Precious...priceless

On March 31, 2009, My cousin and his wife welcomed their son into the world. A few weeks later, they all came to visit and introduce Granny to her first great-grandchild. I am sorry that I can't get all the pictures to rotate correctly. What a treasure...

These were taken about 15 years ago on my grandparents' anniversary. When I took this series of shots, I never dreamed of what they would mean to me. Papaw had bought Granny a beautiful anniversary ring...he was proud as a peacock to be giving this gift to her. She most often just carried it in her purse for fear that something would happen to it. The ring has been passed to my Aunt Becky. I hope it spends more time on her finger than in her purse!

Now THIS is a precious memory!

Remember me

I love fresh flowers...always have. Granny, on the other hand, was a more practical soul. So I figured she would find it only practical for me to take some of the flowers from her service home to enjoy. Her casket spray was full of these beautiful pink roses. I enjoyed them so much...and still am...only now they are hanging to dry. I am planning to put the dried buds in a glass jar in my bedroom. A beautiful way to remind myself of the beautiful woman Granny was!

Gerbera daisies...one of my favorites...

I will remember...but not because of beautiful flowers or a fancy service...but because of the simple, wonderful, self-sacrificing, beautiful woman who spent her life loving her family and her God!

Many thanks...

Just a quick post to thank you all for your prayers. I have been blessed by your comments and emails. It's been a rough couple of weeks, but we are making it through just fine!

Granny's service was precious. My brother and my cousin spoke at the service. They both spoke so sincerely and eloquently...my heart swelled with pride! What an inspiration she was...and is! It's because of the example she and Papaw set...and their parents before them...that we are who we are! I am proud of the values - faith and family - that they instilled in their children and grandchildren.

My brother and sister in law are here for one more day. Although, it's been a sad visit...it's been good all the same just to get to spend time together. Last night we sat up for hours...just telling stories and laughing together. That's a memory I will keep!

Just one more...

Tonight, I am the restless one. My brother, Tom, and his wife, Lara arrived today. This evening, we went to my Aunt Becky and Uncle Gary's house. The minister who is doing the service was there. I feel the need to give a little history here so bear with me. My grandparents were charter members of a church. Papaw gave the land on which the church is built. They had baptisms in the creek by Granny and Papaw's house for years before the baptistry was built. Howard was the minister there at the church for many years. He performed the marriage ceremony for my parents and for Tom and Lara. (maybe someday he will even get to marry me off...any of you with a single brother feel free to send them my way!)

Anyway...we sat there with Howard and his wife Peggy just sharing stories about Granny and Papaw. They had a few of their own to add to the list. We laughed...oh did we laugh...but tonight, I admit that the reality is setting in. What I wouldn't give to go back in time...

Just one more "Grannyitus sleepover"...

Just one more time where we'd hide in the back seat and jump out to scare Papaw when he got in the car after work.

Just one more milkshake made by my Papaw...Dixieland fudge ripple ice cream...made in the glasses that came free in the oatmeal...

Just one more breakfast...canned biscuits, gravy, and lots of Tang...

Just one more lunch passed through the screen door...

Just one more quilt tent on the front porch...

Just one more time to hear Granny tell how she and Papaw met and how he proposed on their 3rd date and were married just a few weeks later...

What I wouldn't give...

just one more...

My heart is heavy tonight...we will go to the funeral home for the visitation tomorrow...my heart just isn't quite ready to let her go...

Another Milestone...

28 months since I was logged in to the China Center of Adoption Affairs. 28 months. I don't think there are any animals with a gestation period this long...I think I have surpassed them all!

I was so hoping that Granny would have lived to see Emma come home. When I would talk about her, she would say, "Well, I sure hope I live long enough to see the little thing."

There are days I wonder if I will live long enough to see the little thing!

Going home...

There was a celebration in Heaven tonight! My sweet Granny made her way home to be with Jesus. I am so thankful that her suffering is over...her passing was sweet and peaceful. We were sitting in the room with her as she slept. She just stopped breathing...no pain...no struggle...just peace.

Thank you for your prayers...I am blessed...

Role Reversal

This has been one of the hardest things to watch...to see my Granny - one of the strongest women I know - become totally dependent on someone else to meet her every need. My Mom has had the joy and challenge of being her main caregiver. I am so thankful that she has been able and willing to do this as it has been a physical and emotional challenge at times.

I feel a bit overwhelmed tonight. Granny's battle is nearing the end. She has been a little restless and uncomfortable today. As I sat in her room and just listened to her breathe...I couldn't help but ask God - in His mercy -to take her home. She has fought so hard...her body is tired. It is just unbearable to see her in this condition...I know there is a purpose in every single moment though...even the restless ones...even the ones that I wish she didn't have to endure. I pray for sweet rest for her tonight...that she would win the battle and wake up in the arms of Jesus.

Precious time

This is a picture of Granny and Elizabeth taken 2 summers ago. We had gone out to visit her and feed my uncle's goat. The goat, "Smokey," also served as their watch dog!

I spent the night at my parents' house last night. I just felt the need to be with them and with Granny. Didn't sleep much...thanks to Max. He sleeps fine here...all night. But he has this thing, when Mom and Dad are around, he wants us all in one room. If one of us leaves the room, he will often find a spot between the rooms and sit there so that he can keep an eye on us and protect us. When we go visit, he BOUNDS through the house looking for everyone and then he will settle down. This morning, we went upstairs...but he was different. It was as if he senses that things are a little different. He went in and saw Mom and was all jumpy and hyper and then he quietly walked into Granny's room, stood at the end of the bed, peered up and made sure she was there and ok, and then came back to the other room with Mom and me. It's as if he knows she is sick...he didn't try to bother her stuff as he usually does...didn't try to jump up on the bed and lick her face - which she hates. He just wanted to check on her.

She was very quiet and peaceful today...but she seemed a little more alert than last night. I talked with her for a bit...she gave me her little wink and kiss and said in her little sing song way, "Well, I love you too, honey."

It's a blessing to know when the end is near...to really relish the moments...to pay attention...to let her know how loved she is.

A little too fast...

Today the hospice nurse came to the house to check on Granny. Her blood pressure is very low and her heart rate is very high. The nurse shared that this is what happens...at the end. We have just days left with Granny...not the months we thought we would be afforded.

I went in to see her tonight and was overcome by the change...she is so altered...just since yesterday. She is very weak. She isn't eating. Her kidneys are not functioning. It won't be long. Lots of family came to the house tonight. My mom commented tonight about how much all of us grandkids love our Granny. From my previous post, you know why...she is a jewel...her worth is far above rubies...

She is resting very peacefully...to this point it appears that she is not in any pain. I sat by her on the bed tonight. She could barely hold her little eyes open. But we talked...reminised about the long summer days when she kept us...playing McDonald's...having tea parties with the "special" tea set..."smoking" the beans from catawba trees...rolling down the hill on the soft, cool grass...She loves with her whole heart and she is loved by my whole heart...and lots of others too!

A special gift

My Granny B. is my only surviving grandparent. She is living with my Mom and Dad and is healthy as a horse - except for arthritis that has made her almost bedridden. I have such incredible memories of time spent with all my grandparents, but especially my Granny B. We used to stay with her all day while our parents worked. Granny had her own "day care!" She'd hang up quilts around the porch to make a cool haven for us in the summer time. She would pass hot dogs through the screen door so we could pretend we were at McD0nald's. I think it was really just a ploy to keep us from tracking in and out! In the winter, she would make us "snow cream." Ever had that? Oh my! It's so yummy! When you have lots of fresh snow, mix it with milk and sugar...and add blue food coloring. I think Granny used to add an egg, but we don't do that anymore. Granny always made ours blue...I know it could have been any color, but even still, I want mine to be blue! In the winter, we would play in the snow with layers of clothes and bread bags on our feet. We'd come into the basement strip down to a dry layer and warm up by the wood stove. We had to be good and dry before we ever dreamed of heading upstairs. We rarely watched TV...we spent our days dreaming up stories. I was W0nder W0man and my brother was usually R0bin. The other kids that stayed at Granny's would be some other character. Ahh...those were the days...

Anyway, back to the gift. We decided that what Granny would really enjoy would be pictures of her dear family - together. We are a bit spread out now. My brother and sister in law live in Nebraska...two of my cousins live in Florida...so we got together this summer and had fmaily pictures taken. We put these in an album and picked some of the best ones to frame. Now she can see us anytime! She loves looking through the pictures - I think this was a favorite gift!