One of my motivations for driving across the country with the kids was for Jubilee to meet her Grandma Gert. There is something about being able to say, “I met my grandma before she passed away” that just was really important to me. Grandma G has been so excited for her four newest grandchildren to come home – Isaiah, Elizabeth, Elijah and Jubilee that I just couldn’t bear the thought of her not meeting her….and so here are some pictures from our visits with Grandma while we were there.
Grandma didn’t know us right away, which I know many of you know what that’s like. It is downright painful. We had to work at helping her remember….but when she was able to start to come around, her very first words each visit were, “Where’s Isaiah?” It made me start to cry.
She’s trying so hard to remember…it was heartbreaking…
I am convinced that Grandma prayed long and hard for Isaiah to be set free from Ch*na when they had told us “no” after a “yes” and he was her first concern {although she has seen him several times in the 3 years he has been home – there are pictures of him all over the refrigerator, asking for prayer for him – so precious!}. It seemed that she was worried that he was not with us. That “where’s Isaiah?” made us certain that she was now “with us”. It was precious. Because Isaiah said, “I’m right here Grandma.” And he went to her side. She smiled.
Going up on the elevator…
The kids were doing splits to entertain all…
Although I didn’t get a picture of Josh meeting Grandma,
it was really nice to have him meet her as well..
Taking flowers to Grandma on one of our visits…
Look at the sweet smile of enjoyment on her face…
so worth the trip…right there!!
Here’s Dw introducing Jubilee to his mom….look at the sweet expression on Jubilee’s face. Jubilee was quite taken by Grandma. We don’t think Grandma really understood who she was {although she had been thrilled, not that long ago, that she was joining our family….but I have to tell you….
The first visit was drawing to a close….we had all said our good-byes and we had all hugged Grandma good-bye and the kids had started walking toward the door and all of a sudden Jubilee ran back to Grandma and threw her arms around her, buried her face in her chest and said, “I love you Grandma”…oh my gracious…it made me start to cry….such a tender heart…..I was so bummed I had shut my camera down….
Look at Jubilee’s hand on her as she listens intently to Grandma talking…
Dw will always be his mom’s baby boy…he was the youngest of her four boys…
I took a picture of me while there one of the times…I wanted to prove that I had come on the trip – haha.
How we miss you Grandma and how it pains our heart that you are so far away. If you were strong enough for the move we would love you with us….we are so thankful for the prayer you have prayed all these years for each of us…..we love you so very, very, very much!
These pictures are just incredibly precious. You can tell what kind of a lady she was/is just by looking at her face.
PRECIOUS!!!
This touched me so much! I had a super special relationship with my great-grandmother – and how I wish she was here to hug!
I love that she continues to pray for your precious Isaiah! And how unbelievably priceless is Jubilee's relationship with her Grandma? Seriously… can you imagine that she didn't even have one just a short time ago? And now she is loved across generations!
I know how hard it is when the person you love doesn't recognize you. There are many times when my mom says "excuse me, I don't remember your name" to me. My heart breaks pretty much every time. Sometimes when I wake her in the morning is when she asks me or late at night. She lives with me and that is such a joy for me. It is hard work at times, but so well worth it. I wish Grandma Gert could be with you, but at least she got to have you while you were on vacation.
Very beautiful, Linny.
I am so happy that Jubilee got to meet Grandma G. What a special time for all of you!
Thank you for sharing the beauty with us!
Blessings,
Donna L.
beautiful photos, Linny, thank you for sharing 🙂
Precious, precious pictures Linny–and oh my, the story of Jubilee running back to her Grandma to give some extra love– priceless!
I love the pictures of Dw with his mama–what a precious lady!
Thanks for sharing with us.
Love you,
Tina
What a sweet time and a sweet memory for all of you.
Grandma looks so so so sweet! I just want to come give her a hug!
The children are looking fabulous as usual!
God bless!
So sweet…Loved the pictures! It reminds me of the eight years I cared for my mother and having to say good-bye to her on 9/11/01.
Oh Linny,
Your family is just so beautiful! What a sweet visit.
Love,
Janet and gang
So precious. Jubilee just knew Grandma was special. Thank you for sharing the pictures and story. I was looking at a picture of my grandmother earlier today and wishing I could give her a hug. What a blessing it will be for all of your kids to someday look back at the pictures from that very special visit.
Great post Linny, there is just nothing as precious as Grandma's
Absolutely beautiful! I love the tenderness and the relationship between generations. Precious memories. What a blessing for all who were there (and really for me too as I see it in pictures)!
Those pictures are so precious! I am so glad you guys all had that time with her. It must be SO hard to see her like that, so frail. And sweet Jubilee! That just made my heart smile.
I love the photos of Gertrude- especially the ones in her room. I think the afghans and all the things she had on her table are all things you'd find on any Grandma's bedside table. 🙂 Reminds me of my grandma.
Love you!!
Oh my goodness gracious, bless Jubilee's little heart! You can truly see the love and concern she has for Grandma Gert. Children are such delights and I believe she was genuinely smitten by her grandmother. 🙂 I'm happy you all made the trip. Yep, family is worth driving the distance and so is seeing the smile on a matriarch's face. Beautiful family, beautiful family.
She seems so sweet. I love the pics. Isaiah whispering in Emmas ear and sweet Jubilee's face looking at Grandma. Love it. I worked with the elderly for years at a nursing home and it was so fun and they teach so much with their hearts. Love love and many blessings!
So sweet. I am crying. I remember my Nana meeting my kids before she passed. Such precious memories. We are off this morning for a much needed guardianship hearing of our nephew that we have been raising for almost a year, when his mother up and left for a drug addict looser. She's fighting us on it. I hope it goes well. You are truly an inspiration.
My daughter is named after my grandma. When Letha was a baby my grandma told me she was praying she would live long enough for Letha to remember her. She died when Letha was 3 1/2. We were there to see her her last days. Letha sat on her bed and stroked her face gently and told grandma that she was so happy that grandma would get to see Jesus soon. It was one of those child-like faith moments.
When Letha was about 6 years old, we were driving down the highway and out of the blue she says, "Mom, why do I remember Grandma, she died when I was so little, how do I remember her so well?" Through tears I taught my daughter about God's faithfulness to answer prayer! 🙂
Thank you for sharing Grandma with us.
Oh that is so special! You know Grandmas are near & dear to our hearts. We got to take the girls to see their great-grandma this week. The memories I have of them with her will be treasured forever. I am so glad she got to meet everyone.
Priceless pictures. Beautiful.
How sweet. Grandma Gert looks just like my Mamaw.Particularly in the pic with Jublilee and her hand on her shoulder. Although, I think G-ma Gert may be at least a foot and a half taller!! We just moved my Mamaw into the nursing home next door to her assisted living apartment. It was really hard but she was so precious saying that this was just another phase of life and she was ok with it. sniff. She will do ANYTHING for ANYONE (still does!) but she doesn't take any guff from anyone!!
I wish my kids had the kind of grandparents I did but sadly they don't. Mark and I talk about the kind of grandparents we will be…even now as our kids are still little!! Sheri
Oh my, what a precious post! So heartwarming & tender! I loved all the photos!
My 96-1/2 year old grandma just passed away in February. She died at the nursing home where she had lived since she was 93. She would have turned 97 on Aug 18…..so I've been thinking about her alot and missing her.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful family memories!
Oh man, Linny! I'm moved to tears. What a precious relationship your family has. ((HUGS))
this is beautiful & so precious. what special prayers from a grandma. she's going to have quite the legacy.
Jubilee running back to hug Grandma Gert made me cry. God Bless You all for making sure that Grandma could see her grandchildren and they could seal her into their memory.
I need to go get more tissue.