Milk & Cookies and Playing Skip-Bo

I haven't posted in a while. My grandma died a month ago this week and I haven't figured what I want to say. My granrdma was the kind of grandma everyone wanted and the perfect picture of trhe stereotypical milk and cookies grandma. I've never heard her say an unkind or off color word and the only time I recall her even raising her voice was to keep my grandpa in line, and believe me that was a job in itself.
It's hard to try and pin-point one story or memory to share about her. I'm grateful that being a stay at home mom these last 3 years allowed my children to really spend time with her. She died 2 hours before her 92 birthday, but she was sooo much younger than that. She got sick in May of this year and was in a hospital bed in her living room after that. A few weeks before she got sick, me and the kids spent time with her. I have great pics of the kids rubbing her feet with lotion, with little man sitting in her lap hand feeding her dry cereal and pics at the kitchen table coloring with the kids. My son in particular loved his great grandma and would ask to go see Linsenmeyer. That was how he addressed her. Her name was long enough without adding great grandma.
Each summer my brother and I spent a week at her farm in Oklahoma and she would play cards with us, her favorite was Skip-bo. I definitely took her for granted when I was younger and was actually always more eager to play with my cousins that lived just down the road. We only saw her a couple of times a year, but they were always special times. Grandma loved animals, and I made it my mission each summer to pet everyone of her barn cats. Many were semi-ferrell, and one summer I managed to talk my grandpa into letting me bring the cats into the utility room. I have a great picture of me piled high with cats on and around me. There are 11 grandkids, 3 girls and I was the oldest girl. From early on that made me special to her. Her nickname from early on until her passing was a german phrase "slaztcha Kätzchen." I never knew what that meant until one day in college I had the esteemed honor of eating out with friends including a really cute german football player. Of course I wanted to impress him with german phrases and then asked him what my grandma was calling me. He looked at me funny and then asked if I was sure that what she was saying. and very politely he told me my grandma was calling me Ornery Kitten!! And I have always remained her very, very ornery kitten.
Even though Grandma had been sick and we all knew it was time, her death was still hard. Her funeral was truly beautiful and the pastor that had only known grandma for a short time, did such an amazing job of capturing the essence of grandma. The pastor quoted from Proverbs 31 10-31. 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her familyand portions for her servant girls. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
The verses in Proverbs were so moving to me. Her family truly was her life work. She did so much and never expeced anything in return, she was a servant of God and a servant to her family. It made me think of my life. Of other women and mothers I know. To often we get caught up in the game of power and importance. I want to be my grandma, concerned with taking care of my family and listening to God's plan for me. Being happy with all the blessings I have and not wanting for excess.
We stayed in OK for a week after the funeral to help my mother and when we returned home my daughter said the most beautiful prayer. After praing for the usual, including our deceased cat she asked God to take care of Great Grandma. "Please help her in Heaven. Help her learn to walk and do things in Heaven." I'm sure there was more to it, but the walking is what stuck with me. And it makes me smile to think of my grandmother reborn as a young angel in Heaven learning an entire new life.
Grandmother was such a beautiful person, gone and never forgotten. Only remembered with smiles, laughter and of course tears.