My Granny Jan
My Granny Jan was a fine lady. I am incredibly grateful for all the time I had with her before she went home
to Heaven.
My Granny Jan was not someone you could sneak things
past. She kept us in line
alright. She was involved and
that’s what I want to remember the most about her as time passes on. When we went for visits in the hill
country of Texas she was always ready.
I can remember playing countless games of Old Maid in the breakfast room and
as I got older it became Yatzee.
She would talk to me, teach me new things, and make sure I was always
comfortable and had plenty of pudding to eat. I think her favorite was tapioca. Going to visit Granny Jan in the summer was my favorite. Those are memories I will
cherish forever. She had
activities planned for us. She was
a crafty lady and must have been patient too because she taught us how to cross
stich. I remember how cool I
thought that was. She let us pick out our own pattern to make. One time I made a clown face (go figure) and one year I made an Easter book mark for my
mom. I think you still have this mom? I remember looking at her gorgeous work thinking how amazing it really was. She worked on it in her room on her comfy chair.
She had a beautiful home in the middle of the country. That is one place I can return to in my
mind and remember the smell, the trinkets, the sound of the clock, the warmth
of the fireplace, and the feel of the open woods. My cousin Kristen and I spent many days dreaming we were
princesses who ran away from home.
We made forts in the woods.
We made decorations out of things we found. When we would return on other occasions (at least I know
I always did) we would look for our long lost home and what was left. We found an old reflector we placed in
front of it to mark it so we wouldn’t forget.
Wild flowers blossomed everywhere in the Spring. We would pick them and bring them back to the house to put in a cup with water. They were beautiful.
A picture of me and my cousins visiting Granny Jan for Thanksgiving.
Before Granny Jan's house was sold I was able to spend a weekend there. I am incredibly grateful I was able to share this with
Corbyn and my in laws who are so important in my life now. I was able to take Corbyn on the swing
I grew up swinging on and take him to the swimming hole I grew up swimming in.
We even made a fire which reminds me so much of my visits in the winter.
This is a picture of us in front of the Frio River in Leakey, Texas.
Granny Jan moved to Corpus Christi a couple years ago. The last day I remember Granny Jan the
way I knew Granny Jan was when I picked her up for lunch and we went to a nice
little café. I remember what she
was wearing and everything. It was
such a special moment because this was after I moved away so I didn’t get to
see her as often. I was able to
share this lunch with one of my best friends. I was able to share the Granny Jan I love with this friend. She was so happy. I gave her a hug and
dropped her off at her new home.
I came to live with my parents when Corbyn was 3
months. By this point her memory
started to fade more. We went to visit her and at this point she still
remembered me a little. She said Corbyn was
too pretty to be a boy. She wasn’t
far off if I do say so myself. She
loved his smile and he loved hers.
On our visits I made sure to dress him in blue. We shared many visits with her and I
will cherish them forever. They
may not have been ideal but it was my Granny Jan nonetheless. Her memory slowly faded and she
didn’t seem to recognize me much but still I loved bringing Corbyn to see her. Just his presence made her smile. She will forever remain in my heart the
Yatzee playing, cross stiching, old school grandma I love. She was a strong Christian woman and
there is no doubt in my mind she is with our heavenly father.
This was the first time Corbyn and Granny Jan met.
This was Easter 2012. We took Granny Jan to church that day. Corbyn loved her cardigan.
Here we are just enjoying a couple of our visits.
Granny Jan made me a few baby blankets and mother held onto them all these years. Now Corbyn uses them. Granny Jan lives in our hearts and household.
When I hear hymnals I think of Granny Jan. Many times I stood next to her at church listening to her sing. Then of course we went out to lunch after. That was her Sunday ritual.
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