So to my generation, I
have to ask… What did you think of Grandma’s famous Velveeta
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches? She used white bread, the sandwich maker,
real butter and chunks of Velveeta cheese. They were so good! It
was one of many things she made so well. Her cookie jar was always
full of some sort of treat, baked or bought. Growing up, at some
points, my family would have dinner on Tuesday nights with the
grandfolks. I was not a big fan of boxed mashed potatoes. So
Grandma would go out of her way to peel one potato so I would see the
skins in the garbage and think I was eating the real thing. I always
thought if she could peel one potato why not four or five and than we
could eat the good stuff. A lot of memories revolve around food,
grabbing breakfast at Burger King or stopping for a treat. That or
shopping for deals at Kmart or Big Lots. I think that is why my
sisters and me are such good shoppers. Some of us are still working
on the debt to income ratio.
She did a lot with us over
the years. Grandma took Amy and I to see Lutheran High when we were
in 8Th grade. The
visit was very successful as Amy, Sarah and I all ended up at school
there. Car trips were always fun with her. You just never knew what
adventure would occur when you got her in the car or behind the
wheel. We all knew it was a serious issue when Lacey started talking
and would exclaim, “Watch It, Teddy!” Grandma and I always had
fun debates. To keep things lively I almost always took the opposite
view. She had this great sigh that made you know you were really
getting to her, but she always smiled through it. I knew not to
really make her upset because that wasn’t as much fun. When I was
in high school, my friend and I would watch movies on Grandma and
Grandpa’s couch. She would make popcorn and let us move the love
seat all the way up in front of the television. I wonder if they
could even see the show with our couch and faces in the way. When I
was sick and mom was working, I spent the day on Grandma’s sofa.
When I had the chickenpox, I was there for almost two weeks. I think
that might have been when I had a little too much of “Little Audrey
and Little Lulu” or maybe it was Grandma who got sick of those
tapes. After I was involved in a car accident, I probably scared a
few years off of her life. I had slept for over 24 hours after
taking a sedative. She woke me up by shaking me and crying. I am
surprised she didn’t call the paramedics or take one of my pills
before she flushed them down the toilet.
Karie reminded me of
driving to pick-up Grandpa from work and making guesses on what time
he would walk out the door, it was usually around 3:02 or so. Her
devotion to Grandpa led Grandma to want us to find love in this life.
It worked out so well for her and Grandpa. Surely, they worked hard
and were greatly blessed in their marriage having recently celebrated
69 years of life together. Grandma being such an advocate for wedded
bliss meant that she was always on the look out for someone for us to
love. I remember a few times having been greatly embarrassed by her
attempting to fix me up with nice little busboys. I am sure that
would have been fine about 20 years ago. Now the age gap just
doesn’t seem so appropriate. We knew she meant well and she really
did want us to find our futures with nice Christian spouses. There
are so many great memories and stories like this that I know we could
all share.
When she got sick and had
little to no energy I got the privilege of caring for her for a few
days. During one of those mornings she played scrabble with me. She
really didn’t want to do it, but she didn’t want to disappoint me
either. We are a lot alike in some ways. I feel blessed to have been
able to spend those precious moments with her. Karie and I went to
the rehab or hospice center many evenings in the last week or so that
she was in this world with us. We found so much comfort in sharing
memories with her; reciting scriptures and/or singing hymns and
praises to God.
I really have to take a
minute though to express my love for Grandma’s children. They all
took time out to spend with her and love on her in her
pre-everlasting days. She has great kids. My Grandma sure would be
proud of all of her kids and often she spoke of how blessed she was
to have the “Best” family.
Speaking of great
memories, one of our favorite things was that Grandma and Grandpa
would always kneel, or in later years sit at the couch, for prayer
every evening. On the nights we stayed with them they invited us to
join them. They each took turns leading the prayer and we added on
any of our own prayers. Those memories mean a lot to us because that
is one way that she showed us her devotion to the Lord. Not only,
did she talk about her love for the Lord, but she demonstrated it as
well. That and she was always willing to serve and help anyone in
need. I could sing her praises, but she wouldn’t want to be
glorified in that way so I will stick to my memories of her.
Anybody, who witnessed
Grandma and me together, when I would insist that I was her favorite,
probably became irritated. I started saying that to her years ago…
maybe I was practicing the power of suggestion. The fun part was
that sometimes she would just smile like she was pacifying me, but
other times she had this great response. She would say, I love the
Lord most of all, Grandpa next and Grandma Ida third, her mother. It
was so awesome that response. We should all be able to say that the
Lord, Jesus Christ is our favorite. That would be the legacy she
would want to leave each and every one of us. She would want for us
all to be home with her in Heaven some day. Over the years when we
would boast of Christ, or in some way show her that we were on the
narrow path to salvation she would be ever so pleased. She would be
joyful because she wanted us all to know the love and joy that she
had in the Lord. I would challenge you to try to follow in Grandma’s
footsteps. Put the Lord first in your life. Let Him mold you and
shape you for His purpose. I know the Lord called Grandma home and
said, “Well, done good and faithful servant.”
For I know the plans I
have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm
you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
May your hope and your
future include a home in Everlasting! For we can be sure we will see
Grandma there one day if we put our hope and our trust in the Lord
Jesus.
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