Challenge
Is often needed for love
For courage to love
For courage to speak up when you love!
The above poem was written in the heart of a young, thirteen year old girl known to most as Andee. She found herself growing up in a world without the security she once knew. Her grandmother, Marie Coates died September 27, 1979 after an extremely painful journey with Cancer.
God is faithful to heal and restore the hearts of all who are willing. The little girl known as Andee is now grown and sharing a special relationship with her own granddaughter. I am that little girl!!
As I gaze into the eyes of my precious granddaughter I think of my Nana and realize the gift God has given me. My Nana taught me how to be a Nana, giving me courage to love and speak up when I love.
In the grip of HIS grace,
Andrea
57 comments:
Andrea,
The tears are flowing as I read this sweet post of yours today. I can so relate to this on all levels.
I am sooo grateful for my "Nana" and miss her sooo very much. She was to most amazing grandmother and taught me to love, to cook, about hospitality and strength. She truly was a Proverbs 31 woman. She was a in home nurse and cared so tenderly for so many in her small town. She worked right up till the day she entered the hospital and we lost her 8 short days later. We were stunned but thankful she never spent a day in pain.
Now as you say the table are turned and we are Nanas. What a gift it is!!! I am so blessed to have this role and know the privelege it is to have this role!
Bless you my friend ~ thankyou for this wonderful post and the tears were sweet.
Please update us on Mary!
Love you!!
Beautiful Post Andrea!!! May God Bless you:-) God is definitely faithful!
In Christ,
Becca
Lovely post. I hope I'm a Nana someday!
Very touching, Andrea! Thank you for always making my heart light.
Sweet poem from an ever-sensitive heart.
Touched my heart
Beautiful, very touching.
What a wonderful post. Your grandma would be very proud, I'm sure. God blessed you with the talent of writing at an early age and you are using it to glorify Him just as He intended.
Thank you for your words of encouragement today on Chester's blog-you don't know how much they were needed!
Chester's Mom ;0=)
Andrea, those Willowtrees were in a little Christian bookstore in the next town over from me. Next time I'm there, I can take pics for you. I know they had other girls too, I just wanted THAT ONE cuz it reminded me so much of Riley. =0)
I'd gladly buy them and mail them if you want to pay for them.
Very sweet.
My Grandma was my care taker every day while my parents worked. She died when I was about 13 too and it was SO hard on me.
God Bless Grandmas!
I'll bet you are a great Nana. You are also a wonderful encourager. Thank you for your words on my blog today. You are correct, I did need them.
You're always welcome Andrea. I'm thankful that i have a friend like you...
God bless you and your family
Hi, Andrea--I am always touched by your posts. This one is no exception.
What a lovely tribute to your grandmother--to carry on her warm legacy.
Wishing you a happy and blessed 2010.
Peace, love, happiness and health,
~Jo
'Diary Of A Sad Housewife'
P.S. I posted your blog button on my sidebar! :)
Beautiful.
You are a blessing. Blessings to you.
Beautiful, both the words and your precious baby
I love that Andrea. What sweet pictures of your granddaughter. She is precious
Hugs,
Mimi
What a sweet post Andrea! I bet you are the best Nana! Love those pics of your granddaughter. She is adorable.
I remember your grandmother and grandfather. I always thought they were special people. Beautiful post.
You granddaughter is adorable! Sweet post.
What a touching post. I'm always amazed to watch things come full circle: When the one who loved the Nana, becomes The Nana who is loved. ;-)
Blessings to you.
Dear Andrea,
Thanks for your encoouraging comments on my blog....
This is such of a great reminder to love with the love we have recieved.
Dr. T. is one of the ones, like your Nana, who taught me to love loudly.
The love and grace I felt in his presence is hard to put into words.
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story.
Blessings and Hugs,
Tammy
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for stopping by! I miss all my blog buddies but it looks like I might be getting caught up this week with all the snow.....I can't go anywhere! It's all I can do to get the horses out in the paddocks! I just shoveled for two hours and exhausted! Thank you for your prayers....I've struggled with migraines for the last few years....MRI's, allergy, hormone and thyroid tests all negative....so cannot figure it out except the enemy wants to keep me from praying!! That's not going to happen! Your granddaughter is adorable! Have a great day!
My heart warms when I hear of the love of a Grandma.
Dearest Andrea,
There is nothing in this world greater than the joy we get when we are a Nana. You are filled with so much love and have so much to give to your beautiful and precious granddaughter...and she is so lucky to have someone as dear, loving, special and wise like you(Nana) in her life. Oh, I'm so filled with joy now after reading your thoughts and feelings. You are dearest and precious in my eyes, I can't even begin to fathom how truly awesome you are in her little eyes, mind and heart!!
Love you so much,
Alleluiabelle
Afternoon Andrea.
What a Beautiful Post Andrea, I wish I was as close to my family, mostly for Jacobbs sake.
Adorable pictures and beautiful poem!:O)
What a beautiful little girl.
Your Granddaughter is just precious. Yes, I thank God for my grandmothers who both played a huge part influencing this farm chick. I am blessed!!!
Enjoy this day in the Lord!
Thanks so much for your sweet comment Andrea. I think we are all just stunned with everything that happened that we will all need those prayers. I knew you would be one of the first to comment with prayers. It just really smacked us all right in the face. You just never know... Thanks so much.
Kate
Our God is good.
Your grand daughter is a real cutie and it's cool to see that she's got you for a Nana. Years from now she'll be talking bout you and all you've meant to her.
Praise you, Andrea, for sharing such a precious part of you with us... not only about you but your precious granddaughter.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Oh I totally knew it was written by you...right from the start!
Thanks for sharing....how blessed is your entire family. What a heritage of blessings....and like Jennifer said, it's a beautiful circle.
awww. so cute. and this post is great. I had a grandmother who cared...who reached out...tried to..Andrea...you are the best. I'm so glad you have this little girl in your world to shower love on. Sarah
Andrea,
What a wonderful post this way to take us all the way back to your beginnings. It seems that 2010 is a change for the better and starting things off on a great note will only make 2010 a much better new year.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Beautiful...I miss my most special Grandma too... she taught me so much and was such pure love.
Sweet and touching post Andrea. Thank you for sharing your family in pictures also. Blessings dear one.
That is so sweet. She is beautiful and I'm sure you're such a blessing to her.
Love,
Beth
Such a sweet picture...and a sweet post...I often reflect on my experiences with my grandmothers and ask myself if I am leaving the same type legacy with my grandchildren...I hope so....
Andrea,
Growing up, my Nana was the most importnat person in my life. More so than my Mother or anyone else. She was always there, always had the time, and always loved me most. She had 7 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, but she had a way of making each one of us feel, without a doubt, that she loved us the most.
Thanks for a wonderful post.
The Duchess
I've been so busy doing nothing much that I haven't been around to visit my blog friends in too long. So, though my wishes are late, I mean them with my whole heart. May your year be filled with laughter. May all your surprises be happy ones. May you remember to count your blessings. May you know each day how very much you are loved. Happy new year, my new friend.
I am also blessed to have had a special Nana and hope I, too, will have the privelege of sharing a Godly heritage with my grandchildren some day. It has been a blessing visiting your blog!
Carla
http://writingtodistraction.blogspot.com
Happy New Year! What a sweet post. I didn't grow near either of my grandmothers. I do cherish the very few times I met with my maternal grandmother. I believe, "Grandmothers are very special"
Come and see my blog giveaway. I'm trying to help a dear friend of mine promote her ministry. I am giving away two of her books. Will you help me spread the word around?
Blessings to you today,
Katia
Such a heart-warming sweet story, Andrea. Thanks so much for sharing. And your little grand-daughter is just a doll!
Such a cutie! You are truly blessed. You know how I feel about a Grandmother's guidance and love. My blog is dedicated to both my Grandmothers. I'm still patiently waiting to be a Grandmother myself someday soon. Blessings!
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy
Awww, what an angel. I love being a Nana, too.
Thanks for sharing,
Jen
What a beautiful and thoughtful blog. Thank you for letting me visit.
"Andee" what a beautiful and wonderful post!! Your beautiful grandaughter is just precious!!
I'm finally taking a deep breath from my whirlwind miraculous December and stopping by to thank you for your prayers for my daughter Katie. There are not enough words to express how grateful I am for the prayers of the saints! Your prayers and the prayers of other wonderful faith-filled friends have so strengthened me and ministered to Katie. God's hand worked miracle after miracle!! He is so faithful!! God's richest blessings upon you and yours!
Sweet Blessings and Happy New Year!!
Jackie
Andrea, What an ecouraging word you left, Thank your for leaving it today. I am so greatful to have a fellow blogging friend to bring words from the Lord my way here in blogging world. God Bless you! :)
My reply is left for you here friend.
http://hissevencones.blogspot.com/2010/01/b90-challenge-day-5-encourager.html#comments
Beautiful tree, beautiful little girl, and wonderful sentiment. I love the part about how love has to speak up. I need work on that one. Love to you.
What a great example you had! I bet you are a wonderful Nana to that precious sweetie pie.
That little girl pictured has one amazing and beautiful nana~ YOU. Thank you for the smile today. :-)
This is lovely. And your grand daughter's happy, contented face says it all!
your post brought tears to my eyes, Andee-Andrea!
God is so faithful! Your grand daughter is precious!!! Andrea, I wrote my first poem after my dear mother died 20+ years ago.
Awesome poem, and loved the punch you pulled, it was you :) I love the way God uses Godly men and women to help us discover His loving ways.
Such a heart touching post my friend.
tears. falling.
appreciating. beauty.
lisa
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