Things My Grandma Taught Me!

I was richly blessed to have had a wonderful grandma. My grandma was the glue that kept our family together. She made every holiday memorable, sleepovers special, and visits delicious. I remember going to her house and always seeing yummy treats of some sorts. Treats ranged from candy to cakes an homemade pies. My grandma was the best pie maker I’ve ever known. If my brother and I were ever in trouble with our parents and our punishment was no dessert, my grandma would work her magic to have our punishment changed.

            Christmas at my grandma’s house was beyond amazing. She had a piano room that would be filled from floor to ceiling every year with gifts from everyone.  The most special gifts were the ones she made us. She was a talented knitter, seamstress, baker, cook and organ player.

            My grandma was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age. She had a mastectomy in one breast and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. I can still remember when she lost her hair due to the chemo. She insisted on wearing this beautiful white wig most days. She remained positive and strong through all her sickness and treatments. After a year to treatments we believed she was in remission. This, however, was not God’s will for her. The doctors found that the cancer had spread into the other breast. Chances of remission were slim to none and less than a painful and tearful year later on November 26, 1996, my grandma went home to be with the Lord.

         

   The life my grandma led taught me so much about the woman I want to be. She taught me:

·      Always put God first

·      Stay strong no matter what the circumstance- you can get through anything with God on your side

·      Family is important. Always keep family close and be there for them when needed

·      It’s never God’s fault- Like Job my grandma refused to blame God for her sickness and other ups and downs in life. She always gave God the praise even in the toughest of times. She knew that God had a plan for her and His plan was always perfect.

·      Always respect and treat your spouse right. When I was 16 I came across a tape of her speaking at a woman's conference about marriage. Her advice resonates with me today as I enjoy my marriage and family.

·      Be yourself

·      You’re beautiful no matter what. She went bald due to chemo and was still just as beautiful as she was when she had a head full of gorgeous white locks.

·      She taught me funny stuff like blow your nose on your sleeve (this was taught to 5 year old me) and passing gas when you exercise is normal when you get older. You just laugh it off keep on exercising.

My grandma was such an amazing woman of God. I am blessed and better for having had her for the 9 short years of the beginning of my life. Even though she is gone from this earth, she is still watching from above. I know I will never stop learning from her. I love and miss the incredible woman I still call Grandma Jean. Happy Mothers Day Grandma Jean. You are incredibly missed and always loved.

Happy Mothers Day

       Your mom is many things and takes on the roles of multiple people. She is a taxi driver, medic, teacher, care giver and maid. She is your confidant, biggest fan, supporter, role model and disciplinarian. She’s the person who raised you, clothed you, fed you and sacrificed so much so you could have a better life.

            Your mom may or may not be the woman who gave birth to you. Whether the woman you call mom is your birth mom, stepmom, or someone who care so much for you that she spent her time to raise and love you; consider yourself extremely blessed.

            Since becoming a mom, I have learned many things. I have learned the love and joy every mom experiences for their children. I have experienced the every day fear moms have when thinking of or dealing with their child’s safety and well-being.  I now know what sleep deprivation really is, what sacrifice looks like and what patience feels like. Moms don’t have an easy job. They work around the clock and ask very little in return. Hugs, kisses and cuddles are our best forms of payment. Seeing huge smiles on our family’s faces and knowing that they are well taken care of is our best reward.

            This year for mother’s day don’t just give your mom a gift and card. Spend a day walking in her shoes (if you don’t already know what motherhood is like). Really appreciate her and all she has done for you. Once you understand what she had to sacrifice and all she did for you growing up, then you’ll truly appreciate what the role of mom is all about. Mother’s day is a day set aside for our mothers, but we should spend every day appreciating and honoring the amazing women in our life. 

To all you moms and grandmas, Happy Mothers Day. May God continue to give you the strength, love, compassion and joy of motherhood. To my mom, I love you so much and am so thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful role model and friend. I never knew how tiring and exhausting this job can be, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I am so thankful that you never gave up on us kids and put all you had into teaching us and helping us grow. I pray God blesses you every day and increases your joy with your grandchildren. Happy Mothers Day to the most amazing mom and grandmother!  

My Endless Night!

     As I write this I am so tired. It is now 10:30 on a Monday night. I am supposed to be in bed fast asleep, like my lucky husband. Sadly though I am wide awake with a very hyper 1 ½ year old… Or as wide awake as a 25 week along, sleep deprived, in pain pregnant mom can be. I have to stop every few seconds to check on the well being of my cats whom are being endlessly chased by my wide awake monkey. 

    Her usual bedtime is 8 pm. She had a late nap so we put her down at 8:30 instead of 8 tonight. She did her usual cry for a few minutes, play in her crib for half an hour and when she was tired of playing in the dark (she has a small night light so it’s not completely dark in her room) she decided to cry some more. We let her cry for an hour at the most. 9:30 rolled around and she was still awake so we went in to let her know we are still here and she’s ok. We gave her a little sip of water, checked to make sure she was ok, see if she needed a diaper change and then after kissing her again said goodnight. She cried again for another half hour. 

   Now at this point I am ready for bed. I have had a shower, brushed my teeth, cleaned the living room of toys and miscellaneous items and was about to hop into bed and enjoy a nice cozy, comfy night of sleep.  I checked the baby monitor to see if our little monkey had dozed off to dream land yet but was thoroughly dismayed when I heard her crying. 

AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!! 

I guess my warm cozy bed will have to wait. When asking my hyperactive child why she was still awake she promptly began to meow. She meowed several times and as silly as the sound was, her facial expressions were even funnier. I couldn’t help but laugh. Sadly this was all she needed to begin her rampage of terror on the once cleaned living room and kitties who unfortunately thought they were safe for the night. She is now running around throwing her toys, terrorizing my poor cats, jibber jabbing nonsense and reeking havoc on my couch. Sigh* I guess this mama is going to be up for a while. I hope you all have a better nights sleep than what it would seem I am going to get.