Mel Feller Explains Why Your Grandpa Should Be Your Best Friend by Mel Feller

Mel Feller Explains Why Your Grandpa Should Be Your Best Friend by Mel Feller

When thinking about the men in your life, it is easily possible to forget your grandpa. He is the man that sits back and watches you on your journey for success and brags about how awesome you are. Grandpas are the best because they only see the good in you. Grandpas do not hand out the punishments or even know that you are not an angle all the time, contrary to their belief. I hope everyone is lucky enough to have a grandpa like mine.

He wants to hear from me.

He gets excited to see me and turns the TV off just when I stop by to drop something off. He is so concerned with what I am doing because he wants to hear all about my successes. He answers my calls and listens thoroughly. It feels so good to know that there is a person who waits for my call.

He is old fashioned.

He says thank you, he holds doors, and he treats women with respect. Most grandpas are old fashioned and would not have it any other way. My grandpa treats my grandmother like a queen and I want nothing more than for a man to do the same for me some day.

He is independent.

He does not look for attention. He tries too hard to do things without asking people for help. On the other side, he is the first person to jump in and help others. When he was in the hospital after back surgery, my mom stayed with him to help him out. He would have never asked her to do that and he would not have complained if no one stayed with him. I adore him for his ability to be independent.

He is kind, funny, and skillful.

My grandpa is a very skillful repairperson. When he fixes something or re models he always explains what he is doing and how/why. He is always going to make time to talk to you and he is never going to talk to you without telling a joke; I would not want it any other way.

He contributed to who I am today.

He tells me stories about his life, which inspires me to be a better me and live a life full of happiness, just as he does. He has handed me a legacy of faith, integrity, and hard work. Through his marriage, he has shown me that true love is attainable. Through his example, he has given me a guide to life.

Grandpas can teach us a lot about life and really are some of our biggest supporters. I sincerely hope everyone is blessed with a grandpa as great as mine was.  Mel Feller misses and has never forgotten the lessons he learned from his grandpa Samuel Feller!

Mel Feller Lists The Best Things Grandparents love to do by Mel Feller

Mel Feller Lists The Best Things Grandparents love to do by Mel Feller

Even though this is a blog, that Mel Feller has put together about grandpas.  However, when writing this Mel Feller determined that this was something both grandparents love to do.  Mel and his ex-wife share these duties together still.

Telling Stories to Grandchildren

The best part of listening to stories by them is that they have their own personal touch in that. I wonder how they get a new story every day.  Grandparents have a Midas touch to stories, which take us to a new world ...A world of happiness, astonishments and surprises .Grandchildren love to hear such stories. Stories create a bond between grandparents and grandchildren, which is so amiable. Try never to skip a chance to tell a story.

Look at Baby Books

Grab the baby books—not your grandchild’s, but their parents. There is nothing children like better than seeing their parent as peer (rather than the person who tells them to clean up their room and it’s time for bed). Talk about their mom or dad’s first step, first word, anything he or she did that was naughty or funny.

Play Cards

Whether it’s bridge, gin rummy or mah jongg, playing games you love with your grandkids opens them up to new experiences and shows them a piece of you and what hobbies you enjoy. What child doesn’t love competing against Grandma, or seeing Grandpa make mistakes? “Sometimes, I purposely goof up,” both my dad and grandpa stated, “because my grandkids love it when they catch me."

 Bake Cookies. Eat Them

Okay, the yum factor makes this an obvious winner, but the hidden benefits are important, too. Kids like to be included in grown-up activities and cooking or baking is just that. However, it is also about family traditions and history. So while your grandchild is measuring and stirring, you‘re teaching how to plan, follow instructions, and develop patience. You also might be sharing where the recipe came from, and how your mother or grandmother used to make it. Knowing these facts goes a long way with kids.

Break Out the Video Games

We know we said no-tech for these activities, but a lot of bonding can take place over a video game. Here, kids become the teachers and can show you what they like and how they do things. And if you don’t catch on, don’t worry.”  This is sportsmanship with a huge potential laugh factor—plus everyone gets exercise.

 Stitch Clothes for them

Grandparents must indulge themselves in this creative work. Bringing out the best creations out. Children love wearing sweaters knit by their grandparents. Making patchwork, embroidery on your granddaughter’s favorite skirt will be a pleasant surprise.

Go to the Library

Encouraging reading has no downside, and it can easily be turned into a ritual kids will love. If your library has a story hour and kids are younger, go for that, and then go to the children’s section and browse with your grandchild. If grandkids are older, ask them what they are reading, check out a copy for yourself and start your own mini-book club together.

Open Your Jewelry Box

A jewelry box is like a mini-history of your life. Inside can be wondrous items that have interesting stories attached to them. This is just what kids—especially teen and teenage girls—love. Tell kids about the necklaces, earrings, and bracelets inside. In addition, if you feel comfortable, let them try on some items. They will feel like royalty, and look forward to seeing the jewelry box every time they visit.

Play any Game with them / Treasure Hunt

Passing time with your grandchildren by playing any fun game such as treasure hunt, or going out for fishing. This will create a very good co-ordination among you and your grandchildren. Even playing trivia with them such as sports or movie trivia.

Giving them gifts and appraisals for giving the right answer. You will be on top of the world by seeing that wide smile on your grandchildren’s face.

Giving Them the Best of Your Wisdom

Lastly, the most important thing which every grandparent can give is to give them their experience. Your Wisdom, which grew over the time, is a boon for your grandchildren and will surely help them to do something fruitful in life. Every wrong deed done by you and the lessons you have learnt will surely give your grandchildren a lesson for life.

Thank You My Grandparents for giving me everything you had!!

Mel Feller Lists The Best Things Grandpas Love to do by Mel Feller

Mel Feller Lists The Best Things Grandpas Love to do by Mel Feller

Grandpas are the backbone of a family, the root of our lives; their importance is inevitable in our lives.....

Wonder what will happen if we never had grandpas?

Wonder what will happen when there is no grandpa to tell you stories?

The world would really be incomplete without our grandpas.

Mel Feller Lists The Best Things Grandpas Love to do by Mel Feller

Grandpas as the name suggests that there are superior to our parents in every aspect.

Whether we talk about experience, love and concern.

Grandpas never hesitate in being there for us.

One of the best parts about being a grandpa is having a loving, fun relationship with your grandchildren. Being a grandpa is the best job in the world, but it is not always easy! Today’s kids can be a hard bunch to please, and scheduling is tricky between all their sports, lessons, and other activities. However, usually, they will be excited to spend special time with Grandpa, because it is quality time focused on him that is sometimes difficult for their parents (who often have more distractions of house, work, and all the demands of a busy young family) to give. It is a win for grandparents, parents, and the kids too.

But what do you do that’s fun for grandpas and kids?

A key thing to remember is to keep it simple and fun. This is not the time to press for perfection. Let them be kids! If you have several grandchildren, mix up your activities with group times vs. one-on-one dates. Give each one their special time with Grandpa.

My grandpa always taught me respect for others, and he showed me with his experience that love and feelings are important things in my life and that I don't have to pay attention to material things or what people externally look like.

To describe my grandpa I have to say that he is a beautiful person.

Even though he is old, that always has a strong desire to enjoy life. In addition, the most important thing is that he is full of love and he offers it to his family.

My grandpa has a goal in common in his live; his goal is to see our family full of happiness and to see us growing up healthy and happy because he wants me and my family to have a successful future, and so he can prove to himself that he did a great job raising my parents.

Furthermore, my grandparents are people that are always in tune to the new things in the world. For example, my grandmother always cares about fashion, how they dress and their personal appearance. And my grandfather always cares about economics or important issues in the world.

I think no one can ever replace people like our grandparents; they can understand our doubts about life because nobody in this world has more experience about life than they have. So, grandparents, I love you!

However, for me, my grandpa has always played a vitally important role in the lives of my family, and never more so than today.

Mel Feller Shares Family History Questions to Ask Grandpa Before it’s Too Late by Mel Feller

Mel Feller Shares  Family History Questions to Ask Grandpa Before it’s Too Late by Mel Feller

Mel Feller understands that when a loved one passes away, it’s not just their presence you miss.

Mel Feller Has His Grandfather's Stories

Along with their smile, their kindness, generosity and voice, the individual stories and memories that make up that individual are lost as well. With all the ways that currently exist to ask questions and record and preserve memories, don’t wait until it’s too late to record the important information your grandfather has to share.

A study found that “the more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem and the more successfully they believed their families functioned.”

To get the best information, and maybe even some new stories you’ve never heard, you will find the more specific the questions, the better.

Here is a list of questions to ask your grandpa the next time you visit.

Questions about Childhood

Little details about the past and how children played are a piece of history. With the changing generations, technology, and other factors, you might find your grandfather had a completely different childhood than you. Then again, some things never change.

1. What games were popular when you were a kid?

2. Tell me about your best friend growing up? Have you kept in touch? What was special about this person?

3. Do you remember any particular sadness in your growing up years? Were there any tragedies or events that shaped you?

4. What types of things did you do as a kid that kids of the newer generation don’t do anymore (paper route, etc.)?

5. What is the fondest memory you have of your mother and father? Grandfathers and grandmothers?

Jobs and hobbies

Information about your grandpa’s career, jobs, and hobbies can give you an idea of how they spent their time. But, if you find that they are lonely or feeling bored, knowing what activities they found joy in can give you ideas for activities you participate in with them today.

6. What was your first job? What did you like about it? What did you hate about it? Any stories from that job that stand out to you?

7. Did you go to college? What did you study? Did you graduate? Any stories about college friends, professors, or trips?

8. What hobbies have you had that brought you joy? Did you collect anything (stamps, rocks, coins, etc.)?

9. Did you enjoy reading, writing, or creating art? What was the first book you can remember loving?

10. As a child, what were your career aspirations? Did those change as you got older? Why?

Family and friends

11. Have you asked your parents or grandparents how they met or what their courtship was like? Stories and memories of dating can inspire sweet and funny memories.

“From the day my grandparents met, and throughout their entire courtship, my grandfather wrote a letter to my grandma expressing his love for her,” said Kellyn Brandt, administrative assistant at Sea Cliff Healthcare Center. “It wasn’t until my grandfather passed that I learned about this, and it made me think about all the questions I could have asked him. Since then I’ve been hounding my grandmother for every detail about their love life.”

12. (If married) How did you and your spouse meet? What were your other dating experiences like? How did you know your spouse was the one to marry?

13. As an adult, did you have any close friends who you’ve kept in touch with? Think about the friends who influenced your life and why they were important to you.

14. Name one thing about each of your kids (if you have them) that stuck out to you as they were growing up.

15. Name something about raising children that changed from your first child to your last.

Places you’ve lived

While your grandfather may have lived his life in the same home as his parents, there may be details you didn’t know or expect. Learn about their travels and experiences both at home and away.

16. What do you remember about your childhood home? Where did you grow up, and where do you consider your hometown?

17. Did you ever move? What were your feelings when you moved? How many different places did you live?

18. Name each place you lived and one memory of each place that shaped your life?

19. Of all the places you’ve lived, which was your favorite? Which was the saddest?

20. Where would you have liked to live but never got there?

Looking forward

21. How do you want your family and friends to remember you? Of all the ways people could describe you, what words or thoughts would you like to leave with them?

22. What are you most proud of in your life? Any relationship or professional achievements?

23. How has your faith or spirituality changed throughout your life? Where did you start, and where are you now?

24. Was there any experience or event in your life that you didn’t think you would make it through? How did you persevere, and what did that experience teach you?

25. What was the kindest thing you’ve done for someone else?

Speaking with your loved ones about their lives is a way to record the pieces of your family history that live only with them. Beyond the record that these conversations create, talking to your grandpa will strengthen a relationship with him now, and you’ll have plenty of stories to share with your children. And that’s enough reason to pick up the phone or drive over and connect now.

Mel Feller Shares The Kindness His Grandfather Did at One Time-It came back around by Mel Feller

When I was a student my family went through a few rough financial years due to their real estate investments. We got by, but only with much effort and many worries.

I had a pick-up truck that was forever breaking down and the thought of the 600km drive to school in it was a worrisome one. As I drove away from home my uncle walked up. I stopped and he threw something onto my dashboard.

He leaned in the window, speaking softly. "Years ago," he said, "when I was a poor student myself your grandfather once did this to me. I swore one day I would return the gift. And now I have."

Then he walked away without looking back, and I sensed he did so in order to hide his emotions. 

A few miles later I opened the envelope. It contained a few bank notes. It was a gift returned more than two decades later to a second generation; almost like a full circle, because I'm the only one who bears my grandfather's name. The amount wasn't much. Twenty-some years ago it had been enough to buy a full trolley of groceries, or a few tanks of fuel. Now it was just a gesture. But my uncle was jobless at the time and I was nearly broke so, for both of us, it was a meaningful amount.

I paid it forward some years later to another poor boy with an old clunker of a car, adjusting the amount for inflation. As far as I can remember that boy has been the only one I've told this story to - until now. I can only hope that one day he will pay it forward too.

I couldn't help but feel that Grandpa had made a good investment all those years ago.

Mel Feller Pays Tribute To His Grandfather by Mel Feller

Mel Feller Pays Tribute To His Grandfather by Mel Feller

My grandfather was by far one of the most amazing people I had the honor and pleasure of knowing. Even more so, I am proud to say that I am related to this man.

Growing up, my grandfather was the life of the party, someone everyone loved talking to and always wanted advice from. In the small town where he lived, everyone knew who he was and everyone always knew they could rely on him for any reason. Our family grew closer because of him and my grandmother (aka. the dynamic duo). There was always music when he was around, there was laughter, there was happiness and everyone acted as if they didn't have a care in the world when he was in the room.

He was always so kind to me, letting me run around like a maniac in the kitchen, he would let me scream and yell for as long as I was able, and he always gave me the best hugs. Granted, he knew how to give a stern talking to whenever he needed to, but he did so out of love, kindness and respect for me and my safety. He taught me about gratitude and never taking anything for granted. He told me to always shoot for the stars and live in a way that made me happy.

Around him, I never once questioned my worth, my talent, my beauty or my purpose. He always had something to say to brighten my spirits and always something to say when I wanted nothing more to give up. He pushed me like he pushed everyone else in our family and we are all in his debt because of that.

I love and miss my grandfather and it still hurts whenever I think about him, but I'm glad I knew him and I'm more proud to say I am a part of his family. In memory of Samuel Feller, thank you for everything you did for us and thank you for always being there when I needed you.

70 Things We Love About Grandpa by Mel Feller

Mel Feller tries to be Super Grandpa!

70 Things We Love About Grandpa by Mel Feller

1. You do special things for us.

2. You make us food we love.

3. You let us watch our favorite shows on your TV.

4. You make us milk shakes and French fries.

5. You take us fishing.

6. You take us to McDonalds.

7. You take us to ice cream places.

8. You read with us.

9. You take us to Wal-mart.

10. You watch our football games on TV with us..

11. You read with us when we were learning to read.

12. You take us to Red Lobster.

13. You go to watch our basketball games.

14. You spend time with us.

15. You support us in our church opportunities.

16. You save comics out of the paper for us.

17. You let us play with your “noise makers.”

18. You play hide and seek with us.

19. You make butter bread for us.

20. You watched us in Speech and Debate.

21. You make summer sausages for us.

22. You always give us hugs.

23. You always have kisses for us.

24. You make Christmas special for us.

25. You have special ornaments on your Christmas tree for us.

26. You gave us a “Sharing Box” full of goodies each Christmas.

27. You make our birthdays special.

28. You pass out Christmas gifts at Christmas time.

29. You go to the movies with us.

30. You go and watch the soccer games with us.

31. You went on trips to Disneyland with us.

32. You try to “surprise” us.

33. You have sugared cereal at your house for breakfast.

34. You talk to us.

35. You have cookouts at your house.

36. You cooked out on your grill for us.

37. You watch TV sports with us.

38. You play Euchre with us.

39. You play games with us.

40. You played kickball with us.

41. You held us when we were little babies.

42. You are never too busy for us.

43. You were there when Luke and Stacy got engaged.

44. You taught us to love baseball.

45. You gave us coins to start our coin collection.

46. You give us Legos every year.

47. You took us to the water park.

48. You were snowed in with us.

49. You let us play in your old trailer.

50. You took us to the Raspberry Festival in Utah.

51. You took us to the Street Fair.

52. You took us to all kinds of movies.

53. You took us to the zoo.

54. You have cookies jars at your house.

55. You let us sleep on your couch at your house.

56. You tell stories about when you were younger.

57. You take us to the Ritz Movie Theatre.

58. You go to all our graduations.

59. You bought us American Girl dolls.

60. You make us your homemade chili.

61. You go watch our plays.

62. You went to our homeschool expos.

63. You talk “sports” with us.

64. You take time for your “every day granddaughter.”

65. You make us smile.

66. You have a funny laugh.

67. You are sweet to us.

68. You give us special snacks to take on our way back home.

69. You make us feel special.

70. You are the BEST GRANDPA EVER!