I mentioned in my previous post that Matt’s grandmother (Grandma) was recently diagnosed with a recurrence of the ovarian cancer that she has been battling since 2004. She has recently made the decision to begin sharing her journey through these past 5+ years in hopes that it might inform, encourage, and inspire. And most of all, she is sharing how in the midst of it all she has relied on God and he has carried her through in a mighty way. If you are interested in reading more of her story I would encourage you to visit her new blog, John’s Wife.
She is an amazing lady whom I love very much, and I would love for you to stand with us in prayer and encouragement as she continues her fight.
Several weeks ago we learned that my grandmother-in-law (heretofore known as Grandma) was once again waging war on the cancer that has plagued her for the last four years. As a result of this most recent diagnosis, she and Papa John have decided to put their house on the market and plan to move in with Matt’s aunt. As they prepare the house for sale they are clearing out some of the furniture and sifting through all of the layers of stuff that you accumulate throughout a lifetime.
Many of the furnishings and accessories in their home hold generations worth of family history and Grandma knows the story behind each and every piece. It has always amazed me the memory she has for such things; she is a wealth of oral history for both her side of the family and Papa John’s. At various times throughout our marriage Matt and I have been blessed by their generosity in sharing these items with us, and, thus, have several pieces in our home that have long family histories that we hope will one day be passed on to our children and grandchildren.
Last weekend Grandma called Matt and asked if we would be interested in having a few more pieces of their furniture. The only catch was that we needed to get it quickly in order for them to clear out and stage the house by the time it is scheduled to go on the market. So, this weekend we made a whirlwind trip (approximately 24 hours) to Nashville.
We came home with three new (to us) pieces – a beautiful cupboard/china cabinet that has been in the family for several generations, a lovely marble-top chest that dates to the early 1900s, and a comfy couch (it isn’t an antique, but it is a great addition to our living room!). We also were gifted a wonderful set of white dinnerware and various other bits and pieces that have value to us because we remember them from visits and associate them with Grandma and Papa John.
I am truly blessed to have such wonderful in-laws (Matt’s parents, his siblings, all of his grandparents, aunts, etc), and we, as a family, have been truly blessed by the love and generosity of Grandma and Papa John. I just hope we can remember all of the family stories to pass on to our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren like Grandma has.
Let me just start out by saying that I feel like a blogging failure these last couple of weeks. My SIL has posted every day while I’ve struggled to get a MPM post up each week. And she has a NEWBORN! It isn’t about a lack of blogging fodder, just a lack of desire and willingness to take the time to post. Oh well, I’ll get back to it eventually.
Anyway, it is Monday (afternoon) again, so it’s time for Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie.com. The kids and I leave on Thursday for a vacation in the mountains with my parents and nephews, so Matt will be on his own for the weekend and the first of next week. Here’s what we’re eating until then…
Sunday – lunch: sandwiches & chips / dinner: tacos
Monday – taco leftovers
Tuesday – Beef Pot Roast with Maple Sweet Potatoes and Cider Gravy
Wednesday – roast leftovers
For more menu inspiration, check out Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.com.
Happy Monday!
Archives
Subscribe
Twitter
