Happy Mother's Day~

I had two of the most beautiful, giving, loving Grandma's a girl was ever blessed to have. My dad's mom was Martha; my mom's mother was Juanita. That's Juanita holding me by the windmill on her farm. When I lost my grandma's, one to cancer and one to an accident, I lost not only a generation but prayer warriors, amazing bakers, encompassing huggers, and unconditional love like only a grandma can give.

My mom and I; sharing our love of junk & cupcakes...in so many ways, I am my mother's daughter. I love you, Mom.

These are three of the books I picked up today at a yard sale...happy finds for Mother's Day weekend, especially the colorful Betty Crocker Cookbook on the left; my Grandma Johnson had the exact same one and this is the first one I've ever found out junking.

When I was looking through some papers this week, I came across something I had written and made into a scrapbook for my mom. After my Grandma & Grandpa Johnson's accident a decade ago, I started, with my mom's help, to collect sayings of my grandma's. You know, those things that she said that made her her. Looking at the list it amazes me how many my sisters, mom and I still use, so I added comments in italics. What follows is that compilation...

Grandma Said

She lit up a room when she walked in, and lit up you when you walked in her room. the things she said stayed with you, and it wasn't just the saying that said, but the charming way she said it. Sometimes I can still see her smile curve and her voice laugh as she said...

Ruffle your feathers

Brown as a berry (a favorite summer saying)

I'm in the wrong pew

Bee in her bonnet

Knee high to a grasshopper

As the crow flies (I try to use this to explain my directional sense to my boys)

While the cats away the mice will play (I like to say this of the boys and Mark)

Lazy man's load (this gets said at my home aLOT; my oldest and I are fond of lazy man's loads)

Hurry up and wait

Meandering

Puttering around

When your nose itches you're going to kiss a fool

When your ears are burning, someones is thinking of you

How's My Girl?! (I get teary just reading this one! She always smiled and hugged us when she greeted us with these words.)

Cold hands, warm heart (my sister Heidi likes this one alot)

That hits the spot (my grandma had a fondness for a cold Coke on a hot day)

Few and far between (I say this one alot too)

Method to my madness (One of my favorites, to explain just about anything)

My get up and go just got up and went

Six in one, half dozen in another

Don't upset the apple cart

Feeling ambitious (quite love this one; I use it when explaining that I actually got something done!)

Lollygagging around (and enjoyable phrase my sisters and I throw around)

A penny for your thoughts

That cost a pretty penny

Well heeled

They look like they stepped out of a bandbox

Fussbudget

To each his own (I couldn't have said it better myself!)

An axe to grind

There is a fly in the ointment

So we shall see (Ah yes, this is one my mom says frequently, so then do I)

Fiddledede (from Gone With The Wind, a favorite movie we both loved)

It is raining, but I guess that's what makes the flowers grow

Little pitchers have big ears (We have to use this one alot with the aunties and uncles around the boys)

A pinch to grow on

Thanks for the buggy ride (Grandma said this every time we dropped her off after a day "in town" shopping and lunching)

It's a great life if you don't weaken

~2011 Hollie Eastman

So Happy, Happy Mother's Day to all of you, to those who are mothers (and grandmothers) already and sacrifice, love deeply and pray day and night for those in your charge; to those hopeful who dream and pray with all their heart to be a mother someday soon; to those courageous women who have loved and known and lost little ones, mothers, and others; and to those who lovingly mother and grandmother those who are in your life, whether related or not...blessings on all of you and those you love~

Hollie