Grandfather’s Heartwarming Present To His Grandchild Encourages Us To Reach Out To Our Grandparents

Lauren Blank’s 16th birthday was sure to be special, but she never expected the surprise her grandfather had in store for her. With the help of MTV’s My Super Sweet 16 and her own creative ideas, Lauren was set to have the perfect birthday. 

Ren was filled with anticipation leading up to her sixteenth birthday – she wanted it to be perfect! Rather than go for a big bash, she decided to keep it intimate and surrounded by her closest loved ones. 

Ren was busy planning her small birthday party and had no idea what her grandpa had been secretly working on for the past ten years. Even her parents were unaware of the surprise he had in store for her. 

From the day Ren was born, Grandpa Ron Petrillo was determined to make her feel loved and cherished. Instead of sending her to daycare, he watched over her while her parents worked. For five whole years, the two of them enjoyed each other’s company and created special memories together. 

Ren’s 16th birthday was a special occasion, with friends and family gathering to celebrate. Most teens use the milestone as an excuse to ask for an over-the-top present, but Ren just wanted to spend time with her family. 

Grandpa Ron’s special bond with his granddaughter, Ren, was one like no other. From the moment she was born, Ron wanted to ensure she never forgot a moment and so, he began to do one little thing every day that would turn into the most incredible gift. 

Growing up in Keller, Texas was the perfect balance for Ren. With a population of around 45,000, it offered a small town atmosphere with the convenience of being near the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. 

Ron and Ren had a bond that was unbreakable. No matter how much time passed or how much Ren grew, their bond remained the same. But what Ron was hiding from her was the secret project that he had been working on for years. 

Ron had put a great deal of effort into creating a meaningful gift for his beloved granddaughter, Ren. As he watched her grow and mature, he was heartened to see that she was turning out to be a kind and considerate young lady. 

Ron had the perfect plan for giving his special gift to Ren. He had three different dates in mind: when she was 16, 21, or when he was gone. Although people can live much longer, Ron didn’t want to risk missing out on enjoying the moment with Ren. 

As Ren’s sixteenth birthday was fast approaching, Ron knew he had to make the occasion extra special. After years of planning and preparing, he decided to share his secret with her parents first. He wanted to make sure they approved his plan and agreed with the timing. 

Ren’s Sweet Sixteen was finally here! Her family and friends gathered at her home for the intimate celebration, filled with laughter, cake, and of course, presents! Ren received many of the gifts she expected for a girl her age, like clothing and jewelry. 

Ren opened the present with anticipation, only to feel a wave of disappointment wash over her. She had a special bond with her grandfather, so why was the gift she received on this special day, three notebooks?

Ren’s confusion soon transformed into curiosity as she opened up “Lauren Book 1” and began to explore the pages. To her surprise, each page was addressed to her by name, written in pen. 

Ren slowly flipped back to the first page and began to read the first few sentences. As the words raced across the page, she felt a tug on her heartstrings. Her friends and family watched the silent moment unfold, while Ren’s grandfather waited to see how she would react. 

Ron’s simple first line of his journal entry, “Hi Lauren; I’m just starting this so someday you might read it for fun,” was the start of a remarkable journey. Since February 16, 2003, Ron has been writing a journal entry each day, chronicling his time spent with his two-year-old daughter, Ren. 

Ren and her grandfather shared a heart-warming moment at her Sweet Sixteen, with Ren flipping through a special present her grandfather had given her. He had known that she would forget the touching moments of her childhood, and he wanted her to have something to look back on. 

Remembering Grandpa’s special moments with Ren was a treasure trove of joy. One of the most beloved memories was the “see ya” game, which always made her laugh. Grandpa Ron would pretend to run into the wall, over and over, until Ren was in stitches. 

Ren and Ron had a special bond, and one of the memories they shared was a trip to the department store. Ron had no idea what his granddaughter meant when she said she wanted to ride the alligator, but it turned out to be the only way she could pronounce “elevator.” 

Ren’s grandpa had always done so much for her, but there was one unforgettable experience that stood out above all the rest. Ren and her grandpa had taken their first ride together on the alligator, and afterwards, Ren would often insist on returning to the department store. 

Ron and Ren’s days were filled with special moments, one of which was visiting the rescue zoo in town. Every day except Monday, when it was closed, they would go to the zoo and marvel at the different animals there. 

Ron was expecting Ren to react to the gift he gave her, but she just sat there in shock. He was worried that she didn’t like it, but then she suddenly burst into tears. Ren was overwhelmed with emotions as she realized how much time and effort her grandfather had taken to make this gift. 

Ron had worked on the books for more than a decade, yet he was surprised to find memories stored in them that he had forgotten. These memories were of Ren when she was between two to five years old, making the journals even more special. 

Ren felt a special warmth in her heart when she received a gift from her grandfather. She says, “My papa has been one of the most influential people in my life.” Grandchildren and grandparents share a unique bond that is not seen very often in today’s world. 

Ron and Lauren shared something special, a bond that was unbreakable and unconditional. As Ren read through Ron’s journals, she got a glimpse into how Ron felt about his relationship with his granddaughter. “She and I think alike. We never argue. 

When Ren received her grandpa’s gift, she was so moved she had to share it with her Twitter followers. Little did she know, her post would become an internet sensation! With more than 560,000 likes and 160,000 retweets, Ren’s post captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people. 

Ren’s story of her grandfather’s gift sent shockwaves around the world. Her post on Twitter made people cry and opened the eyes of teenagers everywhere. It was a gift that was life-changing not only for Ren, but also for many kids around the globe. 

Ren was certainly not expecting the level of fame that came with the internet. In her own words, it was “not me being famous, but my grandpa’s love for me that became famous.” If you look at the comments on her tweet, it’s clear to see that people could tell this was a special gift from a grandfather to his granddaughter. 

Ron had been terrified for more than a decade that his granddaughter, Ren, wouldn’t appreciate the gift he had in store for her. But, when she saw it and the public’s reaction, Ron knew he had made the right choice. 

Ren and Ron had a story to tell, and they were more than willing to share it with the world. Rather than keep their gift to themselves, they opened up to the idea of others copying their idea and doing the same. 

Ren had an unforgettable sweet sixteen. Not only did she receive the greatest gift of her life, she also felt strengthened in her amazing relationship with her grandfather. It was a beautiful reminder of how much influence the people around us have on our lives.