Today is our first Mother's Day without my grandma. More importantly, it is my mother's first Mother's Day without her mother.
I can't even begin to imagine what that must feel like. I don't want to. My mom is my everything. There is no life without her.
I've been putting off writing a blog about my grandma, just waiting for the right time & wondering if I even should, but what better time than on Mother's Day?
My grandmother's full name was Shirley Ann Shroyer. The name Shirley means bright grassland. She was from Indiana. If you've never been there, let me tell you, it is nothing but bright grassland-flat and full of fields. It was here in the heartland that she learned to cook and clean and to have faith in God. She passed on all these skills and values to her children, and her grandchildren. There was nothing like a home cooked meal from scratch at Grama's house. She taught us how to make noodles from scratch for beef and noodles. She taught us to husk and blanche corn. She was a talented cake maker and decorator. She made wedding cakes and many of our birthday cakes as kids. The best memories though, were made when we grandkids all came together every year to bake Christmas sugar cookies. That was another beautiful thing about my grandmother, she included everyone. Whether you were blood related or not, you were family to my grandma. She included everyone and shared her wisdom with us all. In fact, a few of us grandkids have plans to continue on the cookie baking later this year with the great-grandkids. We know she'll be there in spirit.
I can't even begin to imagine what that must feel like. I don't want to. My mom is my everything. There is no life without her.
I've been putting off writing a blog about my grandma, just waiting for the right time & wondering if I even should, but what better time than on Mother's Day?
My grandmother's full name was Shirley Ann Shroyer. The name Shirley means bright grassland. She was from Indiana. If you've never been there, let me tell you, it is nothing but bright grassland-flat and full of fields. It was here in the heartland that she learned to cook and clean and to have faith in God. She passed on all these skills and values to her children, and her grandchildren. There was nothing like a home cooked meal from scratch at Grama's house. She taught us how to make noodles from scratch for beef and noodles. She taught us to husk and blanche corn. She was a talented cake maker and decorator. She made wedding cakes and many of our birthday cakes as kids. The best memories though, were made when we grandkids all came together every year to bake Christmas sugar cookies. That was another beautiful thing about my grandmother, she included everyone. Whether you were blood related or not, you were family to my grandma. She included everyone and shared her wisdom with us all. In fact, a few of us grandkids have plans to continue on the cookie baking later this year with the great-grandkids. We know she'll be there in spirit.
The name Ann means grace and mercy. My grandma was a very faithful person. There's a story that, as a young child, her mother was not going to a church regularly and she found a friend's family that would take her to church with them. She was my, my sister's, and my cousin Josh's first Sunday school teacher. Our foundation in faith and the Bible is largely in part from her. She taught us about God's love by example. While she definitely let us know when we were in the wrong or had crossed the line, it didn't take long before we were covered in hugs and kisses again. We all knew deep down that there was nothing we could do that would stop her love for us. She had a firm hand when we needed it, but we knew that all she did was out of love.
I think my grandma was ALWAYS meant to be a Shroyer. The name Shroyer is from a German word Schrier which means a town crier or a person who calls people to worship. If you ever met my grandma, you know that she had no problem making her opinion be known. As my minister said at her memorial service, "we're all a mixed bag," and my grandma's tongue could be sharp if she wanted it to be. Most of the time however, she used it for good, like calling others to worship. Like I said, she was my first Sunday school teacher. She was also responsible for my grandfather coming to the faith and being baptized. She always had faith in God's love.
My grandma, Shirley Ann Shroyer, was full of S.A.S. but she knew God's love, she showed God's love by always treating everyone like family, and she shared God's love with all she encountered. That is what I'll always remember about my grandma and what I'll carry on with me into the world.
My grandma, Shirley Ann Shroyer, was full of S.A.S. but she knew God's love, she showed God's love by always treating everyone like family, and she shared God's love with all she encountered. That is what I'll always remember about my grandma and what I'll carry on with me into the world.
This Mother's Day post would not be complete without a discussion about my own mom. My mom is the strongest, kindest, smartest, all around best person I know. She has now become not only a terrific mom, but a terrific friend as well. I just enjoy her company.
For several weeks now something has reminded me nearly every day now of how not only lucky, but truly blessed I am to have her as my mother, teacher, and guide in life. Everyday I see people who don't have as close a relationship with their mother's, if they have one at all. I was talking to someone the other day about laundry, and they didn't really know much about how to do it. At the end of our conversation they said, I was lucky as a kid, I never really had to do laundry. I walked away thinking, no... I'm the lucky one here. I have the means to take care of myself. From the time I was about ten years old I was taught how to do my own laundry, and to plan meals for the household. Heck, even before I could read I had a chore list for my room using only pictures, i.e. a picture of a made bed to make my bed, and a picture of a toy box to pick up my toys etc.
For several weeks now something has reminded me nearly every day now of how not only lucky, but truly blessed I am to have her as my mother, teacher, and guide in life. Everyday I see people who don't have as close a relationship with their mother's, if they have one at all. I was talking to someone the other day about laundry, and they didn't really know much about how to do it. At the end of our conversation they said, I was lucky as a kid, I never really had to do laundry. I walked away thinking, no... I'm the lucky one here. I have the means to take care of myself. From the time I was about ten years old I was taught how to do my own laundry, and to plan meals for the household. Heck, even before I could read I had a chore list for my room using only pictures, i.e. a picture of a made bed to make my bed, and a picture of a toy box to pick up my toys etc.
My mom also taught us about God's love. If my grandmother was instrumental in the foundation of my faith, my mother is responsible for its maturity. I owe everything, everything, that is remotely good about myself to my mother. She has always been constructively firm when we needed it, without being harsh or mean. My sister's and my punishments always fit our crimes, and we always knew there were consequences for our actions. If Sis and I were fighting, we had to stand nose to nose without touching each other until Mom said we could leave. In that way my mom turned our screams of anger with each other, into squeals of laughter and happiness.
My mother is a genius and a saint. She is the reason my life is worth living. I am more than beyond blessed to have her in my life. I love you Mommy. thank you for always guiding my steps, catching me when I fall, and proving God's love to me through the example of your enduring, limitless love. Happy Mother's Day.
My mother is a genius and a saint. She is the reason my life is worth living. I am more than beyond blessed to have her in my life. I love you Mommy. thank you for always guiding my steps, catching me when I fall, and proving God's love to me through the example of your enduring, limitless love. Happy Mother's Day.
In Memory of
Shirley Ann Shroyer
Shirley Ann Shroyer