Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Young at heart

My 94 yr. old grandmother went to live in a nursing home recently. I tried to convince her that she should come live with me instead but she was pretty adamant that she was right where God wanted her to be. We went to visit her after church on Sunday and she had me laughing and crying at the same time. She was going around rounding up all the 'old folks' for dinner, shaking hands, telling people Jesus loved them. She showed me a table that she wants to convert into a craft area, so she can 'do crafts with the old folks'. One lonely old man wheeled himself over to where we were visiting in the living area and struck up a conversation with us. He was a methodist preacher. Grandma told him she was part Methodist, part Wesleyan, part Baptist, part Pentecostal, and part Catholic (Now I know where I get it from!)



She rounded up an audience so she could entertain the 'old people' with her piano playing. Then she asked John to share the story with the 'old people' of how our family knew there was a child out there somewhere who needed a family, and how we flew halfway across the world to rescue a little girl we now know as Ava. :)


I can see a lot of myself in my Grandma, including the way we both love old people and are both in denial of our age!!

When the decision was made that Nanny would be going to the nursing home, I was pretty sad about it because I felt like she didn't need to be in the nursing home. But now I can see why she needs to be at the nursing home. She does love old people, after all.


Sorry for the poor quality cell phone pictures. It's what I had at the time.




13 comments:

June Berger said...

I LOVE old people! My MIL is the same way. She's 84, still drives, still lives alone, still teaches bible studies and picks up "the old ladies" to go to bible study every Tues. morning. The joke is, all the "old ladies" are younger than her!!! Whenever we go to visit, she lives in Philly, we live in western NY, I go to her bible study with her and get blessed by all the ladies.


What a blessing your Grandma is! She sure doesn't look her age. I love the pics of her playing piano, giving Ava a ride and then "praying" while she gets a ride ;o)

Erin said...

What a sweet, sweet story! How do the kids react to your Grandma and to the nursing home?

I know that when I was younger, I was often sad and confused, but happy to see the relative I was there to see...

Alice said...

Sounds like she still has work to do. Good for her, for being faithful to her calling.

Anonymous said...

Sweet story. Made me cry. Reminds me of my Aunt Grace. I used to carry her to the Senior Center so she could talk to all the
'old folks'. She was one spunky lady. Sounds like your Grandma is too.

I, too, am partial to older people and little kids.

Jan

Tim Rovenstine said...

Thanks, Charissa, I needed to read this today to be encouraged. I languish as well thinking we have just left her,.....

amyl4 said...

Charissa,
You are so blessed. What a beautiful grandmother you have! It brought tears to my eyes reading this post, I just lost one of my grandmas in October and my other one will be 95 this year.:)
Amy

Shelly said...

Charissa, if you remember our grandmas went to the nursing home around the same time and i was so scared thinking she would be all alone. But she seems to really like it there and has lots of new friends. I guess after they get to a certain age it is a good thing because they have someone to socialize with. I am so glad your grandma is happy and doing well! :)

Anonymous said...

How sweet! Such a blessing!!

Stacy
Sand Springs

Charissa said...

Erin, to answer your question, the kids do very well around the nursing home. Even before Grandma went, we have been visiting a lady weekly at another nursing home for the past three years. The kids really love her, and are very used to people in all kinds of situations! And Shelly, I'm so glad you're grandma is adjusting well too. What a blessing.

Larsen Family said...

Oh, I miss my Grandma and Grandpa. Yours is so sweet.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a sweet grandma you have. My grandma was in a nursing home too. She passed away last night :( It's so great to be near grandparents and for your kids to grow up knowing their great grandma. She sounds like she has a beautiful heart.

jennifer... said...

Your grandma is precious and priceless - still! My grandma is busier than ever at 90 teaching Sunday School (at church and with whoever will listen at her kitchen table), hosting dinner parties, and seeing to everyone elses needs. She says 'Arthur' (her arthritis) gets her pretty bad buts she just tells him to go away. She's got too much to do. Don't you want to be just like them?

junglemama said...

Awww, your Grandma sounds so precious. :)