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. 

A Reality Check from Tanzania

I have never been to Tanzania, but I want to go there now.

Today as I was scrolling through the Twittosphere, I landed on a link that led me to this beautiful account of an average American mom meeting the fifteen-year-old Tanzanian boy that she and her family sponsor through Compassion International.

I'm totally stealing her story and her pictures to share with you, but if you scroll to the bottom of this post, you will see that I'm including the link to her original account.  (It's way better than mine....I just want to give you a taste of what she wrote.)

OK, so the blog I am swiping these photos from is called The Nesting Place.  The lady in the picture is the writer, who refers to herself as "The Nester" because her real name is supposedly strange and difficult to pronounce.  [For some reason I want to call her "Keely" .... maybe that's her name on Twitter or maybe I dreamed it .... if that IS her name, then I don't find that strange or difficult at all.  I prefer Keely to "The Nester" any day.  But just in case I invented the name "Keely" and it really isn't her name at all, let's refer to the pretty lady as The Nester.] 

Please don't leave yet.  This will get better.  I promise.

So Keely and her family sponsor (through Compassion International) that adorable Tanzanian teen pictured below. His name is Topiwo. 

The Nester and several other sponsors were invited to be Compassion Bloggers, which means they are given the privilege of meeting and hugging the children they sponsor, and they tour all of the Compassion facilities and see how Compassion works in their "children's" villages on a daily basis.  While they are traveling and touring, they blog about their experiences.

The Nester explains it all so much better than I, but please, hang in here, OK?

So Keely The Nester wrote about meeting this beautiful boy that she and her family sponsor.  Follow the link to her post and see for yourself all the great pictures.  The ones below are the ones that grabbed my heart.  These are pictures she took on the way to Topiwo's home.  See?

These are the roof-tops of Topiwo's neighbors' homes.

This is the inside of Topiwo's home.

The Nester explains that before Compassion International found Topiwo's family, they had little, if ANY, food to eat.  Now they have food, and Topiwo has a new faith and a fresh start in life.  This next picture KILLS me.  KILLS ME DEAD.  Look at that. 

These are The Nester's words from her original post entitled "Decorating Truths from a 15-year-old Tanzanian Boy":

 On the outside of the home Topiwo had painted Psalm 23 and then his name and the names of others who live there.

Topiwo lives in a mud hut.

Do you remember how the 23rd Psalm starts?

Did I happen to mention that Topiwo lives in a mud hut? And that his family lives in Tanzania and didn’t have any food until Compassion stepped in? This young man quietly declares his faith and I wondered about what message I am sending people when they walk through my front door? Do I really believe that I have everything I need, or do I immediately launch into declaring what I don’t have and what isn’t good enough as soon as someone walks into my home?--from The Nesting Place, May 10, 2012

Did that grab anyone else's heart besides mine?  Talk about a reality check, right? 

I'm so convicted because I DON'T often invite people to our home because of its many flaws (like paint peeling on the front door, stained carpet, damaged dining room flooring, and I could go on and on....).

However, I should be thankful because we actually HAVE a front door.  We HAVE carpet on the floor.  We HAVE a room used just for the purpose of dining together--at a table.  AND, we have running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, air conditioning, a refrigerator and cabinets full of food, a roof that doesn't leak, and I could go on and on.  And so could you, right?

If "The Lord is my Shepherd," then I should be able to relax and revel in the knowledge that He has provided all that I need.  So what if my carpet isn't as clean or as nice as yours? I have Jesus.  He makes me lie down in "green pastures."  He also "leads me beside still waters."  Most importantly, "He restores my soul."  [Who needs carpet, anyway?]

Lord God, please help me learn a lesson from Topiwo.  Help me rest in the knowledge that as long as my Lord is my Shepherd, I will have everything I need. 

And truly, isn't HE all that we really NEED?

Maybe one day I'll invite you over, and maybe I won't make excuses or complain about my carpet (and door and dining room, etc.)   Instead, maybe we will just sit down for a hot cup of coffee and enjoy talking about how sweet it is to trust in Jesus, our Shepherd.

To read The Nester's own account and see her other pictures of Topiwo, visit http://www.thenester.com/    Her post was written on May 10, 2012, and is entitled "Decorating Truths from a 15-Year-Old Tanzanian Boy."


My understanding of how Compassion Int. sponsorship works is a little fuzzy, but I believe that it is a ministry that provides food, clothing, education, vocational training, and THE GOSPEL for children in poverty-stricken environments all over the planet. Compassion sponsors like The Nester send monthly contributions to aid specific children from specific locations.  Please visit The Nester's blog for a better explanation.

The One Where I Try to Make Up for Lost Time

So, it's been over a month since I've visited my own blog.  Since Phil's out of town and the kids are in bed, and since I've had so much coffee I can't sleep, I think I'll take some time for a cell phone dump.  (That sounds atrocious, doesn't it?)  A writer whose blog I follow will periodically feature her own cell phone dumps--a post made up of the pictures that happen to be on her cell phone at the moment.  So, I thought I'd give it a try.  Some of you may choose to sign off at this point, but I know at least ONE of you will enjoy these pics (Hi, Aunt Becky!).  Drum roll please........ and here we go:

She loves accessories.

February 2012

My sweet class threw a surprise birthday party for me, and as another surprise, these two OLD  :) guys showed up for the fun.  They both graduated YEARS ago.  (in 2010, I think? The years in the classroom are beginning to blur...)

My phone was taken hostage by these crazy girls

My friend Hannah told us about a ministry that she and her family are involved in. They provide a Sunday lunch for the homeless in downtown Memphis.  My husband loves to serve.  Joining with the GO Memphis crew has been such a blessing and a great teaching opportunity for our kids.

Lunch

Distributing coats and blankets.  Chaos.

This is a (terrible) shot of Aubrey with weatherman Ron Childers.  He visited our school on career day and chose Aubrey as one of his helpers.

Isn't he cute?

A picture of a picture of Daddy, me, and Momma in the Grove at Ole Miss--May of 1999.  I started playing with my Facebook timeline and added a few old pics.  I was too lazy to hook up the scanner, hence the picture of a picture.

Phil had the privilege of traveling to Juarez, Mexico, with a group from New Prospect in Olive Branch. 

They built two homes for two families in two-and-a-half days.  In many instances, families of up to 10 or 11 people will live in these houses that are slightly smaller than our living room.  What blessings we take for granted...

What can I say?  He's a baby magnet.

While Phil was in Juarez, I got to visit with this sweet thing for a few minutes.  In the picture, he's doing that backwards goodbye wave that babies do.  He's one of my "grand-students;" I taught his precious mother for two years.

This sweet thing is that little guy's mommy.  She introduced me to her little man when he was only a few weeks old.  A few weeks after that, she went to be with Jesus.  We miss her so much.

Just another reminder that God's ways are higher than our ways.  Even when I don't understand His ways, I choose to trust.

My crazy children at the post office--applying for passports

He caught that nasty thing in the pond in front of our house.  Wanna come over and catch one, too?

Another picture of a picture--Drew and our nephew Joey.  (I may take a moment and cry.... it seems like they were babies only yesterday....)

My little sister (-in-law) Sarah got us free tickets (box seats, actually) to see Cinderella at the Orpheum.  It was Aubrey's first ballet and first trip to the Orpheum.

Aubrey enjoying her new (old) bedroom furniture:)  My aunt Julie recently moved and decided to give Aubrey this dresser and some other pieces that belonged to my great-grandmother.  She also gave her a comfy bed that belonged to my grandparents (can you see it in the mirror?).   

Ok, I know this is a silly picture, but it makes me laugh so hard.  I took this while Drew and I were at the pediatrician's office waiting to see a doctor (Drew had an awful sinus infection).  He was so sick, but he couldn't stop laughing at this sign that was posted on the door.  He said, "Momma, if you can read that sign, then you REALLY shouldn't have a dirty diaper."  (Yes, I know what

the sign means, but he had me laughing so hard I cried... the doctor thought we were crazy...)

I'm almost finished with this post......pretty much....

Actually, I still can't sleep (although YOU probably can after being bombarded with all of this nonsense), so I'll continue....

Yet another picture of a picture. I miss the old Far Side comics SO much.  My college roommates and I would get a 365-day Far Side calendar and read all of the comics before the end of January. 

Vintage Far Side. Put a girl in the picture instead of the guy and you have a portrait of my life.  Really.  Ask my mother.

I deal with teenagers all day, so yes, my sense of humor can often be immature and unsophisticated.  Still.  That's funny.

So this is a picture from tonight.  Our old grill is no longer with us, so the kids and I purchased an inexpensive table-top grill.  I (stupidly) thought the grill was already assembled but soon discovered otherwise...

Drew and I were hungry for steak, so we decided to put the thing together ourselves.  The task seemed a bit daunting, so Drew suggested we pray and ask God to help us figure it out without getting frustrated and yelling (he meant me not getting frustrated and yelling).  So, we prayed (he led), and we did it.  With God, nothing is impossible.

They weren't as good as Phil's steaks, but they were edible.

This is the last one--I promise.  Above are (say it with me) more pictures of pictures -- these are of Phil and me at ages 19 and 20.  The bottom picture was taken two weeks ago while we were on a carriage ride in downtown Memphis.  Of course we love each other, but what a gift it is to still like each other after all this time.

Bless your heart for persevering to the end.  'Nite, y'all.