Great Granny = Sweet Memories

Day 66 of Photo Inspirations -- Great Granny = Sweet Memories
When my kids come back to Tulsa, paying a visit to Great Granny is always on the itinerary!  I loved it, yesterday, when we stopped by to see her.   Payton and Alexia will be in a 3-Day Speech & Debate Competition starting next Thursday, so they presented their speeches to Great Granny.

They both did such a great job making Granny smile, and laugh, so big.  And in her wisdom, she offered them sweet compliments and great critique -- just what they needed to hear.  Granny listened to many speeches in her 52+ years of marriage to Dad, a Pastor, so she knew just the right words to encourage them.  She had had a lot of practice.

Alexia had her best friend with her at Granny's and she gave her a guided tour around Granny's house -- showing her lots of photos from their baby and kid years.   Just before we left, they had to show Canaan "their" toy closet.

Actually, it's been the "toy closet" for all of the great grandkids -- all 8 of them -- from my 22 year old grandson to our youngest 20 month old niece.  The same toys that each and every one of them played with -- with the exception of a few new ones for the newest great grandchild.

There's something to be said for living in one home for over 25 years -- the home that she and dad moved to when their previous home was demolished by a tornado.  This has been the perfect home for Mom and Dad, and when Dad graduated to heaven, now Mom's perfect home.  The toys that the kids pulled out are the same ones that each grandkid played with or pulled through the house.  How great it is that some things don't change -- and some things you can always count on to be there for you.

Great Granny is the family icon for stability and consistency.  She has her fixed routines and her "ways" that are unchangeable.  We gave up many years ago on trying to get her to conform to our way of thinking.  But, when I think about it, I'm glad she hasn't changed.  She learned it from the ONE who sets the best example of parenting and HE NEVER changes.  He's always there for our visits with Him.  He's always ready to listen to us, to celebrate our victories and to comfort us in our failures.  He is consistent in His love for us, even when we just don't "get it right".  But He is there to applaud our successes, cheer us up when we're disappointed, and give us great critique when we miss the mark.  And, by the way, He loves us so much that He's probably got OUR pictures all over HIS house.