If you have visited here before, you can probably see that I have changed the name of the blog again. I started blogging at 4URuthie to tell the story of our journey to adopt our 1st daughter. I changed it to Mountains for Maggie when we were praying for God to move mountains on behalf of our 2nd daughter. Well now it is no longer just Ruthie’s or Maggie’s stories. It is now our family's story, and the stories of those we share life with, as we Conquer Mountains together. Both ConqueringMountains.net and 4URuthie.blogspot will lead here.

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I am a pastor's wife, mother of 4 kids (2 adopted and 3 with special needs), physical therapist, and photography junky. This is where it all comes together for me. Feel free to join along as I process life out loud.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Remembering Great Dot




My grandmother Dorothy Hawkins passed away Thursday night so I have spent the last few days getting ready for her funeral. She lived a long life and survived cancer that left her with complications and a stroke that left her blind. We used to say that she was going to outlive the rest of us because she always seemed to miraculously bounce back. This time she had surgery to place a stint in her leg to increase the blood flow to her foot and it just proved to be too much.

It has been several years since I have lost a loved one and I feel like a am grieving differently. One difference is that Dot's death was not tragic or unexpected so the element of shock is removed, but the other difference is that I think I have a better grip on how our time on earth relates to eternity. I once heard a sermon where someone stretched a piece of rope across the length of a sanctuary and then made a mark in the center of it. She said that the rope represents all of eternity stretching back and forward as far as we can see and that the mark represents our very brief time here on earth. I grieve with hope today because I know that my grandmother was a follower of Jesus and that someday I will spend all of eternity with her which is infinitely longer than my time left here without her.

I am smiling right now as I think of all the things that made me grandmother unique. She spent much of her life in New Orleans and she loved her Cajun food. She also loved slot machines and playing bridge (I am not sure that God is going to let her gamble in heaven). Dot sewed most of my halloween costumes an always came up with the funniest things. She also dressed up every halloween herself and even dressed one year as the grim reaper. We laughed knowing that only Dot would show up at the retirement home as the grim reaper. She was a faithful Catholic and didn't give me too much grief about marrying a Baptist preacher, but did ask if a priest could stand in at our wedding so it would be official. That still makes me laugh to this day.

I will miss Great Dot and am sad that my kids didn't get to spend more time with her, but I am also thankful for the abundance of time that we did have as I have been saying goodbye to her for 15 years it seems. Like I said, she had this incredible ability to bounce back. Well I guess this time she bounced back completely as she walks in wholeness in the presence of Jesus. Farewell Great Dot until we meet again.

A few photos of the lady who gave me my sense of humor.






5 comments:

Carolyn said...

What wonderful memories you have to share with your children of your Great Dot! God bless you and your family as you grieve and celebrate her life.

groovy mama said...

Death is NOT EASY, but does make us take upon the true meaning us this all. I lost 3 family members(sister, nephew & FATHER) in 1 year and the memories are what keep me going! Our Little JOY from China sure does EASE the pain too, talk about GOD's timing with things!

Yes the memories live in us forever, May you contain them and spread the joy to your beautiful children.

You and your family are in my thoughts.
GOD BLESS you and KEEP you at this difficult time.
~Donna~

Shannon said...

Ginny! What a beautiful tribute to a woman who sounds incredible! It is so hard to say goodbye to those we love even when we know we will see them again. I still ache for my grandma and it has been ten years...Praying for you my friend.

Liz said...

Ginny, I haven't been to your blog in awhile so during my all-too-short lunch break today, I decided to take a peak. I have tears of joy and smiles reading your thoughts of your grandmother. My grandmother who just passed away in September could be a long lost sister of your Grandmother's...faithful Catholic, full of life, and lover of food (she taught me what REAL gourmet was). Also, I nick-named her the "McGyver of Crafts" because she could create something beautiful out of just about anything! I will always have fond memories of her. Big hugs to you during this time as I know you will miss her. Thanks for sharing.

Kim S said...

Ginny, what awesome photos and stories. She sounds like an original! I had a Grandma Dot, too... Maybe they've gotten acquainted by now! :)

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