100

On my Granny Ida's 100th birthday, 100 ways I can be more like her.
(I sure do miss you Gran!)

1. Everytime someone walks in my door, give them something to eat or drink.
2. Laugh at myself.
3. Remember every one of my loved ones' birthdays. Every year.
4. Make everyone I know feel like they are the most special person in the world, because they are.
5. Play dominos with friends and family at my kitchen table.
6. Put my hope in the Lord.
7. Age gracefully.
8. Feed the birds.
9. Practice what the said was her mission in life: "I was put on this earth to take care of others."
10. Love my neighbor as myself.
11. Pray in the day, pray in the night.
12. Pray Psalm 91 for those I love.
13. Take pictures of everyone, lots of pictures.
14. Eat small portions.
15. Never say a negative word about anyone.
16. Focus more on making my home welcoming than making it perfect.
17. Allow kids to make mudpies in my backyard.
18. Keep my promises.
19. Love unconditionally; love the unlovable.
20. Crack jokes just to lighten the mood.
21. Even through the toughest of times, believe that God is near.
22. Make my bed everyday.
23. Plant a garden.
24. Learn to make a sumptious pot of brown beans.
25. Live by old fashioned values.
26. Hold on to stories from my past and share them with others.
27. Each and every day of my life, look at is as a day that the Lord may return.
28. Fill my house with pictures of loved ones.
29. Fill my heart with the word of God.
30. God first, with family a close second.
31. Be the magnet that pulls my family together.
32. Plant flowers from seed.
33. Delight in God's creation.
34. Flash my smile.
35. Laugh with those who laugh.
36. Weep with those who weep.
37. Let there never be a number of people that is too great to come into my house.
38. Be humble.
39. Trust in the Lord with all my heart.
40. Make my house a really fun place for kids to be.
41. Say "I love you" often and with tenderness.
42. Bless the name of Jesus.
43. Hem people's clothes for them and make quilts to keep people warm.
44. Never, ever complain.
45. Have an open door.
46. Don't get upset when things get broken.
47. Never be too busy for friends and family.
48. Take care of an abandoned animal that needs some TLC.
49. Go to church on Sundays.
50. Tithe.
51. Never get tired of serving.
52. Be thankful for what I have, don't covet what others have and be content with my lot in life.
53. Drink milk.
54. Perpetuate tradition.
55. Put things on my head just to make others laugh.
56. Work with my hands and love with my heart.
57. Let bitterness have absolutely NO place in my life.
58. Be joyful in all things.
59. Recognize the great things that God has done for me and be grateful.
60. Never think I'm too good for anyone.
61. Give to those in need, even when I don't have much.
62. Give my loved ones memorable nicknames.
63. Radiate peace.
64. Think about heaven far more than I do about earth.
65. If you are my friend, you may as well be family.
66. Find the humor in life and don't let go of it.
67. Never say an unkind word to my spouse.
68. Live with the belief that to live is to die and to die is gain.
69. Love and sing old hymns, loudly. Even when my hearing goes. Let it rip!
70. Call loved ones on their birthdays and leave them long messages.
71. Sing until I can sing no more.
72. Teach my kids and grandkids to sew and cook.
73. Treat every possession with great care.
74. Wash dishes by hand.
75. Don't forget to water my indoor plants.
76. Be a cheerful housekeeper.
77. Be obedient to God's call and never, ever, feel sorry for myself.
78. When in doubt, bake a cake.
79. When people think they are coming to encourage me, encourage them more.
80. Don't get caught up in the cares of this world.
81. See Jesus in others.
82. Love, love, love the little children.
83. Support my pastor.
84. Live by the words of "How Great Thou Art."
85. Work tirelessly.
86. Even in loss, bless the name of God.
87. Say "hey Lord! I can't make it through this day without ya!"
88. Shine your faith to everyone you know.
89. Epitomize inner beauty.
90. Have mercy on others.
91. Have NO FEAR. Of anything, for God is watching over me.
92. Accept the jobs that God has given me.
93. Humor is the best medicine.
94. Feed the masses.
95. Give thanks, 24/7.
96. Worship the Lord with my life.
97. When hurting, just say... "joy and peace."
98. Embrace each and every day on earth, but look forward to heaven.
99. Make the years count.
100. Live to be a healthy and vibrant 99 years.

Joy and Peace

A couple weeks before Granny went to heaven, I went to see her in the nursing home. To put it bluntly, she was miserable. She hadn't seen the comforts of home since the night she broke her hip on October 30th. No longer was she serving others, the sole purpose of her life. Instead she was gently managed by perfect strangers. She couldn't get out of her bed without help. Catheters and diapers were part of her new life away from home. Her new reality included a bed sore on her tailbone that went down to the bone.

I walked up to her bed and said hello. Out of her eyes flowed a steady stream of tears. No sounds, just transparent drops of pain. I asked her what was wrong. What can I do, granny? Are you ok?

Her response? Three words. Two of them important. JOY and PEACE. That is literally all she said.

I know that I know my granny didn't feel joy and peace that day. Probably a quiet desperation. Pain beyond imagination. Pain in body and heart.

But, by faith, my granny believed in Joy and Peace. And she was certainly soon to experience the Greatest Joy and Peace.

She has been my inspiration lately, as my heart feels one of the deepest shades of blue. I just keep saying, in faith, Joy and Peace. I know He will bring it.

It is Well....

....with our souls!

We said goodbye to Granny today at her funeral celebration.

It was another hallelujah moment, and the program said as much.

There it was in big letters at the top of the program: "It's A Hallelujah Moment."

And we could hardly even muster a tear.

Oh, we miss her right down to our foot bones,

but it was the happiest, most inspirational service I have ever been to.

We sang lots of old hyms, the ones I learned in that very church.

"Because He Lives" "When We All Get to Heaven" "Victory in Jesus" and "Sweet Sweet Spirit" to name a few.

My dear uncle and the pastor both talked about Granny for awhile.

The memories made us smile, and they pushed us on to be a little more like her.

Giving, loving, never angry (my uncle talked about the two times we remember her being mad), sweet, kind, God-fearing, God-seeking, faithful, steadfast, a true believer.

At the very end, as she requested, her family gathered together at the front of the church and sang "How Great Thou Art."

It was an awesome service. Awesome. I was thinking that even people who didn't know her would come away inspired by her life and her legacy.

The luncheon afterwards was fun because we had granny's favorite foods. Brown beans and cornbread at one station, Chik-Fil-A on the other side of the dining hall, and since coneys were granny's favorite, we had Coney I-Land come out and set up a coney line. It was so fun! Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Later at the burial, Uncle Jim read Psalm 91, the Psalm that she clung to when her son Fred was in Vietnam. We are clinging to it now!

The joy we had in our hearts seemed to patch the big hole we have there. I know as the days pass, I will sorely miss her, just not being able to call her and hear her voice. Smell her house. See her smile.

But remembering this day will help....
and singing this helps a little bit too...

When We All Get to Heaven...

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus, ---- and Grandma Ida! ;-)

We’ll sing and shout the victory!

A Little More Hope

I tell ya what, God just doesn't stop putting sweet, little bows on this week.
As hard as it's been to lose Granny, God has given us little blessings along the way to ease the pain a bit.

My blogging friend Roxx who I have gotten to know over the last couple of years took a little trip over Christmas to, guess where?

Unbelievably, granny's birthplace, Hope, Idaho. population, 79. (according to Wikipedia)

Here is the title of Roxx's recent blog entry:

Loving Hope Idaho:
I may be in the middle of no where geographically,
but it's moments like this my heart centers.

Isn't that the coolest? You can see here why her family was in Hope and look here for more of the awesome pictures she posted just for me!

Thanks Roxx! (and God, thanks to you too. That was a nice touch).

Hallelujah Moment

i am tired,
but before i sleep i want to share....
the details of the day my granny went to heaven.

but let me start first a few hours before today,
yesterday afternoon....

granny had only had the strength to ask for water about 3 times throughout the day...
and by the time 5 o'clock came, she was in a deep sleep,
not opening her eyes, not talking,
just breathing.

at 5PM, unexpectedly, everyone left the hospital,
exhausted,
but God ordained for me a time with her,
just me and my granny.

alone with her, i thought, what do i do?
sing. so sing i did, voice and all.
i prayed she would hear the voice of an angel
and it would have had to be a supernatural intervention,
because i ain't no angel-voiced lady.

i sang
"It is Well"
"I'll Fly Away"
"How Great Thou Art"
"Great is Thy Faithfulness"
"There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place"
"Jesus, I Adore You"
and then i sang them again.

sometimes i couldn't remember the words,
so i looked them up on my iphone.
sometimes i could barely make it through the song,
but i kept singing in a broken voice.

did she hear me?
i don't know but when i sang"It is Well" one time,
I could see her lips moving in such a way that I think she was singing along with me.
i am almost sure of it.

i read scriptures to her...
i knew that Psalms 91 and Psalms 23 were two of her favorites,
so I read her those,
along with a few others sprinkled in.

i laid my face next to hers,
i got close to her and hugged her,
my tears fell upon her cheeks.

she didn't arise
or open her eyes
or talk to me,
but when i left i felt that i had just experienced
3 of the most precious hours on earth that i have ever had.

so this morning,
i thought, goodness,
do i go right back up to the hospital?
after all, we had been told that 4-7 days was a realistic time frame for granny,
but something drew me there,
and by 8:30am, i sat there with mom.

granny's breathing was shallow and she looked pretty awful,
but these were expected changes.
around 10:30, mom said we should start thinking about granny's funeral.
so i got out my laptop and started typing some ideas for the service.

Mom said, "let's put a title on it called 'It's a Hallelujah Moment.'"
It was an idea given to her by a friend who had lost her son years before.

I typed that phrase at the top of my page and
at
that
instantaneous
slice
of
a
second,
something changed in the air.

mom and I both looked up at granny
and realized that her breathing had stopped.

i went over to her and touched her chest.
i felt her neck for a heartbeat.
she was warm.
but her heart beat no longer on this earth.

i didn't plan it friends,
but out of me sprang
a song,
one i hadn't thought of the night before...

"Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen."

i looked up; i thought she might be looking at me from there,
i smiled through the tears at Granny and her Hallelujah Moment.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Well, honestly, it's hard to think about my favorite things right now, when I have a hole in my heart the size of a pot of Granny's brown beans.

But as I watched granny lie there in her hospital bed today, with one foot on earth and one in heaven, I realized that she still has some favorite things. She is in a dream-like state, talking in words and phrases that obviously represent some things dear to her heart.

Here are a few of Granny's favorite things:

*Her dear dog Fred - at one point, we got to laughing that he must be more important to her than anyone, because she kept telling us to "let him in" or "let him out!"

*Cooking - she constantly talked about what she should get us or cook for us - "If you'll stay awhile, I'll put something on the stove for you" or "let's go cook something up!"

*Her family - almost everytime she opened her mouth, the name of one of her loved ones would pop out, like a Valentine. "Rex" "Judy" "Fred" One special moment was when she talked about my cousin's son Kyler... she went on for awhile about what a special little boy he is. If you could just have heard her say his name "Ky-ler" then you would know how she feels about him.

*Opening up her house for company - She always wanted to know who was coming through her door, whether a real or dreamed up person, she wanted to welcome them, whomever it was.

*God - As I prayed for her aloud she murmured lovingly "God" and "It is well."

Surprisingly, I didn't hear her say anything about sewing, but I still think she'll be sewing us quilts up in heaven. Maybe, though, God will have her in his kitchen. Probably so.

So in honor of Granny, here are a few of my favorite things about this Christmas:
Drinking hot chocolate and singing Christmas carols around a fire at Big Cedar Lodge.

The elf tuck in at Big Cedar Lodge. "Candy" the elf came for a bedtime story and gave out a stocking to each kiddo.

We had a Christamas tree in our cabin at Big Cedar. I love Christmas trees. And the smell of the pine that has been fresh and fragrant in our house this December.

The last moments we were able to spend with Granny over Christmas were priceless.

Ahhh, making Gingerbread houses is always such a treat.

We play Dirty Santa each Christmas Eve. The adults play a round and so do the kids. Here are the kids acting all nicey nice after they have stolen each others gifts several times.

Christmas morning excitment is still electric. Here is Luke with his Skateboarding Nutcracker that was sitting on top of his brand new skateboard.

Ellie got at least one thing off her list: a bow and arrow. She was thrilled.

Tom is gone for a lot of special occassions, but he is ALWAYS home on Christmas morning. That is one of my favorite things.

Getting together with family I only see once a year. This year's gathering was at our house!

Here are the "hat girls" Ellie and Aunt Billy

Cousins hanging out in the cul-de-sac!

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling bad,

I simply remember my favorite things

and then I don't feel so bad....

What a Difference a Day Makes

We never really can lose hope, can we?

Granny was born in Hope, Idaho by a lake called Ponderay. Ida Pondarae probably seemed like a perfect fit to granny's parents, but we always joke that her parents should have used the town as their namesake instead of the lake and the state. Hope just fits her, and has all her life.

Today is no different. Granny inspired hope in us yesterday as we all converged in her tiny hospital room. The news went out that Granny wanted to sing and within a few minutes there gathered no less than 20 family members. We stood around her bed and sang every Christmas Carol we could think of. She sang with us as well she could and in moments of joy, she raised her unbroken right arm to the sky. And then everyone grew silent as granny herself weakly, yet unabashedly, sang "How Great Thou Art."

As usual, Granny gave to each one of in that room yesterday. She just can't stop giving.

She even gave to her doctor, who said she was amazed by Granny's strength.

What is to come? We really don't know, but we all have great hope and faith in God's perfect timing in her life.

Singing with Granny, making Gingerbread houses with family and a win by the Golden Eagles just really kind of made everything better yesterday.

The Rundown

12:01 AM ~ Cleaning up vomit is never a great way to start the day. ohhh nooo. especially when you are supposed to be "getting away" at Big Cedar Lodge. (Kim and I decided to take a little three day trip to break up the time with our husbands out of town til Christmas Eve.) The fun continued until 3AM as Luke coughed, sneezed, had a nightmare I was unable to wake him up from, ran a fever, threw up more, and yodeled. Yes, he yodeled in his sleep. That did give me a little smile. At 3AM, he calmed down enough to allow us to sleep, if fitfully. I started the day exhausted already.

7:45 AM ~ Waking up to the reality of the day was tough for me. I felt like I had a Lifetime movie playing in my head as I watched scenes of my Granny through all stages of my life. I saw Granny reach for the Hostess cupcakes on top of her refrigerator to give me as a five year old having a slumber party at her house. I saw her pulling potatoes and carrots from her garden she and my grandpa planted on our farm. I listened to her teaching me to quilt. I saw her smile a thousand times. All these are memories to treasure, but today they just hurt.

8:00 AM ~ Messages start coming in. Texts, phone calls (one from Louisiana!), Facebook

messages, emails, blog comments. I thanked God for digital communication today. All communication treasured, all helping me move forward. ThAnK yOu!!!

9:30 AM ~ Packed the car alone. Felt lonely for Tom and my mom and sister as I got everything together on a blustery morning in Missouri. I try not to complain how much I miss my husband, because you just kind of have to steel yourself to that, but there is a hole in my heart that can't be patched until he comes back to us.

10AM ~ I had nothing but time as I drove back home from Big Cedar, listening to Luke cough like a crazy man and think about my granny. Headache. At least there was no vomit. Just a whole lot of phlegm and snot and coughing. Did I mention the coughing? And Did I mention how good my kids were in the car? I think the personal 10 inch TV's had something to do with that, but still.

3PM ~ Finally, after what seemed an eternity of driving, I saw my granny at the hospital. I thought she would be unresponsive, but I found that she was no less amazing than any other time I've been around her lately. Though she obviously is growing painfully weaker with each moment, she greeted each grandchild with pure delight from her bed. Her left arm is broken, but with her right she reached up to touch each one's face, ending the conversation with a slurred "I looooovvvvveee youuuuuuuu." Her resolve to show love is stunning.

4:30PM ~ Picked up Wilson from the vet. Who doesn't feel a little better at the sight of a dog who thinks you are the best person ever.

5:30 PM ~ Brought my cousin's kids to the house so she could spend more time at the hospital with granny. She lives out of town and I know that it's been hard on her to be far away during this time. Yes, I wanted to be there tonight with everyone, but I'm really glad that Heather got a few more precious moments with our inspiration.

6:00 PM ~ Picked up burgers for all 5 kids. Luke hasn't eaten much today, but requested coleslaw. Just the smell of it makes me sick, but for Lukey I guess it's a healing food. Cause he ate all of it. And weirdly, he's better now.7:30 PM ~ Opened a slew a Christmas cards, just love em, each and everyone. Mine are being mailed tomorrow, really they are coming to a mailbox near you.

7:45 PM ~ Gasped when I saw a preview for this show on Nick Teen. Really? I. had. no. idea. TV off. Out comes the board games.
8:40 PM ~ Listened to my beloved Golden Eagles lose their game by a couple points. Ugh. Never a good way to end the day. Ever. I feel for my hubby, my bro-in-law, and the players. And the coaches wives. Ouch.
9:30 PM ~ Made a new ending to the day by reading Christmas books with the kids. They each picked out one. Though I could barely keep my eyes focused on the words, the kids settled into it and we even sang through "The Little Drummer Boy" together. I like this ending better.

11:42 PM ~ Not sure where that 2 hours and 12 minutes went, but that is the rundown. I am feeling run down but lifted up. I am reminded of Max Lucado's book Everyday Deserves a Chance. He points out the verse "This is the day that the Lord has made" refers to all days, not just the ones we liked. Sick days, sad days, losing days, and dying days. They are all still days that He has made, and I worship Him for it.

She Will Rise....

For the last couple of weeks, Granny has been holding onto this world by a few stray threads, and soon the magnificent beauty of the quilt of heaven will be upon her.

Though it cuts our hearts to shreds thinking of not having our inspiration here with us on earth anymore,we know the truth, that she has had her eyes set upon the kingdom of God for days, months and years. She has anticipated living in His presence more than anyone I know.

Ellie couldn't understand how we can go on without Granny, and I tried to communicate what I know as sure as I know that Granny's eyes are blue like mine. I explained that we go on WITH her. The Bible assures us that the faith of a believer is poured out into future generations, so that faith is surely surging into Ellie's little life as I type. And Kami and Luke and Hallie and Lauren and Maggie and dozens of others. Granny is very much with us yet will be preparing many, many heavenly quilts for us in heaven.

As tears pour from my eyes, I ask you to please pray for Granny's last days. Hospice care is necessary now, as we have been told 3-5 days is the timeline. Granny is certainly one to defy expectations, but in my mind she is thinking this: "Only 3-5 days til I get to see Jesus!"

I have been listening to a big dose of Chris Tomlin lately. The kids and I sing our lungs out to "I Will Follow," but the song that has moved me, particularly the last couple of weeks is "I Will Rise." It isn't a song Granny knows, but the lyrics fit her so well. I am sharing them below as well as a link to the song in case you've never heard it.


There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:] And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:] And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing, "
Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb" [x2]

[Chorus:] And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise



She Will Rise.

Encouraging Ida

Granny loves the holidays, but unfortunately, she's spending this one stuck in a wheelchair living in the nursing home. So we thought we'd spice things up for her a little bit. You would have thought we had brought in a live 24-foot Douglas fir like the one in Washington, D.C.......she was so pleased with the little, silvery, tinselly thing. She was in good spirits on this day.

One night last week, I went by to see her around 7 P.M. She was wearing her red laced gown and all tucked in under 3 layers of covers (now I know why I love covers so) with the lights down low. She says to wake her up when she's asleep "I want you to wake me up!" she insists sweetly. "It breaks the monotony." So woke her up I did, and I don't know if was the heaviness of night that or the dream-like state of sleep that had her baring a soul a little more freely to me. She talked of what ifs (what if that darn swivel chair hadn't taken me down), and she affirmed God's protection over her (it didn't even hurt! God was right there with me.) She expressed her motherly worries (how's your Uncle Rex [her son] doing) and then spoke of her frustration at her current situation (I just want to be home). I wasn't sure what home she was talking about, her earthly one or heavenly one, but I just felt my heart twist up and I said, "Granny, God has left you about this old earth for some reason. He has a little more work for you to do here." She looked at me with a tiny twinkle in her eye. "You think so?" she wondered aloud.... "I know so, Granny!" I replied. "In fact," I explained, "you are already doing God's work, just being here in this nursing home and living so faithfully with your eyes on Jesus." I told her that several of my friends have been inspired by her over the years and especially lately. (I know this, friends, because you've told me!). "Really?" she questioned. "Yes, granny." I told her I share with my friends her love for God, her fear of nothing but him, the way she is always looking for God to return to earth, in anticipation of meeting Jesus each and every day of her life. She said, "Well, that just makes it worth it, then doesn't it," she whispered before she drifted off in sleep.

If my granny has touched you in any way, if you have seen her faith shine, I'd ask you to consider taking a moment and telling her so. I'd love you to send her a card to the nursing home. I know that many of you have never met her, but felt you have from hearing me talk about her incessantly. :) The words from you would confirm to her that her faithful walk has touched hearts along the way, even those she doesn't even know. It would make her days there a little softer. Here is her contact info:

Park's Edge Nursing Center
Attn: Ida Reynolds
5115 East 51st Street
Tulsa, OK 74135-7430

In a Baking Kind of Mood

I think if I lived in a simpler time, I'd be a canner of all things preservable. Baker of golden-brown pies and cobblers. I'd stuff my visitors' hands with baked goodies. Everyday would be a day that my home would smell like my granny's. Scrumptlicious.

However, 2010 time corners me and forces me to schlop the ingredient heavy applesauce off the shelves at Walmart, and anonymous cans of soup line my pantry.

Lately, though, I really have been in a baking kind of mood. I think I started making Pumpkin Bread the very weekend the pureed pumpkin hit the supermarket - seasonal item, you know. And even before granny's fall, I was simmering up pots of brown beans and muffin cups of cornbread. Just tastes like granny, you know? This weekend, I cooked up a big batch of homemade noodle soup... and yummy, we ate every last tidbit.

I don't want to forget granny's favorite dishes, so I decided to post the recipes right here, right now. There's no sugar-free or fat-free claims on any of these, but hey, she's been eating this stuff for years on end, and she's 99. Just saying!

Here are a few of our favorites:

Brown Beans and Ham
Soak brown beans overnight. In the morning, drain beans, rinse and cover again with water a few inches above the bean line. Add hamhock, salt pork or other source of flavoring (ham cubes and crumbled bacon are other possibilities.) Bring to a rapid boil and then turn down heat to simmer. In there somewhere, you will need to add salt and sugar to taste. Granny guesstimates that she starts with about 3 tsp. salt and 2 tsp. sugar, but she really has no idea. Simmer down for about 4-5 hours. A family favorite.


Old Fashioned Applesauce
Peel apples, as many as you want. Cut into pieces. Add H20, but not completely covering the apples. Just so you can see it through the apple pieces. Cook down til done, or soft and mushy. Mash up as you cook if you want. Add sugar and cinnamon to taste. That could be 1-2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 C sugar for starters.


Mashed Potatoes
Peel 5-6 potatoes, if that sounds good to you. Dice into chunks. Cook down til soft. Real soft. Pour most water out, but leave a small amount. Add 1-2 sticks butter. Add milk. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix with mixer. This is potato heaven or as Ellie calls it "creamy goodness."

Field Trip Favorite

One great highlight of elementary school is the day-long field trip to the one-room school house in Perry. It was a great learning experience when Kami went (and I had my camera fully charged), and Ellie loved it too, (but my battery lasted all of two and a half minutes, Dang Technology!). So my pictures are few but the memories are many. (which pretty much kills me by the way - the picture part that is...)


Ellie is more of a prairie girl at heart (remember the summer of Laura Ingalls Wilder?) and she soaked in the bridge of time, the school marm, the strict learning environment, the lessons on the slateboards, the spelling bee and the kid who had to put his nose in the circle on the chalkboard. For a day, no smartboards, no intercom announcements, no lunchables and no smart-mouthed boys (for this is the age when the boys really smart noticing the girls and their way of getting attention? Smart-mouthing. Ellie knows. It happened again today).


So glad that Ellie could experience just a taste of what her very own Great Grandma Ida lived in her childhood. Kami's post contains an interesting interview with Granny about her schooling, and this time my sister and I went over and got Granny on film. I would love to post snippets of her when I can so you can get to know her better and go back into time yourself to a time when things were simpler and humbler and... cold! Granny says the only bathroom was God's green earth and that when it was cold, then so was your hiney! Cold hineys aside, the "good" old days are a'calling my name.

In All of Her Glory

Fall, beautiful fall, on fire with beauty.
I know I am absolutely driving my kids bonkers as I point out the exact hue of each and every tree that catches my eye. I have definitely become a full-fledged "old person" as I ooh and ahh at the oaks and elms on every street of our town. This year's foliage has been absolutely stunning though. Has there ever been a prettier fall season? While watching the trees closely the last few days, I was thinking how funny it is that God gave their ravishing beauty directly before they shed their leaves and become bare. Only God could do something so surprising, so gorgeous, so blessed! It's sad that the beauty will go, but such a gift of God, one we can enjoy and savor.

And God is working His magic in another area too... He is allowing my granny to glow like the yellows and reds and oranges that are lining our streets. She is granny in her full beauty... so precious and bursting with the Spirit of God. Inevitably she, like the rest of us, will shed her leaves, but before she does, she is truly glorious, attracting attention whereever she is.

And that whereever she is is.... right now.... a nursing home. After 99 years of living, and living independently, she needs constant help. She is not able to put any weight on her leg yet, so the rehab wing of the nursing home is her temporary home. It's surely to be a tough adjustment, but my beautiful granny doens't complain. She smiles. She says witty things. She hurts, to be sure, but her attitude is no-doubt a testimony to her faith in God.

You may have read what I put on Facebook when she was still in the hospital . After singing "How Great Thou Art" from her hospital bed, she declared, "My God is so great, and He is so good to me." Then she quipped, "Put that on Facebook!" Yesterday, while talking to my mom about the challenge of becoming mobile again, she said, "If Jesus can walk on water, I know God can help me walk again!" I walked in her room a couple days while she was sleeping. Her eyes popped open "Annie!" she exclaimed. "Is anyone here with you?" she asked. "No just me," I answered." She smiled lightly and said, "Just you and the Lord!" One night, I ran by to see her. She wasn't feeling well, but I wheeled her down to the assembly room where a gospel band was singing "He Touched Me," and "Oh How I Love Jesus." I watched as she raised her hands in faith to her Father, and tears rolled down my cheeks as a I did the same.

Sometimes, my sister and I talk about how hard it is to see Granny hurting, living in the nursing home and for things to be so different than they were before. We wonder if it would be better if she could just go to the place that she's longed to be for most of her life... in heaven with Jesus. But I think her work here isn't quite done yet... God's making her a colorful and stunning testament to His goodness and mercy. Praise Him!

Halloween at the Hospital

Well, we had planned to spend Halloween afternoon at Granny's house. Instead we spent it at the hospital, because that's where Granny is right now.

I took all 6 kids (my 3 and my sister's 3) up to see her.

She hadn't slept all night, had her right leg in traction, and acted as though she was delighted to see everyone. She kept asking me if I needed anything. Like a snack or drink. In a hospital bed in traction, and still trying to serve others.

There were other relatives there besides us, so it seemed like a party. We were all crammed in the room, but it didn't seem weird, because we pack ourselves in her house like that too.

As everyone was talking and visiting, I went to granny's bed and took her hand. As I started massaging her arm lightly, I decided to sing "How Great Thou Art." It's a good thing she can't hear too well, because I can't sing too well. But I looked at her and saw she had her eyes closed as though she was relaxed and peaceful.

I love that woman beyond words.

Two kids cried upon sight of granny in that bed, and that was my Ellie and Luke. They both tried to hold it back, but seeing her like that I imagine was hard for all of us.

Tomorrow she will have surgery to place a steel rod in her leg and fix her "Halloween trick" as she calls it. She has the faith that her Lord will carry her through. Our prayers could only serve to support her even more.

The Day I Have Dreaded

When your granny is 99, you know that at some point, inevitably, there is going to be an issue healthwise. Last night, Granny fell and broke her hip. Well, shattered it, as the doctor said. A hip replacement is in her near future. She is in lots of pain, though still full of life and spirit. She had us all cracking up. But a broken hip, as you know, is not a good thing. I thank you in advance for praying for Granny. I told her you would be! And she's holding you to it now, ya hear?

Hats off to Granny and Her 99 Years of Living!

Birthdays are a big deal at any age. But when you turn 97, 98, or 99, it certainly warrants an enormous celebration. Having done a pioneer party and an American Idol party, we were looking for another idea that fit our loving, hilarious, sweet, silly, Granny. One thing she is famous for, (besides her quilts!) is taking pictures with hats and other things (even a lampshade) on her head. I will post those pictures sometime. (Mom, can you email them to me?) So we decided that everyone would wear a hat in honor of Granny and that we did. Granny laughed it up, even if at 99, she is just now starting to feel her age. She hasn't been at her best lately and her comment... "I guess I am just getting old." Too funny. Prayers for granny and praises for a lovely 99th birthday.