Our Day with Grandma



Yesterday was an "awesome day".  Aunt Jen and I had talked about taking Grandma down to Sibley to see an old friend of hers.  Bernie & Charlotte and Grandpa & Grandma went to the same church in Sibley and the two guys played softball together and the four of them loved to play cards.  We moved from Sibley when I was probably 4 but they have remained friends all these years.  Charlotte (who is also Dad's cousin) passed away 7 years ago.  We let dad and Aunt Jan come with us and as always, we laughed a lot and had a great time.

 

 

First we went to Rock Rapids and had breakfast with John Smidstra which is a party in and of itself.  I really like him and we had a nice visit and a super good breakfast.  (And he bought which was even better!)

 

 Then we drove through the cemetery in Rock Rapids - I hadn't been there since Aunt Albertha died.  I still miss her - she was an awesome aunt!!!

We arrived in Sibley about 11:30 and visited for a while before Bernie's daughter, Alice Ann prepared lunch for us.  I thought we were just having sandwiches and chips but she had a jello salad, rolls, beef stew and apple pie.  It was great.  We sat around the table another two hours and just talked of old times.  Many of the stories I've heard several times before but Bernie and Mom still love hearing and telling them.

Bernie and Mom were soooooooooooooooooo excited to see each other.  They were almost like two teenagers.  I wish they lived a little closer together because I think they would enjoy having dinner together occasionally and just being with each other. 

 Dad and Alice Ann "got married" when they were just little kids.  Apparently the big thing to do with the little kids in Hills was dress them up and then pull them around in a coaster wagon.  Interesting, huh?

 

 After leaving Sibley, we went to George, Iowa.  When I was a little girl, the Petersons lived across the road from my parents.  One of their sons was Larry who married Helen.  He was a school teacher - in fact he even taught in Hills for a short time and was Dad's Science teacher.  There was an incident with Mr. Peterson that dad has never forgotten and still talks about once in a while.  Dad admires him a great deal and had the opportunity to tell him so.  Larry did not remember the incident but I think he was touched by how he had made a difference in dad's life.

Anyway, Larry and Helen live in this little town of George and Grandma had some newspaper articles about Larry's parents that she wanted to give them.  She said - just call them and see if we can stop.  I really didn't want to but I did.  Helen was extremely receptive to our stopping but Larry wasn't home but was expected shortly.  We were still 5-10 minutes away from their house - as we drove up, I saw a pickup truck drive up the alley and park behind their house so we pulled in right behind him and it was indeed Larry just coming home.  Turns out they had just returned home from Washington state and visiting their daughter that very day.  Larry was sooo excited to see Grandma and recognized her immediately.  We stayed in the van and Larry & Helen came outdoors - it was a beautiful afternoon.  We were there about a half hour and Larry had to hug Grandma three times.  It was actually very touching how much he appreciated seeing her.  Unfortunately, I did not take their picture - can't believe I forgot to do that.

We had decided to go to Stone Soup in Rock Valley for soup on our way home - so off we went.  God blessed us with a gorgeous sunset - the horizon was a brilliant pink and all of the clouds (even in the east) with pink.  Grandma said she'd never seen anything like that.

Doug & LaVonne joined us for supper.  Unfortunately the pea soup was spoiled.  Grandma and Dad ate theirs even though they said it didn't taste good at all.  I tried but I just couldn't eat more than four spoonfuls - finally told the gal it was not good and I couldn't eat it.  They brought me something else.

It was the only bad time of the day.

We got Grandma home after dark but she said she wasn;t tired at all.  This morning she was a little stiff - probably from all the riding but it was a "good stiff".

Well, that was our day away.  Today I made a turkey for tomorrow and cleaned - YUK!!!  Actually I had to put away my craft projects so we could use the table for dinner tomorrow.  I even ordered myself a Christmas present and Grandma's Christmas cards.  Now I'm going to take a little rest - I'm actually a bit tired.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I am so awed and thankful for the two of you, my daughters.  God has richly blessed both of you with wonderful husbands and families!! 

Love to you all,
Gramma and MOM

PS:  Thank you so much, Miss Holly!!!  The background is just what I wanted but I couldn't make it work.  Love you to the top of Denali and back down.