Isn't it funny, how one simple gesture can bring back a flood of childhood memories? A friend of mine sent me a beautiful picture of a buttercup today...Yep, the simple yellow ones you often find growing in random places...like the ditch....Little did I know, that hours later I would still be thinking about it...and I knew if I didn't write what was on my heart I may never go to sleep tonight.
My Grandma Rose has the greenest thumbs of anyone that I know...in fact I would argue with you that all ten of her fingers are green. I have so many fond childhood memories with her, and most of them were time we spent in her yard. She would spend hours every spring planting flowers that she knew would only live a season, and she could make them last longer than anyone I know. From one end of the shrubs in the back yard to the other she would dig tiny holes as my brother and I would follow behind dropping the small plants in, watering them, covering them back up with soil, watching them grow throughout the season. As my brother got older and spent more time on the farm, I continued my time with Grandma, especially over Spring break and the summer.
Although she only lives about a mile from my parent's house, I would beg to go spend the night with her on the weekends. I recall one spring break I spent nearly the entire week out of school with her. Our favorite snack was a bowl of Cheetos and these peanut butter cookies that I can still see and smell...but know for a fact you can't buy them anywhere. We would walk up and down the chicken house path, talking about everything under the sun. And it seems like every new years eve as a Child, I can remember sitting on the love seat in her living room watching the ball drop while eating ice cream. She used to eat vanilla ice cream with for supper with her cup of coffee.
She loves Jesus, and reading her Bible. When we weren't outside digging in the dirt, we were either inside practicing my spelling words or playing Bible Tic Tack Toe...I have no idea where she got that game from but I do know I rather play that any day than anything else she had in that toy cabinet.
I could sit here tonight, and write a novel about all of the memories with my Grandma Rose that I hold so near and dear to my heart...but today I've just spent a lot of time thinking about her, her love of her garden...her love of her family.
Grandma Rose isn't the same woman she was when I was a child. She isn't the same woman she was ten years ago...or even five. Each passing day seems to be robbing her of what little memory she has left, and the ones she does have seem to be clouded and mixed up. She still lives at home and has 24 hour care. We gradually see her slipping away. It has broken the hearts of her children, her grandchildren, and the others who love her dearly. I know, it happens sometimes when people get older. I know that she has had a wonderful life and is physically healthy even though her mind is not. Some people wonder why we find it so important to still celebrate holidays with her when she won't remember tomorrow that today was Christmas (or what have you)...But this is why...She may not have these memories...but we will.
My heart is a little bit sad tonight...but also full of joy for the time God has allowed me with her and will continue to allow in His Will. I credit her for the Christian I am today and for never being too busy to spend time with me, or too impatient to let me help her in her garden.
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