a tribute to my Granny...

My Granny went to be with Jesus 2 weeks ago tomorrow, in the wee hours of the morning. She was 90 years old. Some words to describe my Granny would be: faithful, fiesty, innovative, hard-working, perservering, creative, diligent, loving - lover of family, birds, books, and last but not least, Coca-Cola.

Granny lived through the depression, married, had 3 children, had a house catch on fire and another burn to the ground, outlived her husband by 45 years and never remarried, outlived her son by 29 years and one of her daughters by 6 years, all of which had tragic deaths. But you know what? I never once heard my Granny say one negative thing about all of the hardships she endured. And, through it all, she trusted Jesus. Talk about faith? What a sweet testimony she left behind of being faithful to Jesus through thick and thin. Yep, that was my Granny.

She wrote in a couple of notepads throughout the day. When we were in Ruston a couple of weeks ago, I found one that had been beside her bed and another that was at her breakfast table. Here's an excerpt from a couple of her journal entries:

"Friday, July 24, 2009, 12:25 p.m. - So here I am in bed - I can see beautiful trees - and pink flowers high on limbs in the sky. Trees planted long ago - to edge my vegetable garden space. There's the 'hole' in the tree limbs through wchi I send many prayers - and the Good Lord said yes to most of them and helped me through the others and I've often said 'thank you' for a wonderful family - now and for all my life. This south west room has had a lot of 'living' here. As I lie here I'll read some books - Bud my sister sends so many of them - nine the latest yesterday - there are many cross word puzzles from the Ruston Daily Leader and others - a few finished. My Bible is near by to read, with many notes from Annie. I smile many times when I see a 2 1/2" picture of Orphan Annie, and a comic picture from children's books from long ago when I read to the children from their books. - a little nap."

"Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 11:30 - Kim caled - we will have a new little boy at Christmas"

Granny's last playtime with Josiah

I had called Granny just 4 days before she passed away. I called her on the Wednesday we found out we were having another boy. So sweet to see that phone call recorded in her notebook. That was the last time I talked to Granny. However, the last time I had seen her before she died was in early June. It, too, was a sweet 'last' with Granny. Two of my best friends from high school and their kids joined us, along with Jenny and her kids, to play in my Granny's backyard. The yard where we played as children - there's a treehouse, trampoline, swings, and beautiful flowers in Granny's yard. Granny sat on her back patio in her wheelchair in the heat to watch all of us. I know she very much enjoyed seeing the kids laugh and play and I'm sure she thought about us, her grandchildren, all grown up with families of our own now. We had breakfast with Granny the following morning and returned to Arlington that afternoon. I sure didn't know then that I would never see my Granny again here on earth.

Granny and me the afternoon my friends came out to her house.

I am so grateful for these last memories with my Granny.

It is so comforting to know that Granny is now with Jesus. After 6 different hip replacements and a recent broken femur, I'm sure she's definitely enjoying her new body! Though her old body is no longer here on this earth, I am so grateful that I can be assured to see her one day - me, in my new body and she, in hers!