Who is Ben Grier?

Our family is so blessed to have so many people praying for our precious little Ben. Vernon and I have been reading your messages in the Guestbook and we are truly amazed by the support and sweet prayers from literally all over the world. One thing we have noticed is that a lot of the messages are from extended friends of the family who have never even met our sweet Ben, so we thought we might tell you a little bit about this love of ours.

Ben was a sweet baby. He didn’t complain much and would pretty much go along with whatever we were up to. Lana’s older son, Blake and my younger son Joey are just four months apart and we were busy keeping them entertained and occupied. Ben didn’t talk much, (in fact we began to wonder if he ever would), but he could express his feelings like no one you ever knew. He would grunt and point and furrow that forehead and there was no doubt what was on his mind. He is also a mischievous little thing. He can disappear so fast – we were constantly saying “where is Ben – has anyone seen Ben?!” You might find him climbing the cabinets, in the fridge, in the car, out front, visiting a neighbor, flushing something (big time favorite thing to do), or just hiding and giggling all the while. And I mean that child would be gone in a flash – he broke through every “child proof” gadget on the market. There for a while if you visited the Grier’s – you would feel like you were in Fort Knox – there were so many locks and knots to keep him safe.

As I said – he was quiet – but boy was he expressive and still is. He has always reminded me of our grandmother.

She used to cut her eyes in a sideways glance and smile at us after she told us some outrageous tale and we never were sure if her stories were true or not. Ben does the same thing. Even before he started talking he would cut those eyes and they would sparkle just like hers. And when the corners of his mouth would turn up – just a little bit – you knew he had pulled something on you. When he first began to talk we had a special little thing between us – you have all probably heard of “lolly, lolly, lolly – POP!!! But Ben and I changed it a little – we would lolly, lolly, lolly – TICKLE!!!! I would do it and he would say AGAIN – AGAIN – AGAIN and we would both laugh and keep going. For a while there Lana and I thought he would probably call me Aunt Lolly.

Then one day he started talking and it amuses us even more to hear what is on his mind. Ben loves to dance, he loves music, he loves to sing, he loves the “puter”, he loves to eat, he loves Baby Einstein, he loves his Mommy, he loves his Daddy, he loves Blake, he loves his GREEMA, he loves his Uncle VrEEnon, he loves Jesus, he loves Un-MAC, he loves Thomas, Joey, Sissy Tammy, Britney, Aunt Cle, UN REEEENols, Aunt Sue, Judy, Darrell, BREEEENda, David, Austin, BAAAAiley (giggle, giggle – she is a favorite) he loves his friends at school, the list goes on and on.

So if you asked me to described Ben Grier – I would use the words – determined, smart, inventive, hilarious, mischievous, loving, expressive, sensitive, tough, sly, kind, angelic, and simply wonderful.

He is our Ben – and we love him so.

Tammy Cone