"My Nana Socks"

It seems that in the blogging part of my life, I highlight all of the happy times of family life. Let's face it you don't all want to hear about how my kids didn't listen & got yelled at, how I cleaned up dog pee from the carpet, or how much laundry I have to do. It's just not a good read.

I've been thinking about this post and what I would write, knowing that I needed to chronicle a sad event in our family life that will forever change us.
My mother in law passed away on Sunday afternoon. I want to share a few of my feelings for her.
I'll start by telling you a story that happened on Monday morning after many tears had been shed by us and our children. While getting Buzz dressed for school, he saw the socks in the basket that his Nana had finished knitting for him while she was at the City of Hope preparing for a bone marrow transplant. Two years before, I had started the socks, Sharon tried to teach me how and was so patient with me, I couldn't get it ................so she finished the job for me. She sent those socks to Buzz in the mail and he was so happy to put them on, right away! He wore the socks to school on Monday. I said to him that his Nana would love that he was wearing the socks she made him, he looked at me with a smile on his face and said "I bet she is looking at me right now in them". I am sure that he was right.

She was the BEST Nana in the world. There is no competition.
She knew that life was worth living and she lived it, and I am lucky because I got to live it with her and she made it wonderful.
Her favorite color was Yellow.
She gave the best presents that you didn't know you wanted.
She helped sew Halloween costumes.
She threw an easter egg hunt for the grandkids every year, but not the typical hunt. I'm talking hundreds of eggs!
She ordered Santa to come to her house every Christmas Eve.
She came to all the kids soccer games and yelled at the refs :)
She played board games with the kids.
She loved to movies.
She cried in September when her kids went back to school.
She had us all sing to Happy birthday to Jesus on Chrismas morning.
She taught me how to ragtie my girls hair.
She forgave me my faults and loved me through them.
She looked at people with her bright blue eyes like they were the only thing that mattered in the world.
She made the best orange rolls.
She had "Nana Camp" in the summer where all the grandkids would come for a week to her house...NO PARENTS!
She loved the desert and the ocean.
If she found a shirt she loved, she would buy it in every color.
Brooke knitted her a scarf that was literally about 10 feet long. Two weeks ago, Brooke received a thank you note for her scarf.......exactly as long as the scarf, rolled up in tulle and tied with ribbon. Who thinks of something so special? No one but Nana.
She loved to teach seminary even though she hated getting up early.
She raised a wonderful son just for me.
She will be missed everyday, she will be remembered with smiles and laughter because that is how she would want it.

I could go on and on, really I could.

She did teach me how to make socks, I finally learned. I remember sitting with her at the City of Hope and learning how to turn a heel and then close a toe.


She taught me so many things. She made the yarn of life so colorful, so vivid, so special and unique. Now it is my turn to make socks from the same yarn that she taught me to spin. I am blessed that she was my teacher.