Blood is thicker than water. Is there really anything that can be overstated about the importance of family? If we are strong enough to face the difficulties of life, it is because of the support of our family. We are indeed alone without them, and they play a vital role in bringing happiness into our lives. That said, family bonds are living things, and they need to be nurtured with care.
Lauren Blank, from Texas, is fortunate to be a part of such a loving and supportive family. When Lauren turned 16 her grandpa had a huge surprise for her. He was about to give her a gift of immense value. Not the expensive type, but rather the type that changed her life. Intrigued yet?
100% Texas Born And Raised
Lauren Blank didn’t belong to a big city. She was born and raised in the small beautiful town of Keller in Texas. The town didn’t have a huge population. Only 45,000 people resided in it. While it exudes the small-town charm, it still possesses the features of a big city.
Lauren shares many great memories with her family in this community. She’s spent countless moments of joy with them which she will hold dear to her heart for all her years. But the biggest surprise of her life was yet to come. She hadn’t even thought about the gift that her grandfather was going to give her.
Lauren Was Extremely Excited For Her Sweet Sixteen
Lauren was nearing the day when she was going to turn 16. She had several plans to party with her close friends and family members. However, she was a mature and serious girl. She wanted to make her birthday special rather than inviting a lot of people and having a grand party.
Ren, as she liked being called, was the favorite member of her family and the dearest one to her grandfather. Her family had bought many gifts for her, but her grandfather was hiding a spectacular surprise that would astonish his dear Ren.
Her Grandfather’s Surprise Gift Was Full Of Love
Finally, her birthday came. It was the best moment of her life not only because it was her big day, but also since she received many well wishes and heartfelt gifts from friends and family. However, there was one person that made this princess’ birthday more special. And that was Ren’s grandfather.
Her grandfather’s name is Ron and his gift was the best of all. It was not a car or any expensive item. The main characteristic of his present was that it was full of love; the love that Ren had not quite felt in the same way when she received other gifts. So then, what was this perfect present?
Lauren Was The Apple Of Ron's Eye
Ren and her grandfather, Ron Petrillo, have a wonderful relationship. Ron took care of her when she was about 2 years old. In comparison to her parents, Petrillo spent more time with Ren during her early childhood. Ron remembered all of the memories and times he spent with her.
He was her babysitter until she went to kindergarten. Those 3 years that Ron spent with his granddaughter always remained fresh in his mind. Having kept those memories close to him, Ron chose a great gift for her that increased Ren’s affection for him.
Ron's Gift Went Straight To Ren's Heart
Ren and Ron were very close. For her 16th birthday, he was hiding a surprise for her which he had been planning for many years. It took him over a decade to prepare this and it was from the deep depths of his heart. Finally, it was time for Ron to remove the veil.
Ren opened many gifts on that day, but after receiving what her grandfather had in store for her, her eyes welled up with tears. This gift touched her heart, yet strangely enough, not even her parents were given a heads up about what her grandfather had been up to.
It Was No Mere Trinket, We'll Tell You That Much
We’ve heard it being said many times; it’s the thought that counts. Most parents or family members give expensive watches or gadgets to their children and relatives but Ron was determined to go all out, and his gesture was met with deep emotions and affection.
We know you’re dying to find out what it is; what could be so special to result in a crying birthday girl? No, it wasn’t any piece of jewelry, it wasn’t a cool ride either. Maybe it was a concert ticket to see her favorite artist or possibly a golden necklace.
The Gift Was Closely Connected To The Bond They Shared
Spending time with relatives or attending a special event are some of the best parts of our lives. Some people capture those moments on film and experience nostalgia when they revisit them years later. Ren’s grandfather always wanted the years he had spent right by her side to be memorable.
He wanted Ren to have a vivid understanding of the closeness of the bond they shared, particularly in the first 3 years of her life. Ron began a special task, which became a part of his daily routine. What was that special task? Did it have any connection to Ren’s birthday gift? Maybe.
Ron Kept His Silence, Until The Opportune Moment
Sometimes all we need is the right moment to share what's been on our hearts. Ron had a sea of memories of Ren that he was eager to share, but he was looking for the perfect opportunity, a time when Ren was older and would be able to fully appreciate what he was about to show her.
It had been over a decade now since he began planning this surprise, however, he had never discussed this matter with anyone. He wanted there to be no visible signs, to ensure that Ren would never have a clue until, of course, when it was the right time for the secret to be revealed.
The Deliberation Is Finally Over When Ren Reached Sixteen
Ren’s grandfather worked hard to make sure that the meaning behind his gift was felt completely when he gave it to her. At first, it was very difficult for him to decide on a date. He thought of several ideas. He pondered giving it to her when she turned 16, 21 or maybe even after his death.
As time passed, he continued going back and forth in his mind, until finally, he settled on a day on which Ren would now be mature enough and ready to see what he's been working on for so long. That surprise resulted in a U-turn in Ren’s life and brought her even closer to her granddad.
Wrapped In Fond Memories
Ren's grandfather put a lot of thought into this gift. He even considered that giving her a special gift while he was still breathing would go a long way in their relationship and that waiting until he passed would not be such a good idea since it would make her sadder that he wasn't alive.
Thus, Ron resolved that he would present her with the gift during his lifetime so that she would cherish their memories together in a joyful way. The gift was wrapped in a nostalgic covering and was full of heartfelt moments of their interactions together ever since she was a little girl.
Ren Had Become A Fine Young Woman And Could Appreciate The Value Of The Gift
When Ren was approaching her sweet 16, her grandfather could tell that she was becoming a thoughtful adult. He noticed how open-minded she was; she had an innate desire to know what was going on and she critically analyzed certain matters.
How she expressed herself amazed him. Her eloquence was mind-blowing, as was the way she laced her words with grace; he had never seen such traits in children within her age range. He was further convinced that her 16th birthday would be the best scenario for him to surprise her with the gift.
Ron Knew That It Was A Monumental Task
Day by day, Ron was working on the gift that he was sure would make Ren happy. He knew this gift would impact her life greatly, in a positive way. Days drifted by and no one would have guessed that Ron was planning on bringing the best gift of the night to Ren's celebration.
Though they were still close, Ron knew his old age could make him forget the sweet times they spent with each other when she was a little girl. He knew, one day, he could no longer rely on his memory and all he would have to help him remember was this gift.
He Pieced Together His Treasure Bit By Bit
Every day before Ron would go to bed, he would write about what took place during the day; he would write about his granddaughter, Ren. What he thought would be a small job turned into a time-consuming task. Nevertheless, Ron was up for the challenge.
Writing down the happenings of each day that he enjoyed with his granddaughter was a simple yet exceptional idea. Ron was persuaded that the gift would be something Ren would treasure for her lifetime and so he kept on writing. He knew when all those years passed, both he and Ren would be grateful that he never stopped.
Ron Hoped That He'd Still Be Alive When The Time Came
Not every child has the privilege of being close to their grandparents. Such opportunities make way for a strong relationship and a sense of belonging to the family. These entanglements can wane at any point in time and when that happens, our recollection of the good times may begin to fade.
Ron knew that as he was getting older anything could happen; he hoped his gift would be ready in time. Ron would be 72 years old by the time Ren would be turning 16. Although 72 is not the oldest of ages, Ron knew that tomorrow wasn't promised and so he made use of all the time he had.
The "Sweet 16" Is A Milestone For Young Americans
People view the age of 16 as the stepping stone from childhood to young adulthood. Teens have the custom of celebrating their 16th birthday in lavish ways. Girls love to celebrate this milestone with huge parties and exquisite dresses, in the presence of all their closest family members and friends.
The famous way of celebrating one's 16th birthday in the U.S. is by throwing a blowout Sweet 16 party. In Latin communities, however, girls don’t mark the age of 16, instead, they mark when they turn 15 years old. This birth anniversary is called a quinceañera.
Similar Milestones Exist Worldwide
Another way of celebrating the milestone of adulthood is the bar and bat mitzvah. The bar and bat mitzvah is a Jewish ritual. The bar mitzvah is for boys and it is celebrated when they are 13-years-old while the bat mitzvah is for girls who are 12 or 13-years-old.
The Sweet 16 celebration dates back to the middle ages when 16-year-old girls were presented in court for marriage. In the Catholic tradition, the celebration of this milestone of adulthood is termed as confirmation. Given the significance of this age throughout generations, we believe Ron was on the right path when he decided to go all out for Ren's 16th birthday.
Why Do Ron & Ren Share Such An Unbreakable Bond?
The bond that exists between Ron and his granddaughter is genuine and touching. However, such a relationship is not uncommon; we see it all the time, but one of the things that predicts the closeness of a child to his or her grandparents is the distance between them.
In this modern age, technology can make this distance seem almost non-existent, although texting or doing video calls with your grandparents is nothing compared to spending time with them physically. The relationship is inevitably stronger when you are able to interact face to face. As a result, Ren is blessed to have the latter as her reality.
Ron Provided The Care No Stranger Could
It is often said that grandparents taking care of their grandchildren is the solution to the economic strain many households face. It is especially common among middle-class families. Unlike babysitters, grandparents take care of their grandchildren without collecting a paycheck, and sometimes without any complaints.
Within this period, they build a close and unbreakable relationship with their grandchildren. This was the case for Ron Petrillo. It's as if he and Ren were attached by the hip and he enjoyed every minute of it. It's clear that he loves her as his own child.
The Story Of You And Me
Ren’s 16th birthday was in March of 2017. It was this day that Ron had chosen to give her the gift he had been working on for years. Like most teenage girls, Ren was not expecting a present of this nature, however, after receiving it, she wouldn't trade it for the world.
Ren stared at her grandfather's present as if she were awestruck and lost for words. She saw three spiral notebooks, laid out on the bed. The books were labeled “Lauren book 1, 2 and 3”. Ren did not know how to react at first, but soon enough, her heart was going to melt.
At First Ren Was Confused
When Ren saw the three notebooks lying on the bed before her, she was surprised. She didn't understand what was happening. Like most girls her age, she was possibly hoping for an expensive accessory or new clothes. Her puzzlement led her to flip open each book.
Slowly, she began to read what was inside; the words were written with a pen and were all referring to her. As she continued skipping through the pages, Ren saw her name along with some of the events that took place during her childhood. Even after uncovering thus far, she was still in bewilderment.
Slowly, She Opened The Books
Lauren picked up the notebooks and she began assessing them carefully. Her eyes roamed over the covers and the binds. Then, she opened the first book and started reading without understanding the contents. Nevertheless, she was deeply intrigued. She wondered what this compilation of words meant?
Even though the writings were about her, she didn't know she was holding something extremely valuable. Ron was beaming as the moment unveiled itself. When Ren read the first sentence, he felt proud of himself. He waited for her reactions as she continued reading the first book.
The First Line Read…
As she journeyed into the book, she found that the first record was written with a black pen. She had seen the handwriting before on so many occasions. Her grandfather's first paragraph said, “Hi Lauren; I'm just starting this so someday you might read it for fun”. We can only imagine the look on his face as his granddaughter scanned the words intensely.
Surprisingly, it was all handwritten by Ron. He was updating the books daily when she was growing up. It was not an easy task for him and he never expected the surprising results his gesture would have received from the whole family. Her other relatives watched attentively as she read each word.
The Words Jumped Out Of The Pages
A fascinating occurrence unfolded as Ron was hearing all that he had written. He realized that as Ren continued to read, she was experiencing a strange feeling. She didn't know how to react to what she was seeing. Was she amazed, confused, happy? Or was she experiencing all these emotions at once?
Ron kept silent as his granddaughter went through the pages. He held his tears of joy as she spoke, covering each written line. As the author of the book, he knew almost every word that followed any word she read. He was moved by how his plan had finally manifested.
Remember When You First Came To Us?
The writings began on the 13th of February, 2003. When Ron started the book, Ren was just 2 years old and she was in his care. Ron had the idea of immortalizing the memories he created with her. He considered that when she grew up, it would be fun for her to read about her life as a toddler.
He was thinking of it as just a gift. Never, in a million years, did he perceive that it would have become something so special and impactful. The project ended up filling three notebooks! Each bookmarked a year that he spent as her guardian, watching over and taking care of her.
She Will Never Forget Those Years
Ron believed that possessing something so meaningful from one's past would be a one of a kind present and he was sure that Ren would enjoy being reminded of the fun times they had through his handwritten notes. The notebooks turned out to be a great idea as Ren didn’t remember what transpired throughout those years.
Ren was in her grandfather's care when she was 2 years old until she went to kindergarten at the age of 5. He stopped updating the notes at that time as Ren was not around to create new memories. However, the detailed records of those 3 years could make any girl cry.
The Memories Came Rushing In...
As Ren was staying with him for those 3 years, he recorded their daily activities together. Despite being in his late 50s at the time, Ron was able to recall the memories they both shared. For Ren, she was so young that she could not remember quite as well.
However, as she read what Ron had written, the memories began to resurface. Ren was surprised as she remembered those simpler times. All that she had forgotten, she relived on her 16th birthday. Her heart warmed at the thought of all the effort her grandfather put into making her smile.
...And She Remembered All Their Silly Games...
Ren's grandfather could not remember every story he wrote in the notebooks after so many years. There was an entry that occurred when Ren was 2 that only while reading the book were they able to recall. The entry was about a game she used to play when she was a child that she cherished a lot.
The game was titled 'see ya' and involved her grandfather trying to make her laugh by behaving in a silly way. Ren said she would watch him run toward a wall over and over and he would pretend to pass out. This would make her burst out into laughter.
...As Well As Riding Up & Down The "Alligator"
Another memory that the book made them remember was a time when they both went shopping. They went to a department store and took a ride in an elevator. Ren was fascinated by the elevator ride. She told her grandfather that they should ride it up and down together and then, Ren called the elevator, "alligator".
They didn't buy anything that day but Ren enjoyed riding the ''alligator'' for hours. By this time, she was already full of emotions as she went on reading the entry, but that was not all. There were still more memories waiting to be unveiled.
They Used To Go To The Rescue Zoo Together Every Day
As she studied the pages that recorded her childhood memories, she was engrossed in each sentence as they outlined a fun activity or place she had visited. She recalled how much she loved going to a particular zoo when she was young. One of the favorite things she loved doing was looking at the animals.
Ron shared that they would go to The Rescue Zoo every day except Monday when it was not open for business. Ron continued by saying that they would look at other interesting items and he would buy her almost every trinket in the gift shop. More and more, Ren understood the value of the gift she was holding.
Ron Did Anything To Make Ren Laugh
As Ren continued exploring the written material, she came across more interesting details about her childhood spent with her grandfather. Another interesting memory that resurfaced was another game she loved playing when she was a kid. She could not conceal her happiness as she read this particular entry.
The entry read that one of her favorite things was for Ron to push the button on her clock and dance for her. “Lauren, do it!” he would tell her. She would sit in her bed and say “papa”, after which he would dance and run into a wall like an uncoordinated ballerina.
Ron Had To Keep The Project Under Wraps For Years
Although she now understood what the gift was all about, Ren was still astonished. She kept on wondering how he had time to write all these stories while still taking good care of her every day. After all, one thing she can't remember is ever seeing him making these entries about their time together.
However, Ron would find different ways to get the time he needed to update his notebook. He would steal away to include what they did for the day; generally, whenever she was taking an afternoon nap. It all made sense now; Ron was determined to keep everything a secret, not even wanting to risk a 4-year-old Ren seeing her future present.
A Flood Of Emotion Washed Over Ren
Lauren was overwhelmed when she discovered the amount of dedication her grandfather had put into writing down the memories they shared. The gift amazed her. It was one of the most astonishing and heartfelt gifts she had ever received. At this point, gratitude was pouring out of her entire being.
The more she explored the gift with her eyes and mind, the more the memories that she had forgotten kept rushing back. It was a gift, unique to Ren and her grandfather, as some stories, only they were familiar with; each of which was cherished. She was so thankful that she would now be able to remember them forever.
The Books Were Like Sparkling Jewels
The books contained over 185 pages of writing, full of short stories about Ren's stay with Ron. Every story in each book was emotional and also funny. Unfortunately, the journal came to an abrupt halt when Lauren was five years old. She started schooling at the age of 5 and so, Ron was no longer able to record their daily activities.
Fortunately for her though, she now had a journal of her three years with him. A journal full of love and excitement that she probably would not have had access to had he passed away before he gave it to her. Now she can freely reminisce on those memories.
The Story Of Ron's Gift Broke Twitter
Lauren was so overjoyed that she posted pictures of the gift on social media. She uploaded the photos on Twitter and the post went viral in just a short space of time, gaining over 160,000 retweets. She adored the gift and said she is planning on doing the same for her grandchildren too.
She has received so many replies from children within her age group who expressed that they would like to get closer to their grandparents. She also shared that the gift has been an eye-opener for them to appreciate their grandparents while they’re still alive.