Before my youngest sibling was born and my grandparents returned from their wedding in Hawaii, Nana lived in her own little house in Seattle. My mother took us there often. I loved Nana’s house. I was younger than 5 when she lived there. I don’t have a lot of full memories that can be just one great story because I was so young but I have little tidbits of memories, of a little girl, that are worth writing down and sharing.
When we first got to Nana’s house, she was always prepared for our visit. I am sure my parents were ready for a break too. Nana always had a little gift, like a book or a little toy. That was always a fun surprise. Nana was into health and wellness well before it was a buzz word. But she did keep a jar with marshmallows in the kitchen and if I was good, I got one for each hand. I don’t really like marshmallows anymore, but when I eat them I feel like I am with Nana and she is happy, that I am happy.
Nana’s bedroom was blue and so was the ensuite. I thought that was the coolest thing ever! The other bathroom was yellow. For some reason I had it in my mind that I wanted to pee standing up. I don’t know why I felt this was important, but I do remember standing on the toilet seat of that yellow bathroom facing the door and squatting over the toilet. I am not sure if I was successful, but I also don’t remember feeling the need to do that again.
Nana loved her coffee. She would sit at her kitchen table next to the window and enjoy her coffee while she read or did some of her toiletries. I remember she had this little glass bird that was actually an Avon fragrance. I loved it because it fit right in my little hands and it was pretty. I thought it should be mine and I told Nana that. She didn’t agree with me but she let me hold it while we were at the table. That is where I had my first experience with coffee. When she stepped away I took a sip of her’s. It had grown cold and it had nothing in it. Yuck! I was in no hurry to try coffee again. I love it now, but I do take cream in my Americanos.
Nana had the perfect backyard for a little one. You could sit on the back porch and see the entire backyard, so my pre-5-year-old wanderings were perfectly fine. She had a fenced in yard so I couldn’t wander too far, with beautiful shrubs, at least to me, I think there was either a tree in her backyard or directly next to the fence and I enjoyed it. I love trees. I remember Nana had a garden and we would dig in the dirt and make the vegetables grow. Alongside the back yard was the long driveway that stopped in front of the garage. I remember once we were getting out of the car. I always got out of the car after Nana, we were on the passenger side of the car. As she almost stepped out of the car, but she saw a snake and gracefully brought her foot back into the car and shut the door and slid over to the other side of the car. I heard her say, “Nope,” as she exited and helped me out of the car.
On the back porch was a swing that had been my great-grandmother’s; I had called her Grammy. Next to Nana, she was the only other better person in the world. She died of lung cancer when I was 5 and I have almost no memories of her but I do remember telling Nana: “Grammy is my favorite person in the world, but you are my next favorite person, Nana.” I was the first born great-grandchild to Grammy and the first-born grandchild to my Nana and I was probably their favorite person too, at least long enough for another grandchild to be born.
Nana has always amazed me. She was a Boeing executive and a dance teacher. She was graceful and beautiful every time I saw her. She always dressed elegantly and had something interesting to say. She is the original writer in the family and taught me to write letters and thank you notes, to love quotes, expressive words and good books, including the bible. At breakfast she would break out Miss Manners and read to us proper etiquette. She doesn’t answer my letters anymore but I still write them.
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My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.
For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.
If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:
Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.
I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.
I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
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