Wanted to take this moment to honor my Granny who passed away earlier this month at 90 years of age.  I got to speak a few words at her funeral at FBC, Shawnee, OK.  These were some of my words:

My favorite person in the world is my Granny.  Growing up in a home where our mother was sick 24/7  it felt like we took care of her more than she took care of us.  Our hearts were empty and longing for a mother’s love.  Granny filled the longings in my heart with her grandmotherly love.  My favorite childhood memories are in her home.  My favorite teenage memories are in her home.  My favorite college memories are in her home.  My favorite summer memories are in her home.  My favorite Christmas memories are in her home.  I think I would have to say that the best moments were when we spent the night in her house.  When it was time to go to bed she would pull down the freshly washed covers and turn on the lamp and tuck us into bed.  I can still smell the sheets.  She would sit on the side of the bed, hug us and remind us of how glad she was we were visiting.  When she left the room, I knew I was loved and safe.  We would awake to the smell of her homemade cinnamon rolls and hurry to the kitchen to indulge.  During the day Granny always made time for us by playing cards, taking us shopping, allowing us to bake in the kitchen with her, or taking an evening walk around the block.

She was my role model.  She lived her life as a godly wife, mother, friend, and child of God.  I can’t even begin to count how many times I drove in the car with her taking cinnamon rolls to families or listening as she delivered her Sunday School class lesson to and elderly woman not able to leave her home.  Granny had a deep love of the Bible.  Every Sat. you could find her in her back room studying for hours her Sunday School lessson for the next morning.

About 5 years ago when it was time for her to leave her home in Shawnee and move to OKC, I was able to help sort through her things and clean out her house.  I was also able to take some of the things she no longer could use.  If I could have only taken one item I would have chosen the front door.  I know that sounds odd, but the front door to her home represented the most loving welcome and good-bye I would ever know.  As young as I can remember, whether we were 5 or 25 she and Grandppa greeted us at the door with the warmest hug.  Then when it was time for us to leave she and Grandpa would stand outside the door waving good-bye till we were no longer in sight. 

I want to continue Granny’s legacy.  What she has imparted in me, I want to impart to my girls.  Her love for the Word, her devotion to her husband, her commitment to her community, her great cooking, her good manners, her ability to stick to a budget, and love for family and friends is what I want to pass on to the next generation.

See you at the front door in heaven, Granny!