My Nana

We will be gathering soon to celebrate the life of a woman I am proud to call my Grandmother. I have so many precious memories of my Nana. She has always been there for me. I can remember visiting her house in Snellville. Oh, how it took forever to get there! And she had a special toy box designated for us kids. The woman knew how to sew just about anything. Oh, how I felt like a princess wearing the dresses she made me, and my dolly was also hand stitched by my grandmother and wore clothing hand crafted by Nana. I remember going to her house for family dinners. She sure knew how to make savory country fried steak and fried okra. It quickly became my favorite meal and one that I requested specifically when I had slumber parties at my grandparent’s house. I recall fighting to go “alone” to spend the night there. She even kicked Nani out of her room and let me sleep in her room. It was during those times I have my fondest memories of my grandmother. She would tell me the most outrageous and wonderful bedtime stories which I now tell my own children. I could fill the pages of many children’s books with the stories she would share. She always spoiled me with my own full bag of pretzels, my favorite treat by choice, and my own Dr. Pepper in a Minnie Mouse mug that stayed at their house and was designated for me. My Nana would play games with me. She taught me how to play Go Fish, Solitare, HiQ and Checkers, and she spoiled me rotten with oodles of candy and sugary sweets. She made the best cookies, and all the kids loved our annual trip to help her make the cookie frosting to decorate the Christmas cookies. I used to beg her to take me on walks with her, and she would always willingly take me “after our food digested.” And oh, was she ever a prankster. She would always play tricks on the ones who fell asleep after a hearty family dinner. None of us will ever forget the joke she used to tell around the supper table. We joke about it now, but it’s all in love for our sweet Nana. My grandparents tell me that moving to Memphis with us was the worst financial decision they ever made, but oh how I treasure the memories made there. And ya know how you combine parties of family members who have birthdays close together? Well, my Christmas cake will always say, “Happy Birthday, Jesus & Nana!” God made a special person when he made her. I’ve lost a Grandmother, but we will be reunited in heaven one day. While it’s not spiritual, Andrew is excited that Nana has gone to heaven to save a seat for him on her heavenly swing from which they can praise Jesus together. Oh, how she longed to be in Glory, and that’s where she is now…spending eternity with her Savior.