Happy Leap Year ~ And Happy Birthday, Grandma
Feb 29th, 2008 by Sylvia
My Grandmother passed away in 2003 at the age of 87. She was born in 1916 which was a leap year, on February 29th.
Grandma (or Mamaw as I called her when I was very young) was a godly woman who taught me quite a lot about hard work, homemaking, responsibility, determination, commitment, love and Jesus.
When I was about 18 years old I held a Sweet 16 birthday party for my Grandmother. She was actually 61 but she had only had 16 actual birth days in her life :o) So we all decorated her kitchen and dining room, had a Sweet 16 cake, gifts and I bought her a Sweet 16 charm for her charm bracelet. It was silver and red in the shape of a heart with the words “Sweet 16″ on it in white.
We had a really good time and I think she was truly surprised and blessed. I think she suspected a birthday celebration, but not like that!
One of Grandma’s names was Dixie. And everyone knew her as Dixie or Aunt Dixie. I was blessed and proud to know her as Grandma. She saw every one of my children and always was so happy to hold the new ones. She loved babies.
She was also very blunt talking but she knew how to hold her tongue when necessary and when not to speak. Her honesty and reliability was known all around and folks highly respected her and my Grandfather. Together they were Hoss and Dixie. And they were a pillar of the community. They lived as farmers all their lives. They worked hard and they loved the Lord. They raised three children and Grandma lived to see 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren who adored her. I never have seen any two people who worked together to raise their children, run a farm and do God’s will any better than Grandma and Papaw.
Now, Papaw is a whole ‘nother biography. I’ll tell you about him later this year maybe. He was a godly man and the one who instilled in me my love for music. After Papaw died, Grandma dreamed about him every night. Grandma had one dream frequently where Papaw was young and handsome, in a starched white shirt and he was holding her hand and walking her through a pasture. They came to a fence and he climbed over and turned to her, held out his hand and said, “Come on.” She said “I can’t. I can’t climb that fence, Hoss.” So he said, “Well, just sit down and wait for me, I’ll be back.” And he walked through the pasture and up the hill out of sight.
Grandma and Papaw were married 55 years before Papaw died. She always said after he died that she was ready to go and see the Lord …. and then see Hoss. I guess she’s seen them both now.
What a lovely story about the dream. Gave me cold chills.
I didn’t know any of my grandmothers very well. All but one had passed by the time I came along and that one lived in TN and we didnt’ see her much. She was kinda grumpy but I loved her house. So cozy, bright kitchen, always neat as a pin. She always wore a full apron.
Well, thanks for bringing back memories. Hope you all are doing well.
Blessings
Patty H.
Hi Patty,
Actually, my Grandmother had I guess what old folks might call “second sight”, we called it the gift of knowledge. She dreamed and had visions all her life. She’d have a vision and then it would happen. So, she learned to be prepared for things and would immediately pray when she had one and ask the Lord to guide her steps. It sounds strange, I know. But it really wasn’t, it was how God used her.
I read your blog this morning but didn’t have time to post. I’m glad to know that you all are doing better at your house :o)
Love
Sylvia
Thanks for sharing, Sylvia — how sweet! I was just missing my Grandma Popo the other day.
What a beautiful post. I think about my grandmother every day. I hope little Elenore can write similar words about you some day.