Everyone should have a rock.  Not a literal piece of stone, but the kind of person in your life that is consistent.  The kind of person that always gives inspiration, love, good advice, and a shoulder to cry on.  I am lucky enough to have a few of them.  My husband is so amazing that I often take him for granted.  My mom serves as my rock 90% of the time.  Every once in a while she forgets her duties as my rock and lets me down, but those occasions are rare.  We've moved so many times in my life that I have very few friends that have been with me through thick and thin.  Lately I have made a few friends that I hope will turn into long-term rocks.  But one person who truly inspires me and whom I would be lost without is my grandmother.  She's so special the name Grandmother isn't even good enough for her.  We had to choose a fictional maternal character to describe her awesomeness.  We chose Marmie from the novel Little Women.

Marmie is a hands on sort.  She is one of the classiest ladies I've ever known, but also one of the hardest workers.  She's the type that could scrub the house with a toothbrush in the morning, and be perfectly coiffed for an afternoon tea with the ladies.  She lights up the room every time she enters.  When you talk with her you feel like the most important person in the whole world.  Whatever you do, she will brag that you are the best at it.  I remember one occasion that I made hamburgers on the grill.  A cousin came to visit so we sat and chatted for a while.  By the time we sat down to eat the burgers they were cold, shriveled and sad.  But she ate every bite and exclaimed they were amazing.  She asked "What did you put in these burgers?  They are so delicious!"  I could have been Julia Child the way she carried on - but they were just sad little patties!  That's just her way.  She raised six amazing children without the modern conveniences we have now.  I ask her all the time how she managed to make dinner from scratch every night (she's an amazing cook), make clothes for six kids, herself and a husband, keep up with the house, laundry and dishes without fancy appliances - all while looking beautiful enough to make the cover of a magazine at any given moment.  I'm sure she laughs at the notion.  Have you ever noticed how the really amazing people don't see themselves the way the rest of us do?

The family has grown tremendously.  By my count she has 1 amazing husband, 6 children, 6 children in-law, 21 grandchildren, 11 grandchildren-in-law, and 20 great-grandchildren.  She makes each one feel special.  There's a running joke between the grandchildren that we each "know" we're the favorite.  That's how she makes you feel.  She is amazing, talented, lovely, sweet, kind, beautiful, spiritual, and strong.

Some of my favorite memories of her include working with her in the garden (describing her as a green thumb is an understatement), baking with her in her kitchen, and laying by the picture windows in the living room soaking up the sun rays while she plays the piano.  I am so thankful to know her and have her in my life.  I wish I could see her every day, and I miss her tremendously when I don't.

She's been really sick a few times over the years and I've had to think about what life will be like without her here.  It is too unbearable to picture.  But I know when the time comes she will be my angel, guiding me through life until the time comes when I can see her in Heaven, because only Heaven is a place worthy of her - My Marmie.

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