I'd like you to meet someone.
My beautiful Gramma, who turned 90 in April. A milestone I am sure she knew passed in her mind but couldn't communicate with the rest of us. See my Gram has had Alzheimer for the last decade. She has gone through so much in these last 10 years...triple bipass surgery, diabetic comas, more heart issues, broken hip, and the list goes on. But in spite of all these things she is still so loving.
One our latest trip to visit her in Ohio, we got to introduce her to LB. It was a joy to see a smile come across her face as she got to see a baby. If LB left her sight she would tell us "where'd that baby go? bring me that baby". LB loved her and they spent many moments "chatting".
Even though, this latest visit was not one of her happiest, she still made us laugh. A 90 year old strong willed woman suffering with a disease that makes you lose your memory still can bring laughter to a room full of people. She has a way of doing that. A quick witty comment thrown in just to remind us that she indeed is with us. I remember the first time W got to meet her. The first half of the visit she spent cussing him out in Slavic and the second half she spent telling us how handsome he was and how she wanted him to come over and give her a kiss. Hilarious.
At this moment she was telling LB to sit still...good luck on that one Gram ;)
One of the biggest lessons this woman has taught me is how to love. How to really love with all our hearts. How to be passionate and not let the hardships of life change our love of the Almighty. She lost the love of her life when she was in her 60's. She has spent the last 30 years without the man who made her heart pitter patter. I could not imagine that, yet she didn't let that change who she was. She still was able to give out love to everyone around and make all of us laugh. I remember many days of my childhood were spent on her lap hearing stories of when she grew up and her sharing the wisdom of the Lord with me. Those are memories I will forever cherish. Hearing about when she was a little girl how she would spend many days at the railroad tracks behind her house smashing pennies and chasing trains. I will remember the hymns of old and how she would sing them softly in my ear when I needed to feel loved. How she would let me sit on her lap and talk for hours about nothing simply because she wanted me to be able to voice my opinion in a house full of chaos (i am the youngest of 4 strong willed loud mouthed kids and thats before you count in my half-brother and step-sister).
Even though she is in the final stage of life, I will forever be blessed by the life and joy she radiates. And if any of you were wondering, yes she is the one I get my sass from..it comes honestly ;)
To add a quick point: Kelley is a chatter-box and her family tells me she has always been that way. When she was little, she used to talk and talk and got told a lot to be quiet. Except for by her Gram. True to form, her Gram would tell everyone else that she doesn't have to be quiet, that she just has a lot to say. And her Gram would let her sit there and chat to her about anything.
ReplyDeleteOh, and besides the baby, the only thing her Gram wanted when we visited was pretzels. How can you not laugh when a lady who has loved pretzels all her life tells you to bring her pretzels?
I think her expression in the first photo reminds me of you. YOu definitely have a serious expression that matches hers. :) Very sweet. Love you!
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