The Blessing of Grandparents (and Great-Grandparents)

This morning's Bible reading led me to Genesis 48:8-11. You can read it for yourself but the gist of these verses was that Jacob was meeting two of his grandsons for the first time which was a huge blessing because he didn't think he'd ever even see his son Joseph again...let alone the grandsons.

This reminded me of my Grammy.

Before she passed away she had been sick for YEARS. I had no idea how sick she was. She knew though.

When she found out that I was pregnant with my first child she didn't think she'd live long enough to actually SEE her.

Well...God had a blessing in store for me, my Grammy, and my daughter Lauren, because He allowed my Grammy to see, hold, and LOVE her. It wasn't for long, but it was longer than my Grammy had ever expected.

As I journey through this very troubling time of my life right now (praying that I will not be HOMELESS in 14 days), I am reminded that God is omnipotent TODAY, as He was back in the time of Jacob...and even before.

God blessed my Grammy in the same way that He blessed Jacob. Surely He will bless ME in the MIRACULOUS way that He blessed others in times past as well. At this point I need nothing short of a MIRACLE.

For now though, Let the DIALOGUE begin: Did you grow up knowing your grandparents? And if you have children, did they get to know their grandparents?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Penny (or more) For Your Thoughts

Last Saturday I had a book club meeting to attend but didn't want to drive my car due to issues that I'll write about on another day.

In order to get to the meeting via public transportation I needed to take two buses, a train, and then one more bus. No biggie. With my TAP card, I can get anywhere...and I do.

As I exited the last bus and began walking to the park where the meeting was being held I happened to notice something shiny in the grass.

I focused in on the shiny thing and noticed that it was a dime. A dime. Cool. I actually found a dime earlier today as well. But...we're not talking about today...we're talking about last Saturday.

I bent down to pick up the dime, thanked God for "the find" as I always do, and noticed a quarter near the dime. Then I spotted two more dimes, two nickels and a penny. SIXTY SIX CENTS all together!

I was baffled by finding this much change so close together.

I walk often so I'm used to finding a nickel here or a dime there, but never have they all been TOGETHER before.

Finding all that change Saturday gave me a sweet memory of my Grammy. She and I took evening walks everyday during the summers of my childhood, especially after her heart surgeries when she walked to regain her strength. I loved those walks! We would talk, laugh, and have contests to see who could find the most change along the way. Some days I won. Some days Grammy won. Even on the days when Grammy won, I was still a winner because we were together and I loved every moment spent with her. My Grammy was my very first best friend.

Oh how I miss her...her laugh...and the beautiful music she played on her organ. I'd watch her fingers glide across the keys while her feet gracefully pressed on the floor pedals.

Hernando's Hideaway, If I Were a Rich Man, and Blessed Assurance were my favorite songs. She would play them for me any time I asked.

With that said...Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's the most amount of money you've ever found while out walking? I once found a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL in a street gutter. It was a little muddy, it spent just the same as a clean one would've.

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Ring-a-Ling-a-Ling

My grandmother was my very first BEST FRIEND. What I now realize is that she was my only BEST FRIEND.

I absolutely LOVED that woman. She was encouraging, intelligent, musically talented, loving, caring, kind, thoughtful and a faithful Woman of God. She went home to be with the Lord way too soon (at least for me) and has been dwelling in the presence of God since 1992 (I think.) I honestly don't remember exactly when she passed...I just know that she lived long enough to hold and love my oldest daughter Lauren (who was born in 1990), but she wasn't here to meet my youngest daughter Jordan (who was born in 1993.)

My Grammy knew that she was sick long before she "made the transition."

Because she knew, she was able to get things "in order" and select certain things that she wanted to go to certain people.

She didn't have much to leave but what she did leave is highly cherished.

To me, she left a pearl necklace, a teeny tiny itty bitty frog that I gave to her when I was little, and a pig of the same size that I had also given her. I'm talking TINY...like about the size of my thumbnail.

She left me her initial "M" which she used to wear on a necklace chain.

I'm not exactly sure what she left my Mom, but I do know that my Mom got my Grammy's bells, which my Mom gave to me during one of their many moves.

I love these bells!

Three of them are pictured here. Altogether there are fifteen...each one different.

I also have my Grammy's cookbook that she received as a wedding gift in 1946. My favorite recipe in that book is for apple pie. Many a pie I made with my Grammy out of that book.

So no...there was no grand inheritance when she passed, yet what my Grammy did leave me is absolutely priceless. Every time I look at the bells lined underneath my television set, I am reminded of the woman who loved me most...my Grammy.

I look forward to the day when I will see her again. That time I will never have to say goodbye.

How 'bout you...Let the DIALOGUE begin: Is there anything special that a loved one has left you?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

See Ya Later Alligator!

This evening when I got home from work, I changed my clothes and walked to the grocery store to pick op some items for tomorrow's pot luck.

As I was walking I was reminded of my childhood walks with my Grammy.

She suffered a heart attack when I was maybe ten years old and that summer as she rehabilitated I got to stay at her home...for the WHOLE summer. I loved that!

Part of her rehabilitation was to walk for excersise.

So in the evening, before my Grandpa would get home from work, she and I would throw on our tennies and head down the block. Trash day was always my favorite. On trash day, my Grammy and I would have a contest to see who would find the most change. There was ALWAYS change to be found on Trash day.

Up we'd walk, and back. Sometimes Grammy won. Sometimes I did. Either way, I was a winner because I was with my BEST friend.

So yeah...today's walk reminded me of those times.

My Grammy's been in heaven for about 25 years now. I miss her, yet I know that she's there with my Mom and one day I will see them BOTH again.

On this day, "30 Days of THANKFULLNESS: Day 10 - I am THANKFUL for the wonderful memories of my Grammy...my very first BEST friend.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What is your fondest memory of you grandparents?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

An Apple A Day

Many of my fondest childhood memories involve my Grammy. I loved that woman sooo much. I always say that she was my VERY FIRST BEST FRIEND.

I could talk with her for hours. Play in her curly hair for hours. Read to her for hours. And time always managed to simply FLY by.

Although we didn't live very far from my grandparents, spending time in their home was always like a vacation for me.

We lived in Carson. They lived in Inglewood. Yet the two cities seemed worlds away.

Each year, as soon as the last day of school would finish, I would pack my bags and head over to "Grammy and Paw Paws."

My grandparents always had a dog, and although I am allergic, I would spend entire days in the backyard playing and teaching the dog tricks. As a result, my nights were filled with lots of sneezing, along with itchy eyes and throat. In spite of all that, I'd be right back out in that yard the next day.

To this day I am the same way. I absolutely LOVE dogs but if you've got one and I come over to visit, you can be guaranteed that I'm gonna pet it and make a new friend. I just can't resist.

When I wasn't teaching my grandparent's dog tricks, I was in the backyard picking apples for my Grammy to bake a pie. My goodness, her pies were DELICIOUS! Thankfully, I can say that I have the recipe. It was in the recipe book that she received on her wedding day back in 1940-something. Maybe '44 or '46. I'd have to dig it out to be sure.

Anyway...the pie was AMAZING.

I still remember how she and I would sit and enjoy a slice together. I would eat the crust and juice from MY piece; she would eat the baked apples from HER piece. Then we'd SWITCH PLATES. I'd eat HER crust and juice; she'd eat MY apples. We were the PERFECT pie-eating team!

I was reminded of my Grammy today when I tried an Opal Apple for the first time. I know a few folks who rave about them, so I thought I'd give one a try.

Between Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala and Macintosh apples, Galas are my favorite.

The opal was good too though. Something about it reminded me of a pear. Maybe it was the feel and taste of the skin. Not 100% sure. But I liked the fact that it was crisp, not mushy -- and sweet, not bitter.

Would I try one again? Sure. Not sure that I'd buy anymore but if someone offered one to me, I would accept.

For now though, I think I'll stick with my Galas.

Now Let the DIALOGUE begin: You probably guessed this one -- What's YOUR favorite type of apple? And have you ever tried Opal?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Behind the Mask

So the past few weeks have been pretty tough and quite honestly, no one cares. Mind you...aside from my kids, no one really even knows what's been going on. I'm beginning to wonder if that's a trust issue on my part. I mean, some people tell EVERYBODY their problems. I on the other hand don't tell anybody anything. NOBODY. That's partly because I don't HAVE anybody.

For weeks I've been wanting to talk to my Pastor about what I'm going through, and although I've had MANY opportunities, I just can't bring myself to do it. He has so much on his plate and issues to deal with pertaining to other members that are far more important than mine. So...I simply haven't bothered.

That means that everything I'm dealing with is bottled up inside. We all know that's not good.

I just need somebody to talk to. Not a therapist, but a friend.

Sure, I communicate with God throughout the day by way of prayer (which is ME talking to HIM), and reading His Word (which is Him talking to ME). Yet I still need a HUMAN BEING by my side...just to listen and tell me that everything is going to be okay. And even if it isn't, then to tell me that they are here FOR me and WITH me no matter what happens next. Right now I am alone and lonely. Not a good combination if you ask me. Heck, ask anyone and they would agree as well.

I would say that I'll just keep "putting on my happy face", but I don't really even do that anymore. If people would actually look at me when I speak to them...I mean REALLY look at me, they would see that something's wrong. Not that I go around purposefully moping (because I don't) but because a bit of the usual sparkle that I tend to have has begun to dwindle. I can't see it from the outside, but I feel it on the inside.

What's a girl to do?

The answer: Keep livin'.

So there you have it folks. Oh what I wouldn't give for a REAL hug, or a REAL conversation with someone who genuinely wants to know how I'm doing...and doesn't mind hearing the truth.

Oh well. Today's another day, I'm 39 minutes in. As Psalm 34:1 states, "I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

And...it's my Grammy's birthday. She would have been 86 today. I love her and I miss her, EVERYDAY. She was truly my BEST FRIEND. Loved me in spite of my flaws, and didn't expect me to perfect. When I made a mistake, she was still right there by my side. She may have had to correct me on an issue or two...but she was ALWAYS there. Never called me names, and never said things about me behind my back. A grandmother's love is like no other. Oh how I miss it. Oh how I miss her. If she were here, she'd be the one I'd call. She'd be the one to give me a hug. She'd say, "Dee-da, everything will be okay". If she were here.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: When was the last time you took off your mask and let folks know how you were REALLY feeling?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Blessed Assurance

*** This is a long one. Grab a cup of coffee and fluff up the pillows. You're gonna be here a while. ***

Today, I am remembering the woman who was my very best friend for 22 years...my grandmother Martha Janet. 83 years ago today God blessed the world with her beautiful spirit. I loved her so much, and she loved me even more. She taught me how to read, write, and gave me the great love for music that I have today.

So many of my pleasant childhood memories include my grandmother.

She sang beautifully and could play a mean organ. She could play for hours as I would go through her song book and say, "Grammy...play this one". And she would. Then I'd choose another, "Play this one Grammy". And she would. She never said no.

She loved the song Blessed Assurance, and every now and then my grandpa would join in and sing along in his booming James Earl Jones-esque voice. I LOVED those times!

Other times, I would lay underneath my Grammy's organ bench and just watch her feet move across the pedals. Count tell you how many times I fell asleep under there. I know that it sounds odd, but it was just so peaceful under that bench just watch Grammy's feet move while listening to her play.

I could go on and on with the memories of my grandmother. Here are just a few:

She would always save me the last drop of coffee in her cup.
She would send me in the backyard to pick apples so that she and I could make a pie. After her heart attack I stayed with her for the entire summer to be her nurse & get her back to health. I'll never forget the time that she asked me to make her a peanut butter and lettuce sandwich. Gladly, I rushed into the kitchen and prepared the sandwich. I was so proud of myself. Here I was...making lunch for Grammy. What an honor! I take the sandwich to her...she takes a bite...I ask her how it is...she pauses...swallows, and asks me in her loving grandmotherly tone..."Dida (that was what she & my grandpa called me) where did you get the lettuce for the sandwich?"

I replied, "From the refrigerator".
She asks, "Where in the refrigerator?"
So I describe the drawer where I got it from.

I begin to sense that something might be wrong.
So I ask, "What's wrong Grammy? Is your sandwich bad?"

She just looks at me, smiles, and says, "It's really good. I've never had a peanut butter and CABBAGE sandwich before."

OOPS!

We laughed and laughed...and I quickly made my Grammy another sandwich...this time...with LETTUCE.

I remember the daily walks that we'd take in the neighborhood. Trash day was our favorite day to walk because we'd find so much change on the sidewalk on those days. We'd have contests to see who would collect the most change. We had so much fun we didn't even realize how far we had walked most days. Grammy was getting better. She was getting stronger, and I was her nurse.

She would encourage me to write stories and one day when I went to visit, she had a brand new typewriter waiting for me...so that I could type my stories...lots of them.

I remember how I got her to stop smoking. This was a BIG one! She told me that she needed me to help her. We tried many methods but none of them worked, until...one day...

I was so angry with her for smoking because I knew that it was hurting her and making her sick. So I said, "Grammy, I know how to make you stop smoking. Any time I see you with a cigarette, I am going to HIT you."

I don't know where this came from. I don't even think I was 10 years old at the time, but this was the best idea I could come up with. And the catch was...she could NOT hit me back.

Now I don't know how YOU were brought up, but I was brought up not to talk back to adults, and to HIT an adult (without being smacked back) was definitely out of the question.

Grammy looked at me for a minute, considered my proposition and agreed. We had a DEAL!

Well, true to my word...the first next time I saw Grammy with a cigarette in her hand, I PUNCHED her...in the arm I think. She quickly gave me a look that said, "I am about to whip your tail." I looked right back at her and said, "No, no...you said I could, remember?"

I tell you...that was the LAST cigarette Grammy ever attempted to smoke. She never picked one up after that. Mission Accomplished!

I remember how she took care of my brothers while my mom worked. It was always such a treat to get home from school and Grammy was there. I hated to see her go.

I remember when I first got my license and I was driving her to a doctor's appointment. On the way there, I got pulled over, and got a ticket. I was frantic because I didn't want my parents to know that I got a ticket...they might not let me drive again if they knew.

Grammy calmed me down and we made a deal. Since she was at our house everyday, she told me that she would check the mail, and when the ticket arrived, she would take it and pay it so that my parents wouldn't have to know about it. Such a "life saver" she was.

I remember when she came to the hospital to see my brand new baby, Lauren. Grammy held Lauren, admiring her beautiful red hair. She had never seen a baby with such pretty hair. Grammy said, "I'm going to call her Penny". I said, (in my "I'm-grown- now voice"), "No Grammy. Her name is Lauren, not Penny." Grammy said, "Fine...but she looks like a pretty penny to me."

On that same visit, I remember getting snappy once more (it must've been the hormones because I would've never been mean to my grandmother in my right mind). Lauren was skin was (and still is) very very light. For whatever reason, I had her right in the sunlight. Grammy told me that I needed to keep her out of the sun. It wasn't good for her skin, being so light. She told me to make sure that she wore hats out in the sun. I snapped at Grammy and said,"I know what to do with her, she's my baby".

At that moment, someone should have punched ME. Had to be the hormones, just had to be. That is the only bad memory that I have with my grandmother, and it was only bad because of MY stupid behavior.

I greatly wish that all my babies could have had the chance to know Grammy and experience her love as I did. Lauren was the only one that ever got to be held in her loving arms. Sadly, Lauren doesn't remember. She was only 8 months old when Grammy died...waaay too soon.

I could go on and on and on. I had 22 years of wonderful memories and there's just no way to post them all here. For now, I'll leave you with the lyrics to her favorite song, Blessed Assurance by Frances J. Crosby:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMMY!

One day, we WILL sing this song together.

Let the DIALOGUE begin! What is your favorite memory with your grandparents?

Talk to me!

Til next time...