Meet (or Remember) my Mamaw

In case you missed it and were curious, I posted an explanation for lack of current blogs.  If you've already read it or don't care to read it, well, fine.  If you want to read it, click here. 


About a week before we came home from Hungary, I dreamed about my Mamaw Garrard.  I dreamed that she and I were in her old house on Lakeshore Drive in Itta Bena, Miss.  I was in my Aunt Becky's bedroom with the door open, and Mamaw was sitting on her couch in the living room directly across from me.  In the dream, she wasn't saying much, and when I asked what she was doing, she told me that she was just enjoying looking at me.  Here's a picture of her with her sisters and one of her brothers on the couch I dreamed about.

Meet my Aunts Thelma, Sadie, & Dorothy.  Then, there's Mamaw and her brother Early.

(Becky, you look so much like Aunt Thelma to me....so pretty.)

 

On the same day that I had that dream, my parents sent me an email to let me know that Mamaw had been taken from her nursing home to the hospital in Greenwood.  I knew it was selfish, but I prayed that I would be able to be home in time to see her again.

 

And I was able to see her.  On the Sunday after we returned, we were able to drive to Greenwood to see her at the hospital.  She wasn't able to say anything to us; she was in so much pain, and even breathing was difficult for her at that point.  I was able to talk to her, though.  My sweet family left us alone for a little while, and I talked to Mamaw and told her everything I wanted to tell her--just in case we wouldn't be seeing each other again for a while.  I even sang for her.  I prayed for her.  And I said Thank you.  Alot. 

 

I thanked her for being who she was and for loving me and for loving our family.

 

I thanked her for teaching me to quilt and for trying to teach me how to make biscuits. (I can finally make them, but they're not as good as hers.)

 

I thanked her for welcoming my friends and my husband into our family.

 

I thanked her for showing us all what loyalty and devotion look like. (It's knowing all the many faults in your own family but being willing to fight to the death to defend them before others.  It's always being there--always.) 

 

I thanked her for showing me what perseverance looks like.  (It's consistent communication with the Father. It's continual prayers and petitions offered on behalf of those who are in need and for those who don't yet realize their need.   It's realizing that sometimes, you may be the only one doing what you're doing, but you do it anyway.)

 

And I thanked God for all of those things and for so many more.... Once-upon-a-childhood, my Mamaw--and my Papaw--helped fill up some empty spaces and mend some broken places in my little-girl heart, and I thanked God for them.

 

I can't say for sure, but I think she was aware that we were with her that afternoon, and I think she wanted to communicate with us.  For a little while, her breathing was calmer, and I could almost promise that her lips were moving--not in the struggle to take her next breath--but to speak to us.  I just patted her arm and told her it was ok.  That we were ok.  That we didn't want her to be in pain anymore.  That my heart hurt for my loss, but that I was so ready for her to be free. 

 

When Phil, the kids, and my aunt came back into the room, we sang some more, and we joined hands and Phil prayed.  Oh, what a precious memory.  I'm so glad we were able to see her, because it was in fact our last visit with her on this earth.

 

She's with Jesus now.  She went Home a few days after our visit.  My heart hurts for me and for the rest of my family, but mostly, I'm grateful.  I know where she is, and I know I'll see her again.  I know she's not in pain.  I know that she is absent from the body but O so very present with the Lord.

 

 

I think this picture was taken in the 1930s.

 

Becky, Mamaw, Daddy, & my cousin Dana--was this in the 1960s?

Mamaw & Dana

My aunts Linda & Becky, my uncle Charles, Mom, Dad, Papa, & Mamaw

(In case you can't see him, Papa is behind Mamaw's fabulous hair.)

Cousin Terry, Uncle Early, Aunt Martha, & Mamaw

Mamaw & me (I was 3 or 4)

She loved those flowers.  I'd give anything to sit on that old porch and shell some peas with her and Papa.

1988--The year we left Greenwood and moved to Memphis.  You know you love my totally 80's fashion--the obnoxious Esprit shirt, tight-rolled jeans, & high-top black Reeboks.

This is usually how I picture her in my heart--all dressed up and ready for church.

Mamaw & Papa at their 50th Anniversary party--  They had been married married 68 or 69 years when he died.  She was just 17 (or was it 16?) when they went to see the Justice of the Peace.

Me & Mamaw at one of my wedding showers

Mamaw loved to quilt.  She'd have friends over to her house or over to their furniture store to help her out sometimes.

That's Mrs. Annie on the left; she was a retired school teacher.  In the middle is Mrs. Raby; she didn't quilt, but she liked to supervise & socialize while the others worked.

On that particular day, Phil horrified my Mamaw (he LOVED to tease her).  We all sat down for lunch, and Mamaw had Mrs. Annie to ask the blessing before our meal.  When Mrs. Annie was finished praying, Phil said, "Mrs. Annie, you need to start saying your prayers at night so you don't have to pray so long before we eat.  The food's gonna get cold!!!!"

Of course, he was kidding, and Mrs. Annie laughed and laughed, but Mamaw was shocked and appalled--Phil LOVED to aggravate her--and she loved Phil anyway.

June 12, 1999--most of our Garrard family at my wedding.  Looks like Dana & Chris got out of there just in time.

Fall 2001-- Drew was their third great-grandchild.  Remember I said Phil liked to tease her?  Well, when Drew was born, Mamaw was full of questions about when he took a bottle, when and how often we bathed him, what he could eat, how long he napped, etc. etc. etc.  She was just curious because she didn't get to see us all the time.  So when she asked about us taking Drew out with us when we went grocery shopping, Phil said, "Oh Mamaw, we just leave him in the car by himself.  He sleeps and never knows we're gone."  She was shocked and appalled.

Summer 2003--Aubrey was their fourth great-grandchild.  (There are 6 now.)  I'm so glad my grandparents were able to meet my children.

I don't know if you can read it, but the card on that plant is from my dad's childhood best friend.  It says, "Your mom was awesome!" 

And she was.

I've posted that picture of Mamaw's promise box on Facebook so many times..... I love it.  For as long as I can remember, Mamaw would always ask family members and guests to "pick a promise" and have prayer before leaving her home. 

 

One of my sweetest memories of her was a time when one of my family members was going through an especially difficult trial.  Mamaw's cleaning lady Clementine was at the house, and Mamaw was so burdened for our family member that she had Clementine "pick a promise," and they both knelt beside Mamaw's bed and prayed.  I'm not sure Clementine was even able to read her scripture promise card--she was an older black lady, and times were much different when she and Mamaw were growing up--but Clementine knew how to pray, and her skin color didn't matter to God or to Mamaw.  And they prayed.  And prayed.  And prayed. 

And God heard them.  Even as a very little girl, I knew God heard them. 

 

"The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;  indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me."

Psalm 16:6

 

Please leave a comment here if you feel so inclined--and I hope you do.  If you remember my Mamaw, I know some of my family would really enjoy reading what you have to say.  Thanks, and I'll see you again soon.