Roses for Nina
This blog is named "Roses" in honor of my grandmother. Her name was Nina!
June 28, 2011
She will always be called Grandmother, as she insisted on it. We didn't always obey that rule. My little brother Joe, called her Mer-nee. My cousins, Stephanie and Greg, called her "Big Mama", that one always baffled me.
There was nothing common about her and she expected her grandchildren to hold that knowledge of her in our minds at all times! She corrected our manners, our speech and what we called her in particular. She was not five feet tall, piercing blue eyes, a kind, but strong manner. A halo of white curls circled her head making her more ethereal if you know what I mean? That is next to God, there stood Grandma, uh err that is, Grandmother! I may not be correct here, but I believe that she grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her dad was a Methodist, a muleskinner (look it up) and a Mason! She was the thirteenth daughter in a family of 11 girls and 2 boys. I always think it is so odd that she doesn't have a middle name. I secretly always believed that she did have a middle name and didn't want to tell anyone! Nina Ward, was born in 1895, going to Heaven in May of 1976.
She was of independent means and mind. She made her first dress by herself at eight years old, because she didn't like the one her mother made. She was a little opinionated.
I hold a series of snapshot remembrances of her in my mind. One is watching her actually ironing sheets (before permanent press) and pillowcases as well. Starched, sundried sheets, brought in and piled high the now defunct clothesline. They smelled so good. Sprinkled with water, they were scrunched or bundled up and ironed. It seemed this chore took all day! Then, there was the sewing machine where she sat, making beautiful clothing, that is, dresses for her granddaughters, Stephanie Anne, Rebecca Kay, Ruth Annie and me, Ellen Kay. I have to say the dresses were much prettier than anything found at the local J.C. Penny's. Occasionally her grandsons, Samuel Nathan, Joe and Greg would receive a shirt she made, but her talent lay in the beautiful dresses she designed. Tiny stitches and expert knowledge of fitting and knowing the way a seam should look were important to her keen eye. Three inch hems and beautiful details marked each dress I wore from her hands. Widowed on Christmas Eve in 1918, (my Grandfather, Bill Williams, was fatally wounded in WWI) before my mother was born, she actually made a living for herself and her first child, my mother, Billie Milla. Her talent and expertise were highly prized by families in the area of Texas they resided in, brought in a stipend to live on. In a few years she would meet and marry, Mr. Franklin. Well that's a story in itself for a later blog, perhaps.
Dearest, is the snapshot of her kneeling in prayer. She told me once, "Katie you can tell Him anything, He always listens and hears us. He loves you and will always forgive you, never forget that." I am a recipient of her prayers and that is a great comfort. (That faith imparted to me as I many times knelt there beside her praying my prayers and listening to her's as well, that FAITH, is how I know God has this whole world situation under control; we are not alone in this. I really hope you know that too.)
Some people give us roses for the stormy seasons of our lives. Nina was and is such a person. The memory of her lives in my heart and mind. So glad for the many roses she gave me growing up. I seem to need them now more than ever. They are always on the hearth of my heart. Be sure to be generous to those God has placed in your life in big way and small, "give ye roses while ye may"....
Make it a great day! Be sure to smell the roses and again, give some away.
k.t.
This blog is named "Roses" in honor of my grandmother. Her name was Nina!
June 28, 2011
She will always be called Grandmother, as she insisted on it. We didn't always obey that rule. My little brother Joe, called her Mer-nee. My cousins, Stephanie and Greg, called her "Big Mama", that one always baffled me.
There was nothing common about her and she expected her grandchildren to hold that knowledge of her in our minds at all times! She corrected our manners, our speech and what we called her in particular. She was not five feet tall, piercing blue eyes, a kind, but strong manner. A halo of white curls circled her head making her more ethereal if you know what I mean? That is next to God, there stood Grandma, uh err that is, Grandmother! I may not be correct here, but I believe that she grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her dad was a Methodist, a muleskinner (look it up) and a Mason! She was the thirteenth daughter in a family of 11 girls and 2 boys. I always think it is so odd that she doesn't have a middle name. I secretly always believed that she did have a middle name and didn't want to tell anyone! Nina Ward, was born in 1895, going to Heaven in May of 1976.
She was of independent means and mind. She made her first dress by herself at eight years old, because she didn't like the one her mother made. She was a little opinionated.
I hold a series of snapshot remembrances of her in my mind. One is watching her actually ironing sheets (before permanent press) and pillowcases as well. Starched, sundried sheets, brought in and piled high the now defunct clothesline. They smelled so good. Sprinkled with water, they were scrunched or bundled up and ironed. It seemed this chore took all day! Then, there was the sewing machine where she sat, making beautiful clothing, that is, dresses for her granddaughters, Stephanie Anne, Rebecca Kay, Ruth Annie and me, Ellen Kay. I have to say the dresses were much prettier than anything found at the local J.C. Penny's. Occasionally her grandsons, Samuel Nathan, Joe and Greg would receive a shirt she made, but her talent lay in the beautiful dresses she designed. Tiny stitches and expert knowledge of fitting and knowing the way a seam should look were important to her keen eye. Three inch hems and beautiful details marked each dress I wore from her hands. Widowed on Christmas Eve in 1918, (my Grandfather, Bill Williams, was fatally wounded in WWI) before my mother was born, she actually made a living for herself and her first child, my mother, Billie Milla. Her talent and expertise were highly prized by families in the area of Texas they resided in, brought in a stipend to live on. In a few years she would meet and marry, Mr. Franklin. Well that's a story in itself for a later blog, perhaps.
Dearest, is the snapshot of her kneeling in prayer. She told me once, "Katie you can tell Him anything, He always listens and hears us. He loves you and will always forgive you, never forget that." I am a recipient of her prayers and that is a great comfort. (That faith imparted to me as I many times knelt there beside her praying my prayers and listening to her's as well, that FAITH, is how I know God has this whole world situation under control; we are not alone in this. I really hope you know that too.)
Some people give us roses for the stormy seasons of our lives. Nina was and is such a person. The memory of her lives in my heart and mind. So glad for the many roses she gave me growing up. I seem to need them now more than ever. They are always on the hearth of my heart. Be sure to be generous to those God has placed in your life in big way and small, "give ye roses while ye may"....
Make it a great day! Be sure to smell the roses and again, give some away.
k.t.
