When Joel and I moved here I was twenty years old, had been married a week, and had left all of my family and friends behind in Alabama. I needed a friend very badly. I just didn't know that the friend God would send me would be as old as she was! Granny was definitely a friend sent to me from God. I learned so much from her. Joel and I had only been married a few weeks when we had Granny and Pop over for the first time. As always, they came early so they could sit around and talk. I was trying to get the dessert finished when they arrived. I was making a coconut cream pie for the first time. The meringue was not coming together like it should. Granny patiently (and without hurting my feelings) told me to keep on mixing. She would say "No. That's just not quite right yet. Keep on going." As I think back now I laugh at myself over the mess I was making and can only guess that Granny went home and laughed to Pop about my inexperience making pies. Thankfully, I have come a long way on the pie making!
Granny taught me many things. Most recently she was trying to teach me to use her sewing machine (which is something I had wanted to do for a long time). In the beginning of our relationship Granny took care of me and in the end I took care of her. She always knew exactly what I needed. She was my encourager, defender, teacher, and friend. I never had to worry about anything when I was at Granny's house. It was one of those places where you could even go in your pajamas. She was so excited when she found out I was expecting for the first time. Most of my pregnancy she spent in the hospital fighting cancer. I would go visit her and let her feel the baby moving. This was something she never got to experience for herself. Granny always wanted a baby, but was never able to get pregnant. Thankfully, she made it through the cancer and was able to see the baby. The second picture above is of Granny and Possum. She was even more excited when I became pregnant the second time and found out that it was to be a girl. The excitement grew when Joel and I went to her house to let her know the baby girl was to be named after her. The third picture above is of Granny and Squirrel. I have told Granny many times that Joel and I were wanting a Quentin, but we got a Mary instead, and Squirrel is just like Granny-a mess!
On Thursday, May 22, 2008, Granny left this world of suffering and went to be with the Lord. Although my heart aches terribly for her, she is in a much better place and now has a perfect body. She no longer has to suffer. I will not lie and say that it has been an easy weekend, because it hasn't. I know that Granny is in a far better place and wouldn't wish her back, but I will miss her terribly. She meant so much to Joel and I. The only consolation is to know that I will see her again one day. Even in her final days Granny told Joel to make sure and tell everyone that she would see them again one day in Heaven. The only way we can know for sure that we will see Granny (and other loved ones gone on) again in Heaven is to know for sure that we have accepted Jesus as our personal Saviour. I hope when you have left this world I can say that I KNOW I will see you again in Heaven.
