Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Of Grace & Elegance and a Generation Passing
My grandmother, whom we called Grammy, passed away last week at the age of 90 years. Her health and mind has been slowly failing over the last few years. We were fairly certain we wouldn't have her through the summer. Now she is in the summer of Heaven with her Lord.
I have now, with my parents, buried all my grandparents in a short 15 month period. This has caused me to reflect on the cycles of life - children, parents, grandparents. My grandparents didn't give me the idea of loosing one - they all left en masse. Those dear old people that my parents discussed with their siblings on how to care for, no longer need caring for. It is a strange liberation for them and yet a strange new emptiness. Now their focus goes to the estates and their brothers and sisters who remain.
My view of life has changed. The old people were always my grandparents - not my children's! When I was in junior high, my great-grandfather died. I had such a good time with the cousins I didn't see often. We stayed up late, ran around everywhere, never saw parents until we needed to eat. As a result, I slept through my grandfather's funeral. This was a dear sweet man who lived so long on lemon drops and Freedent gum (that was what he told us kids). When I got home, I felt horrible! It didn't dawn on me until just this past week on what that man meant to my Dad. This was his grandfather, who loved him and helped raise him. I explained this to my daughter and niece, trying to impart the wisdom I just then realized. It took me over twenty years to realize that my parents had grandparents that they cared for and had to bury. How it hurt my Dad to have to bury this sweet man while his daughter slept. My Dad was blessed as his two grandma's lived for over a hundred years. WOW!!
Though Grammy was always this white haired lady to the girls, she wasn't that for me. In all truthfulness, she wasn't a cuddly grandma. When my sister and I were little, we called her "grandgemother." Whatever image comes to your mind upon the hearing of that word is probably a correct evaluation of her as a grandma. She was a harsh woman. Yet now I see why. She was a ranching wife, with a political husband. Not an easy job.
Prior to her marriage, she was the first XIT Queen. Beauty isn't word enough for her. She was elegant and graceful. Her red hair flowing. This I remember, rich red hair falling down like a sunset water-fall. Just as quickly as it fell, it was swooped up into her ranching bun. I did love her hair. As she got older and the hair turned whiter, she did soften tremendously. I really enjoyed her then.
Though she didn't play with us as grandchildren, she did adore her great-grandchildren. My daughter always caused great smiles on her. When my boys came around, she found endless delight into watching them play. She really didn't get to know my baby as her alzheimer's set in fully by then. She did see him and acknowledge him as her grandbaby.
Her passing marks the end of that generation, in my family anyway. My children no longer have great-grandparents to love on. Really, this is what they want - both of the children and the great-grandparents. Now my parents are retired and at the age where they can just enjoy the grandkids. It takes a bit out of them to keep them for a long time, but the so enjoy watching the boys play and the girls walk around whispering as teens tend to do.
I have to realize that it isn't just my parents getting older. Though I love hearing, "You're not old enough to have a teenage daughter!" The truth is that I do and I am. What a joy can be in getting older and watching the generations go! My grandmother's memories of the Dust Bowl and World War II are gone into the grave with her. But her stories are passed down and added to with each generation.
This one was told at her funeral: During the Great Depression, my Grammy and her mom only had one nice dress. Being that her mom was insistent that they attend church, they took turns. One would wear the dress one week, then the other would wear the same dress the next. This really impressed me as my Grammy always dressed well - even when ranching. In fact, I knew her mind was too far gone when I visited her in her room and she was wearing a pink and black sweat suit top with nice poly-blend sea green pants. Ohhh she would have had a fit had she known!!! I realized from the story that my Grammy's grace and elegance weren't just in her taste for clothes, it was the fabric of her being. She is grace and elegance! I would love those traits from her. Of the many traits of hers I have, I'm not sure those two fell to me ...
The kids and I visited Grammy after the baby was born. My parents came with me because at this time Grammy didn't always know who I was. Though she always recognized my daughter. My Dad took this picture for me. I am ok with my kids remembering Grammy like this; I have older memories and now stories to share. (Obviously, the person who dressed her this day was fired!)
I love you, Grammy! |
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Friday, April 18, 2008 My Riches
It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it. Proverbs 10:22
Last week, we welcomed our newest member to our family. The Lord has blessed us with another little boy. And we are amazed by him! I space my children out (not intentional, it just happens that way). I forget what it is like to have a new baby. The delight, the joy, the wonder!!!
He happens to be my smallest baby, so we have been enjoying taking pictures of him next to large objects. This is a Bolivian Pot my sister gave us for Christmas.
I am still considering his blog name, so for now he is new baby boy. The latest one to make my husband and I rich.
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Friday, December 28, 2007 If You Were Given This, Would You Like It?
I have spent the last two months making my Christmas gifts. Now that everyone has opened them, I can share with you what I made: a movie and aprons for the ladies of my family.
The movie, as much as I'd like to share with you, requires some editing to put on just a short version of what I did. This may take awhile as doing this has made me rather sick of my computer for the moment.
However, I can add pictures of my aprons. First I will tell you how I did these. I found some patterns (for free) on the internet. After reading them, I was clueless as to what to do. I am not one for always following directions (or even looking at them) so I decided to go another route. I have two aprons that my Grandma's Grandma made. One was hand sewn, the other by machine. These aprons have to be well over 50 years old. I looked at how they were sewn as well as the directions. Being a visual person, this made more sense.
Next I looked at all my scraps of cloth. Through my many years of wanting to make a cute quilt for my daughter, I gathered many yards of darling patterns. I never made the quilt and she is now 15 years old. However, this left me with lots of combinations to make ten aprons. Starting after Thanksgiving, I began sewing and ironing and totally messing up my dining room to accomplish this little project.
I made the large portion of the apron, then the straps, and last the pocket. I did all ten different, so there are literally no two alike. I made some real big for the taller (or is it more messier) of my family. I made aprons for my mother-in-law, my mom and sisters. I made little ones for my nieces. I made one full apron for my daughter's 15th birthday. Guess who I didn't make an apron for. Me. By the time I made my daughter's, I was sick of sewing.
Here are the pictures:
Mom's
Mother-in-law's
Aunt-in-law's
Sister 1
Niece 1
Niece 2
Sister 2
Sister-in-law's
Niece 3 (she is a BIG Spiderman fan)
And Miss Actress'
If you look closely, you will see that all are different. I did the strap different trying to find the right way to put it on. I found that it really depended on how I wanted the apron to look. Some have big pockets and others don't. The width and length varied greatly on these. Here is where patterns and directions are useful, but I had lots of fun experimenting.
Why did I choose to make aprons? I thought it would be a good idea. It is antiquated and useful. I wondered why we don't use aprons anymore, my family cooks. I have sisters who bake and make delicious meals (I am the black sheep of the family in that way). My mom has wonderful meals and desserts. My sister-in-law makes an awesome coconut-lime cake. And I am really good at uncooking (making raw meals with raw veggies and fruit - no raw meat). I find that I use my clothes to wipe my hands or the veggies. Then I end up with dirty clothes for dinner. I thought that my family would appreciate aprons to use for cooking or whatever.
I didn't make any for the men of my family. Perhaps that was sexist, but I wasn't sure they would appreciate it as much as the ladies.
What do you think?
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Thursday, June 7, 2007 June 7, 1941
Today my grandparents would have been married 66 years. We lost Grandma March 31st of this year. Grandpa lived 9 weeks to the hour without her. My dear, sweet Grandpa passed quietly last Saturday, June 2 at 8:30 pm. What a reunion he must have had with his Sweetheart!!!
My Grandpa was 20 when he and Grandma married. He was a mechanic by trade. During his time in the Navy, he worked on airplanes. After World War II, he worked on cars. As a child, I remember Grandpa wearing these overalls for working on cars and his hands would be black from grease. He was a good and trustworthy mechanic. He knew about engines like nobodies business. He and my husband would talk about the old cars for hours. The time and attention, however, that Grandpa poured into things mechanical- he loved talking about cars and planes and engines - paled in comparison to his desire for the Lord and the things of God.
He became a Christian in the forties and answered the call to the ministry in the early fifties. He helped start churches in Walsenburg, Co and Jamestown, NY. Since 1980, he has been pastoring a small church in NM. Grandpa would spend every weekday morning at the church for counseling. The doors of the church were open to whomever needed his attention. Some days people would come by, others were quiet. Grandpa always had good conversations with the Lord. His years of Bible study alone are riches that he is truly reaping right now. This is the inheritance that is worth more than any estate he could have gathered during his time on earth.
Grandpa was certainly a spiritual leader and mentor. I am thankful for the heritage that they both have given me and my children.
The church will seem so empty and bare without my dear Grandpa sitting at his desk or standing at the pulpit. The Bible says that God's word will go forth and accomplish what it is intended to, so that I know my Grandpa's teachings and life example will go on in those he shepherded.
Grandma & Grandpa at Christmas 2006
Are they not the cutest ever?!?!
Grandpa and his kids during the time we said goodbye to Grandma.
Missing Grandma
Does this not break your heart?
He was missing his Sweetheart terribly!
I love my grandparents dearly. Though I will miss them, I am thankful for being born into this family. I am thankful that my grandparents accepted me and loved me, though I am not easy to love. I appreciate their prayers for me and my family - for their care and concern - for their time. The stone that marks their bodies home may be a stopping place for me in the future, but I know and have hope that they are rejoicing with the Saviour. They are alive in Jesus Christ our Lord. I know that the Lord welcomed them with "Well done, good and faithful servant."
My mom, sister and I had gotten a call from my other sister at the hospital with Grandpa around 1 in the afternoon telling us to get there right away. Grandpa wasn't doing well at all. I made the five minute trip in two. I needed to read a passage to him. I was so thankful that earlier I was able to hang out with Grandpa and read to him from the Bible. I read his favorite Psalms to him. This certain scripture, however, had come to me on three different occasions; I needed to read it to him. So we rushed and ran. In the hurry of things, I grabbed his last Bible and told him, "Grandpa, I need to read to you from the Bible." It was hectic and I was scared that Grandpa would slip into a deep sleep and not hear me. With a shaky voice, I read:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
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Wednesday, May 9, 2007 A Fine Day for Photos
The kids and I had a photo-shoot day. All the pictures were taken in our yard at various trees and rocks and grass. We missed the cactus for most of the photography, however Jet found one we overlooked toward the end. He will let you know that those hurt!
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Monday, April 2, 2007 True Beauty
My Grandma was taken suddenly. Please forgive me revisiting this. I am not ready to completely say goodbye just yet. Her funeral is on Wednesday. I am sure that won't seal my grief, but it will be a good time of remembering her life and her love for Jesus.
She was one of the most beautiful women I have known (my other grandma is also beautiful). I wanted to share some more pictures and some thoughts some of the grandkids had.
Here she is as a teenager. No make-up, no revealing clothing - she didn't need it. Her beauty is truly natural.
Here is a great picture of her and Grandpa dating. The writing on the top says "5 months later received first kiss." I think romance started with these two.
I have no idea the story behind this pic. But it is such a great pic showing her infectious smile.
A.S. remembered Gram this way:
On March 31, 2007 I was spending a relaxing afternoon on the waters of Lake Southerland. While I was sitting in the boat with my best friend, I stopped moving and thinking and just closed my eyes and listened to what was happening around me. With my eyes closed I heard silence and this silence was so beautiful. A gust of wind blew through and I heard it, I heard the wind and the water splashing beneath the boat. I opened my eyes and looked around; I saw green rolling hills and mountains surrounding me. Birds of all kind flew the skies on this day. Beautiful birds, white birds, black birds, ducks and even playful sparrows. Throughout the day I was in Aw of the beauty Lake Southerland had on this day. I felt like I was stranded in paradise. The trees seemed to be perfectly round, not a branch out of place. The earth around was perfect, no evidence of man anywhere, just nature. At the end of my day on the boat, we stopped right in the middle of the water; I looked up at the mountains to see that I was in perfect alignment to the most amazing view of a row of mountain peaks looking back at me. The sinking sun was shining through and the green mountain peaks seemed so perfect like a painting or a wish. At this moment I asked my self, “Why is it that this day has been so perfect and so beautiful?” Later that night my question was answered in full. My grandmother, Helen Salmon, passed on that night. When I found out I realized that the beauty nature showed me was a gift to her. A gift to make her last day with us beautiful and perfect because she was perfect. This is how I will always remember her. Helen to me is love, peace, and beauty. I will miss her with all my heart, but like the magical day on the lake, her heavenly impression will last with me until we meet again.
S.B. had this to say:
Grandma,
It has been an honor and privilage to have known you, to have loved and been loved by you, to be named after you. Your strength of character, your infectous humor, and your ever abiding faith are all a part of the fabric that makes me who I am. You have shown me how to give of myself without reservation, how to love without condition, and how to have Faith without having doubt. I am forever greatful to the Lord above that He has placed you in my life. I am all the better for having known you.
All of my love,
D.B. was too the point:
Although she wasn't, I called her my grandma anyways, and she was the closest thing I had to one for the past 15 years.
K.B said this in her own childlike way:
R.I.P Great Grandma
While your gone your memories you have left are not
When we went to Macy's you had atleast 50 credit cards in your wallet and majority of them belonged to stores that didn't even exist
Or all the time we would go to eat you always gave us a quarter for a candy
Or your sweet hugs
Or when we said, "Hi great Grandma," your sweet voice always said,
"Hi Sugar's how are you,"
Or your sweet laugh
All of these things and more I'll miss about you
And even though your time has come now and you have left us all here
We know that when our time comes we will once more be with you
and never lose you again
I Love You So Very Much Great Grandma
B.K. struggled for a bit for the right words. She succeeded in finding them:
My Dearest Grandma,
Words cannot express how special you are and how much you mean to me. Thank you for loving me with all you have, always holding me tight in your arms, teaching me everything you know, and watching me grow up. You have always been there for me, praying for me. Thank you most of all for teaching me about Jesus and showing me how to pray. I could not have hand picked a better grandma. I will always cherish your warm smile, soft touch, and gentle spirit. I treasure those precious moments we shared together and hold them dear to my heart. I love you and miss you grandma, but I know we will meet again some day.
I think my kids will add some thoughts later.
Pilot is still processing the idea of death. We just lost a dog, so oddly enough that has helped. He is realizing that when people die, you don't always have the chance to tell them what you want to say. I think he is sort of understanding the idea that death is not always known the who, when and why.
Jet is not quite understanding. I don't think he saw Great Grandma that much, so he has no frame of reference. Actress has been a great big help to me as I am making a movie of Gram's life. She and I haven't had time to connect on this.
Those little moments when grief hits, we take. I am learning that it is ok, and probably healthy to let your kids see you cry. I would really like to know how your family expresses grief. Please leave me a comment on this.
Thanks.
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Learning from the Shepherd
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Our School's Motto is: Fidelis, Virtus, Continentia
Our School's Motto means: Faith, Virtue, Self-Control
We chose Shepherd's Fold as the name of our school to reflect Jesus, our Shepherd, leading and directing our learning and our lives. The Lord created us to be multi-dimensional. Each part of us needs His guidance. As He cares, directs, and protects for every aspect of our lives, then we, with His help, care for, direct, and protect our children.
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