July 28th 2009 was one of the hardest days I have ever faced. At 3:30 in the morning our phone rang. Lawton answered and wasn't saying much. After he hung up I asked "Who was that?" He said "It was Wayne" Lawton has a uncle Wayne and I have a brother Wayne. For some reason my mind thought he was talking about his uncle Wayne. I asked what he wanted and he took a LONG pause! I knew that something was really wrong. He says "Your Granny passed away" I could not believe what I hearing. I knew this day was coming and had been trying to prepare my self for it. She was on a downhill slide we lost my grandaddy in 2004. He was her life and she was lost with out him. She was in good health physically but over come with grief and just started to give up on lots of things. It was sad to see. She had been in an out of the hospital and nursing home for awhile. She had only been at this nursing home about two weeks when she passed. My mom had been to see her that afternoon and she said that granny was complaining about being really tired. She helped her to bed. Granny would usually want her to stay and ask who was coming to see her next. This day she did not, she actually told my mom to go on home and take care of her "boys". This was very odd for her. I think this was her way of telling my mom that everything was ok and that she was ready to go.
After getting that phone call I was just heart broken. I did not know what to do. I thought about my kids and how they were going to take the news. I wanted to run to the nursing home. It took me awhile to decide what to do. Wayne said he didn't think everyone was going up there, only the kids at this time. I could not take it. I rode up there anyway,alone. When I got there the parking lot was full so I parked in the gas station lot behind the nursing home. I could not make my self go in. I just sat in the car for awhile. The hearse was parked in the back as well. It wasn't long before the rolled her out. I just sat and watched it all from a far. After getting my self together I joined my family members inside.
In the months to follow we set about cleaning out her house and separating out her things. Most of it we smoothly but it was not drama free. As I look around my house at the things that I ended up with I feel blessed. Granny was one of my best friends and biggest supporters. She loved to hear about the things that were were learning about and see projects we were working on. I love to have some of her things around me all the time. They are not worth much money wise but they mean alot to me! In our school room I have re purposed several of her items.
She had an old army cot in the barn that had belonged to her father. We fixed it up, painted it, used some fabric to make cushions for it and here it is:
We do read alouds here!
Another item that I have in our room is one of her sewing machine stands. My daddy put shelves on it for her years ago and she used it as a plant stand on her porch. Now it holds our stereo and art supplies!
Our wipe off board is made of her screen door that us kids got in trouble for slamming ALOT!! It was replaced with a storm door years ago and was just in her barn. I love this piece. When I look at it and use it with the kids I am reminded of all the times that I walked through this door at her home.
These items are priceless to me but most important are the memories in my heart and in the hearts of my kids and husband. They knew and loved their granny and for this I am thankful. I am blessed to have my home on land that she and grandaddy farmed for most of their lives.
As the anniversary of her death draws near I have a granny sized hole in my heart but hold in it the love and precious memories that she has left behind. I love and miss you Granny!
