To Grandmother's house we go

My maternal grandmother is just that - so maternal.  Even as a child, she was taking care of her brothers and sisters when their own mother couldn't be there for them.  My mom always tells stories of her happy childhood.  Her mother was always making them wonderful meals and keeping their home immaculate.  I am sure my mom regrets telling me her mother used to clean her room for her while she was at school.  Once she told me, I never forgot.  And I always reminded her! (Sorry, Mom). 

Grandma's selfless service still transferred into her senior years.  She has made countless meals for others.  She used to spend hours every week with friends in retirement homes and assisted living centers.  She would paint lady's nails and roll their hair in curlers.  And mainly she would just chat with them.  Grandma has organized and cooked for countless functions for the American Legion and other organizations.  Any time she happened to have spare time, she sat down to crochet intricate blankets for family members.  Always giving.

Grandma has finally reached a time when she needs to be on the receiving end of service.  Symptoms have been plaguing her for years.  Huge, nagging symptoms like the ability to walk being ripped from her.  This, of course, didn't stop her.  She just started making huge potato salads for charity and family functions while sitting down.  When her speech started to slur, she just attributed it to being tired.  After all, she was serving others all day long.  However, earlier this year we received real answers.  She was diagnosed with ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.  For more information, click here. 

This past weekend, the girls and I had the unique opportunity to join my mom, sister-in-law, and niece and nephew in a weekend of serving Grandma and Grandpa.  Our mission: make as many meals as possible and stock their freezer.  Also, bring the cute great-grand kids for Grandma and Grandpa to ooh and aah over.

So, to grandmother's house we went . . .

 

Their role (being cute) was executed perfectly.

Amanda wrote sweet messages for Grandma.

Here is our weekend wrapped up in one picture -

Mom and Karen in the kitchen, and kids being kids. 

Can I just say I know where Karen's kids get their energy from? 

She is tireless. 

Actually, she is selfless. I know when she is tired and she just keeps pushing through. 

You wouldn't believe all she made that weekend.  Things like roast chicken, mashed potatoes, banana bread, meatloaf, beef stew. All delicious.  All from scratch.

 The list goes on . . . and my awe for her does too.

Coloring was also a big hit with the little ones.

John joined us from college.  I loved spending time with him.

Sweet Grandpa.

Please pause for a personal tangent.

Can you believe that crazy lion's mane on me?

I plan to donate my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to make wigs for cancer victims.

I think I still have a little more growing to do.

Love that Grandma of mine.

For my turn in the kitchen, we made and froze homemade meatballs and a large batch of vegetable cheddar chowder.  These two cuties were my helpers.  It is amazing how Joe, with all his energy, can just chill out in the kitchen.  He was so calm and zen.

John was so darling helping Amanda with her homework. 

She had so much homework. 

I felt like she was in college already.

Grandpa may have briefly forgotten that, unlike the pictures his grandparents took, we smile in pictures today. :)  He is still really cute though.

My mom got us all out there.  And she funded our hotel rooms. 

Such a sweet, giving gesture for both her parents and for us kids and grandkids.

This is how we felt after our quick, but rewarding, weekend.  It was 5:00 am. 

And we still had a 2 hour drive, 2 hour flight, and another 1 hour drive ahead of us.

But we are back.  Grandma and Grandpa's freezer is stalked with delicious food.

And we have priceless pictures and memories.