A “Nannie” or “Grammie” or “Grandma”, the list goes on and on means something different to every one of us. Each of us have different memories of these people and their roles in our lives. Some of us know our grandparents well and others may not as well as they would have liked.
When I was born my parents lived in a home similar to mine now. Our family lived on the top level and my grandparents lived in an apartment below us. I saw them every day for the first 3-4 years of my life. My Mom went back to work when I was 6 weeks old, since that was the Maternity leave back then and my Nannie took care of me 5 days a week. Most of my memories under the age of 5 are with her and my Pop. And even after we moved to a different home, they still lived fairly close by and I spent many weekends with them and overnights even after my grandfather had passed away.
My Nannie was one of the most giving people I have met! There isn’t anything she wouldn’t have done for me, even sometimes when she shouldn’t have. She loved to listen and was so kind and soft-hearted. She loved spending time with me and I am truly blessed to have had her in my life.
When we settled in the Valley, my parents and my Nannie moved up here as well. I was blessed to have her meet my girls. Nannie always felt like I needed a boy. Anyone who knew me for each of my pregnancies knew I was very content having all girls. My Nannie on my Father’s side had all boys and my Nannie who I grew up close to (My Mom’s side) had only my Mom and 4 boys. I have a brother and no sisters, so I desperately wanted girls! Nannie was excited that I had 3 girls, but told me many times she wanted me to have a boy, that everyone needed to have one of each at least!
It was a few years after she passed that I became pregnant with Noah. Most people know the 2 important dates you talk about to any doctor during your pregnancy are the first day of your last period and your due date. Mine was based on ultrasound. The first date was my Nannie’s Birthday and the last date was the date that she had passed away! I always felt like that was her little sign to me that she had something to do with Noah being a boy! And she was right, I did need a little boy! As much as I love my girls and am so thankful for them, I am also very thankful that I have a boy as well!
I miss my Nannie and think of her very often! There are so many things that I wish she could see, but when I think about it, I know she does know and is with me every day! I am thankful that my Nannie was a Christian and I just know she is with my sweet little Brianna until I see them both again! When my grandfather passed away, I was only 8 years old and I wasn’t able to see him before he passed. I had a hard time with that as I felt like I didn’t get the chance to tell him that I loved him or have that last moment with him. My Nannie did pass suddenly and unexpectedly, but two days before she passed she called me. She had been having memory issues and was worried she didn’t have her gift for Caile’s birthday which was in a few days. I had assured her that she did and for some reason she began to tell me how proud she was of me and the wonderful Mother that she felt I was. She told me how happy I was to have found Sandy and she finally felt as though she did not have to worry about me. We both told each other that we loved each other and that was the end of the conversation. Two days later on her way to the hospital on a stretcher I was able to tell her I loved her and even though I never saw her again I felt as though I had the closure that I needed. She was in a better place and I although I missed her, I had peace and I know she did as well.
The first day of Winter is always hard for me. I dislike the season and I always dread the long dark cold days that will lie ahead. But it does help to know that instead of thinking about that first day, I can instead think of this wonderful woman that was born on that day. She blessed my life in more ways than she will ever know. I am a better Mother and I will be a better Grandmother because of her. My wish is that everyone can have a Nannie as wonderful in their life as I did!
I Dream of Summer 
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