thoughtful. It's so important to take those mental notes about what's important to people. Sometimes it's the "little" things that are really the biggest. The things that come from the heart. She is going to love that! I'm glad you get Christmas with her.
5 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
I never in a million years would have thought my meatballs were anything special especially since her mom is a far better cook than I am. But, I guess since she was very young she always associated me with meatballs LOL
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
We're passing along memories we don't even realize that we are
3 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
10 Dec 16
@Marilynda1225 It is amazing the things kids remember. We adults should take lessons from the younger kids.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
10 Dec 16
AWH - how special...those meatballs will bring smiles to her face and yours!
4 people like this
@1creekgirl (40396)
• United States
10 Dec 16
Your post almost made ME cry! It really is the little things that we remember as special in our lives. I'm sure your granddaughter will be very happy.
4 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
I"m sure she's going to be very excited but I'll have to have her sneak them out of the house since I only made a batch for her and not any of the other grandchildren.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40396)
• United States
11 Dec 16
@Marilynda1225 She'sprobably a good not-teller!
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
Thanks Dianne. I accept your compliment to the chef
3 people like this
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
10 Dec 16
@Marilynda1225 You're welcome. Please send me a few meatballs in an envelope. Lol!
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
10 Dec 16
That special Grandma ingredient can't be duplicated! I used to love Grandma's mashed potatoes and found out years later that they were instant. She put a little sour cream in them but otherwise they were "nothing special". She used to make Franco American Spaghetti from the can and mix it with old hamburger (we were all really poor!) for us kids and it was the best thing on earth. I've never been able to exactly duplicate it! It was love that made it special and I know you can give her a lot of that.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
Isn't it funny how something like your grandmas mashed potatoes and her Franco American spaghetti dish is what comes to mind when you think of her. I always thought my grandma was the greatest cook on earth but I guess it was all the "love" she put in it that made it all taste so good.
2 people like this
!@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
Shhh don't tell what my secret ingredient is 
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Dec 16
Oh goodness reading this made me tear up! I hope your grand daughter enjoys the meatballs you make for her, I'm sure she will. We don't realize at times that the smallest of things can make children so happy!
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
This was certainly a heart-breaker for me Jen as I didn't know how much something so simple could be so important. I guess it's my job to keep traditions going so my grandchildren can pass them on
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
11 Dec 16
@LovingMyBabies , I guess your kids too,like meatballs.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 Dec 16
@Marilynda1225 Don't forget, it is not the meatball that makes this so special but that you made them for her and brought back those happy memories
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
10 Dec 16
my siblings and nieces also remember dishes my mother cooked and ask for recipes or request it when they visit.
i hope your granddaughter can bring some to take home, too.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
11 Dec 16
the meatballs I made are for her to take home. It's her own special batch and she doesn't have to share if she doesn't want to lol
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
12 Dec 16
@Marilynda1225 i would probably eat it one at a time to make it last for days! 
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
My house is small so it wasn't hard to overhear her conversation or maybe an angel told me to listen so I could play Santa and make her happy
3 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
10 Dec 16
That will be a wonderful gift. I've made meals for the kids that they remember from their childhood. Things I've long forgotten. When my father was living with us, I made the odd Dutch meal...really simple meal.....his face would light up.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
I guess we're all noted for some special dish that our family enjoys. I guess meatballs are mine even though I haven't made them in awhile (well for a large gathering anyway)
4 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
10 Dec 16
You are going to make our end your girl very very happy. I teared up reading this. It's the simple things to life that mean so much.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
10 Dec 16
things that mean the most to others are sometimes overlooked by us as being silly. I never would have thought meatballs would have been so important to her
3 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
13 Dec 16
@Marilynda1225 It is because there is nobody who makes them the way that you do.
@LeaPea2417 (36392)
• Toccoa, Georgia
11 Dec 16
I am sure she will be very happy & enjoying eating them when she comes to see you.
3 people like this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
10 Dec 16
amen to that i agree giving is better and watching there reaction when they open there gift
3 people like this
@jyotiu28jul (403)
•
11 Dec 16
Wow...reading ur write up and the one inspired you to write the same made me feel nostalgic...Wish my son's grand parents could visit him...He misses them too much.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79571)
• United States
11 Dec 16
Sometimes us as grandparents don't realize how much our grandchildren enjoy us and miss us when we're not around
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 Dec 16
I am the one that wrote the original post. We never realize what kids really care about until one day it jumps out at us. We are so excited about flying up north to see them
@jyotiu28jul (403)
•
11 Dec 16
@Marilynda1225 ..somtimes i feel going away for for better option of job is not worth leaving your family
1 person likes this
@MarchBorn (17)
•
10 Dec 16
This is such a warm, cute piece of note.... :) It's amazing how people express their love in the most simple yet heartwarming ways!!
3 people like this
