Grandpa's 89th Birthday
Next year will be quite the bash!
Showing posts with label grandparents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grandparents. Show all posts
6/5/10
1/2/10
Treasures
I never really thought about getting anything that once belonged to my grandmother. She passed away in April of 2007, and I have my memories of her. That's all I need. Every time I see a package of Pecan Sandies cookies, I will think of Grandma and smile.
But last week I was surprised with an opportunity to select some of grandma's jewelry to keep. It was all valuable, but only in a sentimental sense. Some of the pieces were so flamboyant that we knew they must have belonged to my great-grandmother, Rosezella Moss. It was fun to explore the treasures of her jewelry boxes with my sisters and some of my cousins. Grandma McClurg had a lot of jewelry. I picked out several necklaces that I might have the audacity to wear in public, and they might actually be in style, truth be told.
I also took some linens, which are nice, but it's the way they smell that I love the most. They smell like Grandma's house. I don't ever want to wash them. Just keep them in the bag, take them out whenever I miss her, and inhale the memories that they are storing in their fibers.
My boys think that I have inherited a box full of precious gems and sparkly treasures. I think so, too.
But last week I was surprised with an opportunity to select some of grandma's jewelry to keep. It was all valuable, but only in a sentimental sense. Some of the pieces were so flamboyant that we knew they must have belonged to my great-grandmother, Rosezella Moss. It was fun to explore the treasures of her jewelry boxes with my sisters and some of my cousins. Grandma McClurg had a lot of jewelry. I picked out several necklaces that I might have the audacity to wear in public, and they might actually be in style, truth be told.
I also took some linens, which are nice, but it's the way they smell that I love the most. They smell like Grandma's house. I don't ever want to wash them. Just keep them in the bag, take them out whenever I miss her, and inhale the memories that they are storing in their fibers.
My boys think that I have inherited a box full of precious gems and sparkly treasures. I think so, too.
12/10/09
A Constant Blessing
Two nights ago, my dad stopped by to plow the snow from my really long driveway with his snow-blower. I was grateful because after two days of shoveling it, my back was pretty tired. Up and down the driveway he went, and even did the turn-around. I met him at the end of the driveway to help him lift the blower back into his truck bed, but he looked at me and asked, "Which way do the boys walk to school?" I pointed down the sidewalk to the south, and he cleared the sidewalks that hadn't been shoveled so that my boys would have a warmer, easier walk to and from school.
When he was done, I helped him load it up, and then hugged him good-bye. I came inside and cried, because I have the most wonderful father imaginable, and lately there has been more than one reason to worry that I'd lose him. It's all those little things, like blowing snow from a sidewalk for my kids, that remind me how blessed I am to be his daughter. And I'm afraid to be without him. My world would stop.
On Saturday, we were all at the tree lot together, and Drew had cold hands. My dad picked him up and put his own gloves on Drew. Drew left them on, which was great, because he won't leave his own mittens on for any longer than it takes to pull them off. My dad then carried Drew around, looking at trees, and after a while, he turned to me and said, "Don't you ever take these kids away from me." I wouldn't dream of it. Ethan told me tonight that his favorite part of Christmas is going to Nana's house. I am so glad that we live close to at least some of their grandparents.
And to my dad, I would say, it goes both ways. Don't you ever leave us here without you.
When he was done, I helped him load it up, and then hugged him good-bye. I came inside and cried, because I have the most wonderful father imaginable, and lately there has been more than one reason to worry that I'd lose him. It's all those little things, like blowing snow from a sidewalk for my kids, that remind me how blessed I am to be his daughter. And I'm afraid to be without him. My world would stop.
On Saturday, we were all at the tree lot together, and Drew had cold hands. My dad picked him up and put his own gloves on Drew. Drew left them on, which was great, because he won't leave his own mittens on for any longer than it takes to pull them off. My dad then carried Drew around, looking at trees, and after a while, he turned to me and said, "Don't you ever take these kids away from me." I wouldn't dream of it. Ethan told me tonight that his favorite part of Christmas is going to Nana's house. I am so glad that we live close to at least some of their grandparents.
And to my dad, I would say, it goes both ways. Don't you ever leave us here without you.
11/7/09
There's always time for happiness.
Last night it was my privilege to attend the wedding of my Grandfather to the Sweetheart of his winter years. It was beautiful to witness two people embracing life when so many others their age have decided that they have done all they are going to do, seen all they are going to see, and experienced all the good there is in life. I don't know Joyce all that well yet, but I know that she is now one of the luckiest women in the world to be a member of the John O. McClurg Jr. family. I pray that the newlyweds have many adventurous years together.
9/28/09
A New Beginning
My grandmother, Helen McClurg, passed away in April of 2007. She was a tiny woman who's strength far exceeded her stature. She could be both spunky or meek, gentle or feisty. Whatever was called for, that was Grandma. Always the picture of dignity and class.
There are definite things that will always remind me of Grandma. There was a drawer in her kitchen which was always stocked with cookies, and it was lovingly placed at a child's height so that we were able to see the entire glory of it's contents. Grasshopper cookies, Pecan Sandies and some kind of cookie that was covered in powdered sugar, which I don't remember the name of were the staple contents of that drawer. There were probably a lot of reasons that Grandma didn't bake homemade cookies. Perhaps she was too busy baking her pies, or perhaps she stocked the store bought kind because she didn't want to be caught without cookies anytime her grandchildren stopped by. More likely, she never had time for cookies because she and Grandpa were always on the road, traveling from Oregon to Jackson Hole to California to Arches and back again.
Grandma would often burst into a sprightly dance and sometimes sing as well. She would suddenly throw her arms above her head, lightly hop upon her toes, twirl in a circle, and then crumble into her delicate giggles, delighted, as we all were, at her own silliness. Grandma knew how to have fun. She even sometimes did things just because other people didn't believe she would.
Grandma knew the name of every plant and flower that ever grew on this earth. She and Grandpa where there when I hiked through Arches National Park as a young child and learned that I was "as natural a climber as a mountain goat". She was there with us to search for Christmas trees and to share our Thanksgiving turkey. She flattered me by asking my opinion on which shoes or jewelry went best with her outfit. She always sent birthday cards with sparkly glitter on them.
It was all of these memories that occupied my mind as I watched her laying in her bed at the rest home, preparing to return to her Heavenly Father. She had been in the home for years, and her suffering for so long seemed cruel at times. Why couldn't she just go home? Maybe she needed to endure. Maybe her grandchildren needed to learn about true Christlike love as we watched our grandfather care for her and dote on her for all that time.
On the April day when we all knew that her journey was about to conclude, I think that none of us were ready for her to go. We wanted her to be free from the confines of her mortal body, free from the suffering of age and the wear of life. And yet, it was hard. We loved her and would miss her, and we have.
On that day, my husband and children and I were able to arrive to be with her before most of the rest of the family. Grandpa was beside himself with the thought of being without his Sweetheart, but he showed only dignity and gratitude and love. He had planned to go before her, had never wanted to be where he was. He asked my good husband to give Grandma a priesthood blessing, which humbled Andrew. Grandpa McClurg is the only Grandfather that Andrew has ever known, and his adoration for that man is precious to me. Andrew complied with Grandpa's request, and as he and another man prepared to anoint sweet Grandma, a kind nurse took my 2 small boys out into the hallway and closed the door so that we could be free to focus on our loved one. Andrew began the blessing and told Grandma how blessed her posterity was for having had her in their lives. Told her that she was leaving a legacy to be proud of, that she was loved, and that she should feel confident that all would be well whenever she was ready to leave. As Andrew spoke these words of love and comfort, the nurse in the hallway began to lead my boys in a tender song that they were familiar with. She didn't know that we could hear them through the door, and with the voices of watchful angels, my boys sang:
I am a child of God, and He has sent me here,
Has given me and Earthly home, with parents kind and dear.
Lead me, Guide me, Walk beside me, help me find the way,
Teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday.
Tears flowed freely down my cheeks, and I was simply thankful to be there to feel how much love was in that room with the woman that I had loved and respected all my life.
Grandpa has been lonely since then. He has many visitors, but children and grandchildren are poor substitutes for a life companion. As my Grandma Kay once told me, "It's nice to be the most important person in someone's life."
My grandfather has found that companionship again with a woman he will be marrying in five weeks. Joyce. My 88 year old grandfather is getting married. I am still trying to wrap my mind around it, but once the idea settles in, it will be great! I would wish for nothing more than happiness for my grandfather, and because he's found it, I will rejoice with him on November 6th. I know he's struggling with feelings of betrayal and I'm sure that's a normal thing. I know that my grandmother loves him enough to want him to be happy, and would give her blessing if she could.
It will be a new chapter for Grandpa in a book that he probably thought had no more plot twists. As long as he gets a happy ending, that is all that matters.
There are definite things that will always remind me of Grandma. There was a drawer in her kitchen which was always stocked with cookies, and it was lovingly placed at a child's height so that we were able to see the entire glory of it's contents. Grasshopper cookies, Pecan Sandies and some kind of cookie that was covered in powdered sugar, which I don't remember the name of were the staple contents of that drawer. There were probably a lot of reasons that Grandma didn't bake homemade cookies. Perhaps she was too busy baking her pies, or perhaps she stocked the store bought kind because she didn't want to be caught without cookies anytime her grandchildren stopped by. More likely, she never had time for cookies because she and Grandpa were always on the road, traveling from Oregon to Jackson Hole to California to Arches and back again.
Grandma would often burst into a sprightly dance and sometimes sing as well. She would suddenly throw her arms above her head, lightly hop upon her toes, twirl in a circle, and then crumble into her delicate giggles, delighted, as we all were, at her own silliness. Grandma knew how to have fun. She even sometimes did things just because other people didn't believe she would.
Grandma knew the name of every plant and flower that ever grew on this earth. She and Grandpa where there when I hiked through Arches National Park as a young child and learned that I was "as natural a climber as a mountain goat". She was there with us to search for Christmas trees and to share our Thanksgiving turkey. She flattered me by asking my opinion on which shoes or jewelry went best with her outfit. She always sent birthday cards with sparkly glitter on them.
It was all of these memories that occupied my mind as I watched her laying in her bed at the rest home, preparing to return to her Heavenly Father. She had been in the home for years, and her suffering for so long seemed cruel at times. Why couldn't she just go home? Maybe she needed to endure. Maybe her grandchildren needed to learn about true Christlike love as we watched our grandfather care for her and dote on her for all that time.
On the April day when we all knew that her journey was about to conclude, I think that none of us were ready for her to go. We wanted her to be free from the confines of her mortal body, free from the suffering of age and the wear of life. And yet, it was hard. We loved her and would miss her, and we have.
On that day, my husband and children and I were able to arrive to be with her before most of the rest of the family. Grandpa was beside himself with the thought of being without his Sweetheart, but he showed only dignity and gratitude and love. He had planned to go before her, had never wanted to be where he was. He asked my good husband to give Grandma a priesthood blessing, which humbled Andrew. Grandpa McClurg is the only Grandfather that Andrew has ever known, and his adoration for that man is precious to me. Andrew complied with Grandpa's request, and as he and another man prepared to anoint sweet Grandma, a kind nurse took my 2 small boys out into the hallway and closed the door so that we could be free to focus on our loved one. Andrew began the blessing and told Grandma how blessed her posterity was for having had her in their lives. Told her that she was leaving a legacy to be proud of, that she was loved, and that she should feel confident that all would be well whenever she was ready to leave. As Andrew spoke these words of love and comfort, the nurse in the hallway began to lead my boys in a tender song that they were familiar with. She didn't know that we could hear them through the door, and with the voices of watchful angels, my boys sang:
I am a child of God, and He has sent me here,
Has given me and Earthly home, with parents kind and dear.
Lead me, Guide me, Walk beside me, help me find the way,
Teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday.
Tears flowed freely down my cheeks, and I was simply thankful to be there to feel how much love was in that room with the woman that I had loved and respected all my life.
Grandpa has been lonely since then. He has many visitors, but children and grandchildren are poor substitutes for a life companion. As my Grandma Kay once told me, "It's nice to be the most important person in someone's life."
My grandfather has found that companionship again with a woman he will be marrying in five weeks. Joyce. My 88 year old grandfather is getting married. I am still trying to wrap my mind around it, but once the idea settles in, it will be great! I would wish for nothing more than happiness for my grandfather, and because he's found it, I will rejoice with him on November 6th. I know he's struggling with feelings of betrayal and I'm sure that's a normal thing. I know that my grandmother loves him enough to want him to be happy, and would give her blessing if she could.
It will be a new chapter for Grandpa in a book that he probably thought had no more plot twists. As long as he gets a happy ending, that is all that matters.
9/24/09
Are these not the kindest eyes you have ever seen?
Happy Birthday, Grandma Kestner!!
I feel so lucky to have Grandma Jane Kestner in my life. Grandparents are a wonderful thing, but it isn't just our "technical" relationship that brings me joy. True, we haven't spent much time together, but I love seeing her whenever I get the privilege, and hearing from her in e-mail is a decent second. I'm so grateful for all of her encouragement and compliments with my writing - and hopefully one day I will figure out how to get published and I'll have Grandma to thank for inflating my ego to a gargantuan size, giving me the courage to put myself out there.
Years and years ago I requested a personal history from Andrew's parents and grandparents, and since Grandma Kestner was the only one to complete that daunting task, I have read it several times. Allow me to share some of my favorite selections...
"When I was a child, little girls always wore dresses. Mother made mine, and usually made matching rompers. Sometimes I'd tuck my skirt into my rompers, put one of Daddy's ties on and insist on being called Billy Jim."
Seriously?? I cannot for the life of me picture that. Other people, yes, but Grandma Kestner? It's a stretch!
"Life was busy with both Al and I working full time, 3 teen-agers and a little one in day care. Of course, I didn't realize it at the time, but those were the best years of my life. Al was a Godsend to all of us. I had been spread pretty thin those years of being the only parent, and Al came along at the time that we needed him the most. I've always felt that he was as attracted to the children as he was to me. As soon as we could save the money to afford it, he legally adopted "the trio". Initially, they did sometimes resent his addition to the family, but as they grew up, all 3 realized the great blessing he had been to each of us."
What a strong woman Grandma Kestner is. These words make me feel exactly how much she loved Al and how grateful she is that he was there for her and her family. What a great reminder to live our lives to the fullest - sometimes the hardest times really are the best times, too. We are all so richly blessed.
"I always have more that I want to do than I get done. I've never been bored in my life. Life is a challenge, it's interesting and mostly fun. I wouldn't trade places with anyone if I could. Oh, I'd like someone else's skills or house or hair - but a 100% trade - no way! I have had, am having and look forward to a wonderful life. I've been blessed."
You are loved and admired by many, Grandma. Today I wish you many more happy days! Fill them with all the things and people that you cherish!
Happy 86th!
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