As Time Goes By...

Today has been a year since I lost one of the most important women in my life. My Grandmother passed away last year on November 16. She was 83 years old. When I last saw her the night before she passes away, we had such a marvelous visit. She was awake and alert and we talked for almost an hour just the two of us. She had been in the hospital for several days, and she had not really been very coherent up until that evening. She told me funny stories, and when it came time for me to leave we exchanged "I love you's". These were the last words that she ever said to me and I to her. I truly miss her. No words can describe how wonderful she was. She taught me so many things. I truly cherish the time that I was able to spend with her.

Here are the beautiful words of my own mother that she wrote for Grandma:

If there is a person in this world who loved to watch things grow it was my Momma. There was not a year that went by that Momma did not have a garden. She loved to feel the dirt in her hands and to gather the fruits of the seeds that she had planted. She shared them freely with her family, her friends, and her neighbors. She was always bringing tomatoes or cucumbers or something from her garden when she came to see you. She planted the seeds and enjoyed the rewards of her hard work. She did this with not only the garden in her back yard, but in the lives of her children, her grandchildren and many others. As I was growing up I was the only girl in a house full of brothers. Momma and I had a special relationship. She was the gardener who planted the seeds that shaped my life. Momma planted the seeds of hard work and responsibility by example. She was a strong woman. She had strength in responsibility, most of the time she was focused on the task at hand. She wore many hats and carried many burdens. She had to be strong in order to fulfill the many obligations that she had. She never shirked any difficult task or made any excuses. She took care of whatever needed to be done even when it was not easy. Momma also planted the seeds of determination and perseverance. There were many circumstances that came into her life that she faced which she could not change. But she always found a way to persevere. She was a very practical woman who did not complain about the way things were, she simply made the best of the situation and went from there. She accomplished the things that needed to be done, and she was determined to make the best for her children. She always put her children first, whether it was serving them first at a meal or giving the last of herself at the end of a long day, she always put us first. Growing up Momma always sewed. From an early age and even into my teen years, Momma made all of my clothes. When I was a girl I could not appreciate how much time and labor went into the many dresses and outfits that she fashioned for me. Even when she did not have time or did not have energy, she still used her hands to create something for me to wear. I have since come to greatly appreciate the many stitches that she has sewn for me. She did many things for me, too many to name here. And that is another of the seeds that she planted in my life, her sense of selflessness and sweet spirit. Momma always had such a sweet spirit about her that overflowed from her strong faith. Even accomplishing the most menial of tasks, cleaning the house, raking leaves, no matter what it was she was doing Momma had a song. She always filled the house with her voice. She loved hymns, and she was always singing or humming as she worked. She made our house a home with her spirit and love. She shared these seeds of responsibility, perseverance, and a sweet spirit with all of us. Her diligent gardening in the lives of her children and grandchildren will be the flowers that continue to spread and bloom in lives of many others. Momma, you planted these seeds of character in all of our lives, and we rejoice with you now as you receive your well deserved rewards with Jesus.