Finding Peace in the Memories

The above picture was taken in 2003 when my parents brought my grandmother to see me in San Diego. We were living in California and I'd often send her pictures of a little bitty Zachary playing in the sand near the ocean. My grandma said she'd always wanted to walk barefooted on the beach. She usually got exactly what she wanted! She wanted to be with Jesus and she got that desire on Tuesday night. She called my Aunt Sue Tuesday night and was having a hard time catching her breath. When Sue arrived a few minutes later, Grandma was gone. She had an open Bible beside her and a romance novel about a cowboy in her lap.

My memories of Grandma are wrapped up in smells and sounds. When I was little they lived on a cattle ranch out in the middle of the country: 300+ acres with a LOT of black cows ambling around. My grandma always knew my favorite foods and went out of her way to fix chocolate cream pie and brownies just for me. She also made homemade donuts there in that farmhouse kitchen. She'd sit me down on a barstool and let me stir icing and dip the warm donuts into the glazes. The kitchen smelled like heaven and my brother and I ate donuts until we felt sick. They were so good, better than any Krispy Kreme!

She taught me how to play dominoes when I was still really little. She was a fierce competitor and made me feel so proud when we scored points together as partners. She could look at the dominoes laying on the table and know exactly what was NOT out there. Her brain was sharp up until the day she died. My grandpa was a big ol' tease who loved to rattle Grandma with a poke or pinch every now and then. When they played cards or dominoes he'd call out, "Oooooh, watch me now, Gladys! Watch me now!" He'd cackle and laugh and she'd shake her head at him, trying not to grin. After Mike and I married we played dominoes with my grandparents on a few occasions. We were always outplayed and we never failed to laugh over my grandparents' antics.

When I was in college at Harding University, my grandma always bought my Bible class textbooks at the end of every semester. She gave me top dollar, of course, but she also expected me to discuss those texts with her. The woman knew the Bible. She immersed herself in the Word.

A couple of months ago she passed her old wedding band to me. She'd given it to my mom several years ago, but asked my dad to let me have it now instead of later. I was wearing that ring the night I got the sad news.

My sweet Grandma Hollie. I miss her, but I know she's receiving her reward, and that eases the pain.