my Gramma

yesterday was a special day for my kids and i. we traveled south with my mom and aunt to visit my dear grandmother. i want to attempt to describe my grandmother but i know it will be difficult to put into words (it's not my gift, anyway!).

gramma has always been the most positive influence in my life. her walk with the Lord is admirable and it is clear that He is her first love. she is almost 86 and is still very physically strong. she was one of 11 children and the last of her siblings that is still living. she has quite a history of wonderful stories growing up in such a large family. when i was younger, i loved any minute i had with her. i always thought she was so cool. she would always take us out to eat, she would let me drive her car in her neighborhood when i was about 13 and she was the only grandmother i ever knew who had birkenstocks....before they were popular! she has always been full of life and energy. she is definitely the most optimistic person i know and always chooses to see the good in people and finds good in any bad situation. she is also the most forgiving person i know. my grampa passed away when i was only 3 and so she has lived a single life since then. she has always given graciously to her family. there is hardly ever an occasion where she's not slipping you some money. she has served all of us in too many ways to count. she is the rock for our family. and she loves each of us unconditionally...all 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren.

about 10 years ago, we discovered that gramma was suffering from major depression. it gradually got more severe and eventually she was hospitalized. she was a different person. pretty much the opposite of everything i described. she was not the gramma that i had always known. it was like some disease had taken hold of her brain and changed her personality completely. she was anxious all the time, she was so unhappy, she was shaky all over, she slept all the time, she never wanted to be around people. she struggled tremendously and so desperately wanted to escape the feelings she was experiencing. we hated seeing her battle this depression. over the last 10 years, it has come and gone several times. many medications, ECT treatments (electric shock treatments), and lots of prayers seemed to pull her out of it for a year or two and then it would get bad again.

for the past 6 months or so, she has been feeling well and we rejoice that God has chosen to heal her presently. we never know what tomorrow holds. i'm just thankful for the time we got with her yesterday. she brings me joy.

me, my gramma & my mom