so, sunday i worked in the nursery at my church for the first time, what a huge blessing. having all the 18 month to 24 month olds love on me - well walk and climb on me in a tiny little room was so much fun. at first i had 9 of them in the room, all by myself, and then finally they brought in some reinforcement (just some help.) after that, i went home for a cookout with the family, which was so good for us, after the sudden death of my grandmother last week, we needed to rally together and try to have a good time and not be sad. my grandfather was even able to tell us about their first date without crying which was precious. i then headed back to charlotte and went over to christine's for "sunday funday!" since it was raining no park activities... we decided to play dominoes. who knew dominoes could be so much fun! i needed this so much, as i had had such a rough week the week before. i had to head to the airport to go to salisbury, md for work on sunday, so off i went.
i knew that monday morning when i called my grandparent's house and my grandmother wasn't there that would be rough for me, it was, but my grandfather was precious. he has tried to be both mom and pop - asking about the flight and trying to keep up with my schedule. my coordinator's in salisbury got me a daily devotional on how to deal with grieving, it was so special that they did that for me. i came home from salisbury on tuesday night.
on wednesday morning i had plans to meet a wish kid at the airport, then i met kasey for lunch, and then i had to catch a flight to richmond to go to the jason aldean concert in richmond with my study coordinator - whew what a busy day! so, i met little stephen who was so excited about going to the coca-cola 600 and to meet tony stewart! (this was kind of emotional for me, as my grandmother was a huge tony stewart fan.) i am not sure exactly what stephen's condition was, but he was too cute. after meeting him, i went to meet kasey and we got to talking... next thing i know i have like 15 minutes to get to the airport, oops. i get to the airport with 7 minutes to spare, wow. i get to richmond, and my SC picks me up for the concert. we went to the jason aldean concert, what fun - he played all the songs i love. then lisa and i went to the ale house in richmond to get a bite to eat, yummy!!!
yesterday, i monitored in richmond all day, then flew home and met kasey and jillian for dinner at big daddy's. after dinner, christine and i went to speedstreet to meet lee, carmen, and charlie to hear the group that sings, "poison," haha - but we didn't hear them because lee and them actually decided they wanted to go to buckhead and christine's show broke, oops - party foul.
today, i was supposed to go to florence, but i just couldn't do it, i felt horrible this morning, so i stayed in the office to get caught up. tonight, i'm going to hang out with friends in downtown charlotte, but not before i go see POP (my grandfather.)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
a tribute to my grandmother
unfortunately, my grandmother, or as i called her, "mom" passed away last tuesday, may 12 - at this point in my life, i can honestly say was the saddest day of my life. words can't tell you how special this woman was to me. everyone has different relationships with people - some people are close to their parents (as I am), grandparents, others to their aunts/uncles, others it may be a cousin, well for me, i am pretty close to my mother's side of the family, as my biological father passed away when i was seven years old. i have always just had one set of grandparents, and close is not really the word. the relationship i had with mom was one-of-a-kind. i am going to post what i read at her funeral. i am on the mend, but i will miss her everyday of my life. unfortunately, her death was very sudden, and we are pretty sure that it was something that was missed at the emergency room the day before - more than likely it was a rupture in her colon, a GI bleed, or possibly a heart attack. it doesn't really matter what it was, as nothing will bring her back. we will remember all the wonderful times we had with her, and i praise and thank God for blessing me with the most AMAZING grandmother for 26 years of my life!
A Special “MOM”
I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about how wonderful my grandmother, Christine “Teeny” Saine was to my family and me. I should probably clear up any confusion now: all the grandkids called her something different. My sister and I called her “Mom,” Kenny’s children called her “Mimi,” and Dena called her Momaw. She was a woman loved by so many people; in the past two days alone we have already started to see how many lives she affected and how much people cared for her.
Growing up, I was extremely fortunate to live just five minutes away from Mom and Pop, so I spent a lot of time at their house. I was the first grandbaby, so I think it is safe to say that I was completely spoiled. As a child she would buy me lots of cute little Osh’Kosh outfits, so I feel certain that is where I get my shopping addiction from, so every time I go shopping now I’ll put a smile on my face and think of her. She cared and worried about people, and when I started traveling with my job two and a half years ago, she insisted that I send her my flight numbers for every trip and call her when I land after every flight. She would even ask Pop if it was ok if I called past his bedtime of 8 o’clock sometimes if my flight was going to come in later, and he knew that she would worry if she didn’t hear from me so he always said yes. She inspected my travel itineraries carefully, in fact, one time she found a mistake that I didn’t and called me to inform that I didn’t have a hotel in Memphis, TN, so she wanted me to call my travel agency with work right away – she couldn’t stand the thought that I would be arriving there without a hotel to stay in.
I went to UNC and then lived in Raleigh for three years after that, but this past September I bought a house in Charlotte. I had decided that I was moving back closer to home because I wanted to be closer to my family. I knew that Mom and Pop were getting older, and I wanted to be able to go their house on Sunday afternoons for our traditions. Mom absolutely loved having us over on Sunday afternoons and always made a delicious sweet treat for my momma and my aunt Paula. With a cup of coffee, a piece of Mom’s delicious pound cake, or piece of hidden candy (she had to hide all the candy with sugar from Pop), off we head to the living room to watch the race or golf if there wasn’t a race on. One of the other advantages was that I could go eat lunch or dinner at Mom and Pop’s on the days I wasn’t traveling, and I tried to do this once a week. I’d call her, and if I gave her a couple hours notice, I’d get there and she’d have a cake of cornbread already made up for me. Most Saturdays Momma, Mom, Pop, Kendall, and I would go to lunch, I always voted for Bar-B-Que King, and Mom never complained even though I know she would have preferred to go eat Chinese sometimes. I’m going to miss having her around, but Pop I promise we’ll still do all of these things!
She was always doing for others and so giving of herself and of her time. At all of our holiday meals, she was always asking everyone if there was anything specifically we wanted. She knew Kendall wanted crowder peas, Merideth wanted deviled eggs, Austin and Jason would eat pretty much anything, Dena wanted cornbread, and I had to have her special pinto beans and cornbread. Another amazing display of how giving she was, was how she took care of her aunt Nuttie. For nearly four years, Nuttie was in Cardinal Care, and Mom took crackers, sweets, and clean laundry to her twice a week if not more. Nuttie didn’t always make this a pleasant experience for Mom, but that didn’t stop her; she loved her and wanted to care of her.
I know many of you probably know her from when her and Pop ran the Dry Cleaners together, but I don’t have many memories of that except when Momma would take us up there, Mom would tell me I could have a few pieces of Super Bubble. I do, however, know how much she has enjoyed working at Magic Cleaners. Working two days a week for the past several years has provided so much joy in her life, as she has been able to see the customers and stay active, which was so important to her. Just in the past two days I have heard from so many people, “ I never saw her without a smile on her face.”
She loved my grandfather so much. It is like my Uncle Kenny said yesterday, the example of love that they have shown him over the past 55 years (well for me 26 years) has meant so much. They didn’t do anything without each other, and after 55 years of marriage, that is simply beautiful. Pop, I am so glad that you two were able to go to Pigeon Forge and spend your weekend together two weeks ago; I hope you will cherish those memories for the years to come. In recent years, Pop hasn’t been able to hear that well, and I can remember on Sundays when we would be over there, the TV would be so loud that I would fuss and say it was going to give me a headache, not Mom. She would just say, it is alright, I put tissue or cotton in my ears. I know you are going to miss her Pop, but believe me she knew how much you loved her, and she is in a better place and no longer in pain.
Kendall, I know you are really struggling right now because Mom will not be there on your wedding day. Just think about how proud she was about finding a dress in Pigeon Forge and think about how pretty she looked in it, at least she did get to wear it. She’ll be with us in spirit that day, and I know she will be smiling in Heaven because you are going to be a beautiful bride.
I’m not really sure how to finish talking about someone who truly was one of my best friends. I know it sounds crazy that my 77 year old grandmother was one of my best friends, but I talked to her every day of my life, she was my biggest cheerleader. She wanted to know everything that was going on in my life. I will miss her so much, and I know my entire family will, but I know with our faith in God we will get through this.
We love you Mom, Mimi, Momaw, Teeny, and Christine.
I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about how wonderful my grandmother, Christine “Teeny” Saine was to my family and me. I should probably clear up any confusion now: all the grandkids called her something different. My sister and I called her “Mom,” Kenny’s children called her “Mimi,” and Dena called her Momaw. She was a woman loved by so many people; in the past two days alone we have already started to see how many lives she affected and how much people cared for her.
Growing up, I was extremely fortunate to live just five minutes away from Mom and Pop, so I spent a lot of time at their house. I was the first grandbaby, so I think it is safe to say that I was completely spoiled. As a child she would buy me lots of cute little Osh’Kosh outfits, so I feel certain that is where I get my shopping addiction from, so every time I go shopping now I’ll put a smile on my face and think of her. She cared and worried about people, and when I started traveling with my job two and a half years ago, she insisted that I send her my flight numbers for every trip and call her when I land after every flight. She would even ask Pop if it was ok if I called past his bedtime of 8 o’clock sometimes if my flight was going to come in later, and he knew that she would worry if she didn’t hear from me so he always said yes. She inspected my travel itineraries carefully, in fact, one time she found a mistake that I didn’t and called me to inform that I didn’t have a hotel in Memphis, TN, so she wanted me to call my travel agency with work right away – she couldn’t stand the thought that I would be arriving there without a hotel to stay in.
I went to UNC and then lived in Raleigh for three years after that, but this past September I bought a house in Charlotte. I had decided that I was moving back closer to home because I wanted to be closer to my family. I knew that Mom and Pop were getting older, and I wanted to be able to go their house on Sunday afternoons for our traditions. Mom absolutely loved having us over on Sunday afternoons and always made a delicious sweet treat for my momma and my aunt Paula. With a cup of coffee, a piece of Mom’s delicious pound cake, or piece of hidden candy (she had to hide all the candy with sugar from Pop), off we head to the living room to watch the race or golf if there wasn’t a race on. One of the other advantages was that I could go eat lunch or dinner at Mom and Pop’s on the days I wasn’t traveling, and I tried to do this once a week. I’d call her, and if I gave her a couple hours notice, I’d get there and she’d have a cake of cornbread already made up for me. Most Saturdays Momma, Mom, Pop, Kendall, and I would go to lunch, I always voted for Bar-B-Que King, and Mom never complained even though I know she would have preferred to go eat Chinese sometimes. I’m going to miss having her around, but Pop I promise we’ll still do all of these things!
She was always doing for others and so giving of herself and of her time. At all of our holiday meals, she was always asking everyone if there was anything specifically we wanted. She knew Kendall wanted crowder peas, Merideth wanted deviled eggs, Austin and Jason would eat pretty much anything, Dena wanted cornbread, and I had to have her special pinto beans and cornbread. Another amazing display of how giving she was, was how she took care of her aunt Nuttie. For nearly four years, Nuttie was in Cardinal Care, and Mom took crackers, sweets, and clean laundry to her twice a week if not more. Nuttie didn’t always make this a pleasant experience for Mom, but that didn’t stop her; she loved her and wanted to care of her.
I know many of you probably know her from when her and Pop ran the Dry Cleaners together, but I don’t have many memories of that except when Momma would take us up there, Mom would tell me I could have a few pieces of Super Bubble. I do, however, know how much she has enjoyed working at Magic Cleaners. Working two days a week for the past several years has provided so much joy in her life, as she has been able to see the customers and stay active, which was so important to her. Just in the past two days I have heard from so many people, “ I never saw her without a smile on her face.”
She loved my grandfather so much. It is like my Uncle Kenny said yesterday, the example of love that they have shown him over the past 55 years (well for me 26 years) has meant so much. They didn’t do anything without each other, and after 55 years of marriage, that is simply beautiful. Pop, I am so glad that you two were able to go to Pigeon Forge and spend your weekend together two weeks ago; I hope you will cherish those memories for the years to come. In recent years, Pop hasn’t been able to hear that well, and I can remember on Sundays when we would be over there, the TV would be so loud that I would fuss and say it was going to give me a headache, not Mom. She would just say, it is alright, I put tissue or cotton in my ears. I know you are going to miss her Pop, but believe me she knew how much you loved her, and she is in a better place and no longer in pain.
Kendall, I know you are really struggling right now because Mom will not be there on your wedding day. Just think about how proud she was about finding a dress in Pigeon Forge and think about how pretty she looked in it, at least she did get to wear it. She’ll be with us in spirit that day, and I know she will be smiling in Heaven because you are going to be a beautiful bride.
I’m not really sure how to finish talking about someone who truly was one of my best friends. I know it sounds crazy that my 77 year old grandmother was one of my best friends, but I talked to her every day of my life, she was my biggest cheerleader. She wanted to know everything that was going on in my life. I will miss her so much, and I know my entire family will, but I know with our faith in God we will get through this.
We love you Mom, Mimi, Momaw, Teeny, and Christine.
Monday, May 4, 2009
the best welcome home ever
so, last thursday, my best friend in the world, lindsey jo wilson returned home after ten months in africa - as a missionary. here is the tricky part. she wasn't supposed to fly home until saturday... so, cindy, crystal, and i were the only ones that knew. cindy and i were her welcome home committee at the airport, as crystal was out to eat with her family for her birthday. so, with our welcome home posters, we went to the airport and met adam's parents (they had made shirts that said welcome home adam, austin, katie, and lindsey). eventually, katie's family and austin's family joined us as well!!! so, we all waited, as their flight was a little late, but that didn't matter, it was nice getting to the know the other families. we couldn't get any word on whether the flight had landed or not, so i said i would go and ask the united people, of course, when i walk away is right when they arrive, so i hear everyone clapping and welcoming them and start running - and finally get to see her!!!
it was so wonderful to see my best friend after 10 months. i thought we'd be more emotional, but it felt like we hadn't missed a beat. so, we go down to baggage claim and get all of lindsey's stuff - lindsey jo didn't have enough room in her luggage, so poor lindsey had a bunch of stuff in katie's luggage. lindsey should have told me to bring an extra suitcase, but she didn't. oh well. we managed.
so we load up my car, and head to my house and lindsey got to see my house for the first time finished, woohoo. she was so funny, saying stuff like, "this house looks like it should be in a magazine." i think she had been in africa too long. don't get me wrong, i love my house, but i think she had been living in her living quarters in africa so long that my house looked too nice to her, haha, but i appreciated all the compliments, haha. so then we headed to chic-fil-a to get her a chicken sandwich, yum yum! then to complete the night with the biggest surprises...
first stop, dale's - lindsey's dad. i knock on the door, and say hello. i didn't really have a plan of what to say, as my plan got canned in the car, lindsey and cindy didn't like it. so, when dale finally saw lindsey, he couldn't believe it, it was so cool to see his reaction, cindy got some great pictures. we ate birthday cake for crystal's birthday and then chatted for a while, and then headed to stop 2....
first stop, dale's - lindsey's dad. i knock on the door, and say hello. i didn't really have a plan of what to say, as my plan got canned in the car, lindsey and cindy didn't like it. so, when dale finally saw lindsey, he couldn't believe it, it was so cool to see his reaction, cindy got some great pictures. we ate birthday cake for crystal's birthday and then chatted for a while, and then headed to stop 2....
second stop, gail's - lindsey's mom. crystal knocks on the door and tells gail that her and i had been to the flat rock grill and thought since we were so close that we would stop by and say hello. she welcomes us in, and as she is closing her all glass door, lindsey and cindy are standing there. she jumps up and down and screams, cindy got a great picture of it. she cried, and i think lindsey did as well. mike was excited that his saturday wouldn't be interrupted by going to the airport, so silly. we stayed for about 30 minutes. then back to dale's as lindsey was exhausted, she hadn't slept in 48 hours - so i slept there. funny thing is, i haven't slept there in years. i haven't slept without my sound machine in years, so that was difficult, but it was worth it - i got to hang out with my best friend.
enjoy the pictures!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)