"Big Grandma"

Well, we had a lovely visit with "Big Grandma", who as you can see in the picture is not "big" at all :). This name came from cousin Aaron who, as a child, made the connection between "great" and "big", therefore making Great-Grandma...Big Grandma. It's stuck, although I've heard her say on occasion that she's not wild about the name.

My Grandma is an amazing woman. I have learned a great many wonderful things from her. She has always been my spiritual rock. I've always been able to talk with her about God and ask her questions. For as long as I can remember she has never feared death which has always fascinated me. She's always said that she's "ready to go home whenever God calls her". Her peace is outstanding. Grandma has got her priorities in order. Her home is simple. At the age of 84, she remains in her home and continues to raise a beautiful vegetable garden, fruit trees and incredible flowers. I meant to get a picture of her perennial hibiscus plant but i forgot. The blooms were larger than an adult face...I kid you not. That woman can make absolutely anything grow. She's got the greenest thumb of anyone I know. Unfortunately not much of that rubbed off on me. Besides gardening, Grandma keeps busy volunteering at the thrift store once a week, volunteering at Nithview home for the aged, and quilting and tying comforters for MCC for people all over the world who have NOTHING. She is amazing.

Having Grandma over is something that I really enjoy. As a young girl I remember sleepovers where I had Grandma all to myself. I recall her taking me to the hardware store to pick out at new game or craft, I remember kneeling beside her bed at night and saying prayers together as she would pray for everything from guidance for world leaders to each of her grandchildren by name. I remember snuggling next to her, all proud in my 'night bonnet' as we read "Tales from Grandma's Attic". I recall learning to bake bread and enjoying fresh dumplings that were still warm, spread with brown sugar and drenched in milk.

I was relieved to see that even after all these years, Grandma really hasn't changed much. She's still got the light of God shining in her eyes. She's still got spunk, and a drive to work hard. She's generous and creative, making beautiful quilts for each of her Grandchildren when they got married, and each Great-Grandchild when they were born. Walking into Grandma's house is like coming home. Grandma still smells the same...do you know what I mean?? Everything in my life has changed since I was a child. My friends have come and gone (on the whole), definitely the places I have grown up in are all a distant memory (my parents sold the home I grew up in a couple of years ago), but with Grandma it's like time stands still. I love that. I know that someday in the (near?) future, Grandma will slow down even more, she may even move out of her house someday (although I can't imagine that), and even more unbearable is the thought of Jesus taking her home before I'm ready to say goodbye. I have spent the last 4 1/2 years of my life studying and immersing myself in BIRTH. I am completely captivated by the mysteries and miracles of life's first breath. What I cannot deal well with is life on it's other end...life's final breath. Joel is a paramedic. He stares death in the face more often than I can imagine. In my life I have only ever seen one person die in front of me...seen a dead body before it is "prepared" for viewing. It was horrible (and Joel and Dad managed to get him back...another story for another day perhaps). As a Christian death really should not frighten me. For us death is just the doorway to the life we were designed to live...with our God and Creator. I love talking to the kids about heaven and what it will be like. I get excited dreaming of what heaven will be. And yet, for those left behind when a loved one dies, death seems to cold and cruel.

Okay, I'm way off topic again...sorry. My mind tends to wander...

We took Grandma up to Goderich today. She shared tales of how her and my Grandfather (who died when I was 5) used to bring my dad and uncle Jim to Goderich in the summers to swim. I recall pictures of Grandma and Grandpa at the lighthouse in Goderich together. We made a point of always taking Grandma up there when she visits...I know she enjoys it. We took a picnic to the park and even had Grandma Siebert eat lunch with us. It was a beautiful sunny day. The kids were thrilled to spend time with Grandma since they hadn't seen her since January (bad Mel!!!). It truly warmed my heart to see them snuggled up to her and sharing books and movies on the couch...I could just see the joy in her eyes as well. I'm so grateful that my children get to spend this time with their "big Grandma". I know many children never get to have that chance. I treasure every moment.

Mel