Monday, October 6, 2008

Granny's Simple & Content Life

I had another visit with my "Sweet Granny." My daddy had already told me that her sewing machine was tore up again. I walked in and she was walking around on her walker. I said, "Granny, what are you doing?" She said, "trying to find something to do to fill my time." She said, "Joe (my uncle) came and got her sewing machine and took it away." She was so sad and just pitiful. I asked her what she had been doing and she said she worked several crossword puzzles. She was going to go out and sweep the front porch. She was so glad I was there. I had brought her some canned goods and that tickled her. She said, "Now, we can talk to each other." We sat down and of course, her first question was if I had finished a quilt. She thinks it is so funny, because I haven't finished one yet. Anyway, I heard a car drive up and it was my uncle. He had the sewing machine and it was fixed. I helped him bring it in. She was so excited. She said she gets so nervous about sewing, but sewing is her life. My aunt had brought her another machine, but she didn't even want to look at it. I was about to show her how to work it when he came in. She immediately started sewing. They had to change the side bar on this old machine to a foot pedal. She just didn't know about that. I was glad, because she gets bruised very easy and she bruised her leg all the time. Getting her sewing machine back made her so happy. She paid the man by giving him a quilt. Isn't that neat?? She sent 2 quilts, and wanted him to take both. He sent one back and said he loved the one he kept. She was so excited. I sat down and helped her by handing her the squares as she was chain sewing them together. I asked her about the economy and she said she wasn't worried and didn't know that much about it. She said you need to live by 4 things: Stay out of debt, don't live beyond your means, save money & have a personal relationship with Jesus, that no one can take away from you. She said that is all you need to do and you won't have to worry. You see she lives thrifty all the time. She lives a simple life. For her lunch, she had green beans and a biscuit. She said it was so good. It is just funny that most people have to go out to eat or they are not happy. Not Granny.....give her a biscuit leftover from breakfast and she is content. Take her food away.....she can handle it. Take her sewing machine away....and whoa! She is not happy! She doesn't watch t.v. except 2 shows. They are both preachers. I have never saw Granny's t.v. on. I just love going over there. It is just like you leave all your problems outside the door. She lives such a simple life. This is what I want to do.......Live simply and be content. I am blessed to have had 2 grandmothers with the same values. You can go to My Mom's Blog to meet my other grandmother who has already gone to be with her Lord. So when problems arise and sadness comes and they do come, I just think of my Granny & my grandmother and what they would do. They would get busy with their hands doing something that they love, and not worry about what is outside. My Granny says that all that matters is what is inside of you. She says, "Trust The Lord." HE will never leave you. We might leave HIM, but HE never leaves us. Thank you Lord!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your Granny sounds like a wise woman. The time you are spending with her is so special. Both of my grandmas are gone now and I would so much love to have time with them again. You are wise too because you appreciate yours.

Linda said...

What a wonderful way to spend a day! I only hope that I have her spirit when I am her age!! So glad her machine is now working and that it will no longer bruise her! Very smart to make the change! Beautiful sewing machine!
Linda

Needled Mom said...

What a lovely post! My grandmother and I were always so close and this brought back a flood of memories. My grandmother would save three leftover peas and cream them for the next meal - frugal to the end of her life at 103 years. I feel so fortunate to have had such a wonderful role model and I know that you will too.

I am so glad her machine is back. I soooo wish that my machine had the hip bar instead of the floor pedal. I loved that feature. I can imagine how thrilled the recipient was with the quilt. How touching!

StitchinByTheLake said...

Valerie I love your grandmother's advice. She is one smart lady and if we all lived like her our nation would be in much better shape. blessings, marlene

Anonymous said...

I love your Granny!! Wouldn't we all live so much better if we all had our granny's wisdom? It takes awhile to learn all the stuff they know, and then instead of taking their advice the young people have to learn it all the hard way.

I have taken to your gram's way of thinking...if you can't pay cash for it you don't need it. Entertain yourself by making something with your hands that will last beyond you!

Give your granny a big hug for all of us in blog land =)

Melissa

Alice Grace said...

Another wonderful visit with Granny! I am sure that no one appreciates Granny more than you do. Her advice is the best anyone can give. She is so precious to us all! Thanks for all you do for her by visiting.
Love
MOM

Anonymous said...

Your granny sounds wonderful and so very wise. Reading her words of wisdom warmed my soul and touched my heart. I lost my grandparents when I was young and didn't have the chance to really sit with them. I lost my parents several years ago and reading your post makes me think, as I often do, how so many people don't until it's too late to just sit with their parents and grand parents and just listen.

em's scrapbag said...

What a wonderful lady your Granny is. Isn't it most wonderful to be able to spend time with her and learn from her.

marmee said...

what a sweet tribute to "granny". she sounds great. it is so nice to have a great heritage from her. if only we could be content and live simplier lives. this is my prayer, too.

Shosannah said...

What touching and heartwarming words!
Your Granny sounds like a wise lady with a wonderful spirit and a warm heart.
And I love her sewing machine! I have a vintage singer with a foot pedal that is very easy to use :0)
Have a blessed day ~
And thanks so much for stopping by my blog :0)

*karendianne. said...

Yet another wonderful captured moment you've held onto and shared for us all. I admire the way you carry her within you, the way you express her values outward and the way you develop your own "love" to add. What a lovely stew.

Honoring and Enriching Love, *karendianne.

Carole Burant said...

I love your granny!!! She sounds wonderful and I couldn't agree more with her list of 4 things to live by. We tend to make our lives so complicated and what we need to do is think like granny:-) Isn't it just so precious how she's lost without her sewing machine...and look at the quilts she still makes! You are so blessed to still have her in your life, enjoy every single minute with her!! xoxo

Marqueta (Mar-kee-ta) G. said...

Dear Valerie,

Thank you for visiting my blog, and for your kind comment! I was transported back into my past, reading this post. I miss my Grandma, who was my main babysitter when I was little. I'm so glad you have yours!

Beautiful blog,

Marqueta

Julie said...

I LOVED your post. How wonderful that you took the time to be with your Granny. It sounds like we all need a granny like her. Both of my Grandmother's have passed on, but I learned so much from them when they were here. Thanks for sharing such a tender post. Julie

Sharon said...

I enjoyed this post so much! Your granny is a very wise lady. Oh! If we could get back to living simple lives again.

Sue said...

Loved hearing about your Granny, always do, thanks for sharing this.

Krista said...

This is so sweet! Your granny sounds like a wonderful woman. How long does it take her to sew a quilt?

GreenJeans said...

Wow, your Granny knows how to live life! We would all be so much better off if we were more like her. All of my grandparents have already passed on but I remember what it was like to spend time with them. It was like a whole different world when I walked into their homes.

Such a lovely post!

Samantha said...

If only we all lived like your granny, the world would be a much more peaceful place, and there wouldn't be so many problems that we seem to create ourselves.... I love her faith. Wonderful, inspiring post.

Kim said...

Thank you for sharing this story about your Gram. :)