My Grandparents

We just returned home Friday night from a trip to Texas to visit my Grandparents as well as any Aunts, Uncles and cousins we could fit in time to see.  It had been 2 1/2 yrs since we had seen them....waaay too long.  When you live 13 hrs away and have busy lives it makes it hard to make that trip.  Realizing though that my time with my grandparents gets shorter and shorter I knew we had to adjust our schedules and make the trip.  It was a time I don't think I will ever forget. My grandfather's health has been up and down for awhile now and my grandmother, who has struggled with memory loss for quite a few yrs, was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  We don't know how long it will be before she doesn't know who we are, but I knew I wanted to go before she forgot who I was.
After talking with my mom, and Aunts and Uncle it turned into a trip that would be kept as a surprise for them.  That was a lot of fun!!  I left TN bracing myself for the worst and hoping for the best.  I knew a lot of time and health issues had come and gone in the 2.5 yrs since I had seen them and I really wasn't sure what to expect.  Pawpaw looked a little more frail and Mawmaw of course would ask the same things over and over again, but all in all it wasn't the worst I had braced myself for.  She remembered Rick and I right away, she remembered the girls just not their names. Pawpaw smiled from ear to ear for at least 3hrs. after we surprised them. That was pretty worth the 13hr drive.
My grandmother had a procedure done while we were there and that left her needing to be still and sit and allow us to do all the cooking, cleaning up, laundry etc.  If you knew my Mawmaw you would know that is virtually impossible.  For as long as I have known her, her goal was to make sure we were all fed.  "Everyone comes to Mawmaw's to eat her roast and rice and gravy"  The pic above with us all around a table...that was just how it was.  It was a lot of work to keep her in the chair.  Not just because she wanted to do everything for us, but because she would forget why she needed to be still or that we had already planned out supper. I would tell her over and over when she would tell me I didn't come to her house to take care of her.."Mawmaw, you have fed me and waited on me all my life, NOW it is my turn to take care of you.  Please, let me do this for you" She would accept and then a few min. later we would do it all again.  I was forced to remember over and over all that she had done for me over the yrs. She is an amazing woman!
As you can see in the pics, my girls love Pawpaw.  They used to be able to get up in his lap, but pain (and their age, HA) prevent that anymore.  He use to get down in the floor and tickle them or pinch them with his toes, not this time.  He DID go out for 3hrs with my husband.  Rick took him to run errands and mark things off his list.  They had a good time and Pawpaw was happy to get out and about.  He also "worked" out in the yard with Rick. (Rick worked, Pawpaw pointed and directed) A year ago we weren't sure Pawpaw would get out of the bed again so seeing him busy was a wonderful thing.  One night I took Mawmaw grocery shopping.  She patted me on my leg while we were driving and said "This is nice.  Just you and I getting to do something by ourselves"  I realized I don't think she and I have ever done anything by ourselves.  It was just the grocery store, and she already doesn't remember going with me, but I remember and I will remember that little trip forever.
As we drove home and I went through the week in my mind as well as memories from the past my heart was full of mixed emotions. Sad for the road my Mawmaw is traveling.  Thankful for the memories I made this week as well as the ones I've had.  I thought about the work ethic they have.  They are by far the hardest working people I have ever know, and they have instilled that in their children, and grandchildren. My Pawpaw served in the military, retired from Texaco, drove a school bus for yrs, and even was a landlord for yrs.  Mawmaw raised her family and then drove a school bus for yrs as well.  All while taking care of their home and massive yard which they gardened in for yrs. They have a passionate love for the country and will be happy to talk war, politics, gas prices etc at any time. :)
They are a testimony to staying married.  They have been married 62 yrs.  Pawpaw and I were talking about that while I was there. All of their children and grandchildren who have married have stayed married. What a testimony to honoring their vows to each other and instilling that in their family.  Their legacy is amazing.  They have 4 children, 3 son-in-laws, 1 daughter-in-law, 13 grandchildren(pic above of some of us), 11 grandkid-in-laws and 24 great-grandchildren (pic above of just a few).
I could go on and on about them for hours to tell you all that I have learned from them, but I will stop. On the way home, while walking down memory lane I kept thinking about yrs ago when they loved the Judds and the song "Grandpa, Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ole Days" kept going through my head.  They may not remember the past and their memories a lot longer especially Mawmaw, but we their family will, I WILL. Memories/Stories we will pass on to our kids.