Muriel Jean-the name of my beloved grandmother. A mother to 4, grandmother to 15, great-grandmother to 1 and another one the way. She was no ordinary grandmother...
Mammy (as all of her grandchildren call her) was young. She was full of life. She was spunky & witty, always saying exactly what was on her mind (my family says I take after her in this way). She created her own "Mammyisms," as we called them-often mixing up sayings such as "two heads are better than none." Or, "I'm going to visit the ARmish today." She pronounced words in her own way and always declared that she was pronouncing them the right way. She was THE most creative person I have ever met. She created bears, purses, watches, quilts, bridal bags, sock monkeys, headbands, scarfs, socks...you name it, she has made it. She could create something from nothing-a true artist. Remember the flowers on my wedding dress? She made those-out of lingerie from the Good Will-I guess they served as my something old, and something borrowed ;) Everything I know about creating she has taught me. I would not be the crafter I am today without her knowledge. I strive to know the things she knew one day. She was no ordinary grandmother...
Mammy never had an easy life-she endured a rough childhood and upbringing, a loss of a husband, a loss of a son and two cancer diagnoses. Yet, she never complained. She never whined about doctors appointments or chemo, she actually enjoyed it-often telling me, "I hope I have chemo today...they treat me like a queen there and I get free lunch!" She had a strong faith in the Lord and believed that we were made to know God and follow God. She continually brought joy to people's lives through her crafts, jokes and simply her smile. Did I forget to mention she was one beautiful woman?...always wearing the most perfect colored lipstick and flower headband in her hair, which of course matched her outfit. She was no ordinary grandmother...
My family lived with my Mammy two separate times throughout my life. Once when I was 3-4 years old and again my first year of high school. I can't count the number of times we danced in her kitchen together, ate chocolate cake until we "blew up like wood ticks" (as she would say) or talked over a cup of coffee at 3:00 in the afternoon (she always needed her afternoon cup of coffee to survive the rest of the day). My mammy was no ordinary grandmother...she was so much more...
After her passing, my mom found a letter she wrote to her children and grandchildren a few weeks before. The letter was read at her burial this past Saturday. The words she wrote I will forever hold in my heart, and I hope you will also...
"Follow your dreams never give up and be happy along the way. I have made mistakes, nobody is perfect, but I always had your best interest in mind and always did the best I could to the best of my ability. For what I have learned out of life is that no one should do good for the sake of reward and that there is no end of good that can be done by those who don't care who gets the credit. We always forget that we are on trail on this earth. We were made to know God, to love God and to try and get back to Him in heaven."
My Mammy has found her way to heaven. She is there now-with my pop-pop and uncle, who passed away only a few weeks before her. And although I am shocked and saddened with the thought of not having my crazy Mammy around, I can rejoice in knowing that I will one day dance again with her...only not in the kitchen, but in heaven.
(This photo was taken on Christmas Eve this past year)
(All of her grandchildren-minus one-wearing purple in honor of her after her memorial service)
Downtown Annapolis is THE perfect place for wedding pictures!
Downtown Annapolis is THE perfect place for wedding pictures!
