This June marks an incredible time for our family. My Grandy is turning 99 years old. How amazing is that? I can’t even imagine the things she has seen in her long life!

Think of all the world changing things that have happened since 1910. The Great Depression, WWI, The Holocaust, WWII and the bombs being dropped on Hiroshima.

Then I wonder if she even recognizes the world anymore. The society and environment she grew up in doesn’t exist anymore. Cars, telephones, even electricity were not part of everyday life during my Grandy’s childhood. I love to hear her tell stories about it, sometimes I really think I was born in the wrong century.

She married my beloved and much missed Gramp in 1930, and they settled on the land and in the house that yielded their three children, my Dad being the oldest. My Uncle Tucker still lives in the house he was born in, and built my grandparents a cottage next door sometime in the 1980′s.

My Dad will be turning 70 this August. How amazing of a concept is that? To be 70 years old and still have your Mother? He is blessed and fortunate, as is she. Her health has always astounded our family. She still walks outside and draws birds. In her youth and throughout her life she has always been an avid hiker and member of the Appalachian Trail Club. She frustrates easily these days due to her inability to do the things she loves as well as she once did.

Grandy has never been the warm and fuzzy, cookies baking grandmother. She is a bit hard, stern and no nonsense. However, she is fair and has taught myself, my brother and our cousins so many lessons in our lives.

She taught us to be forever grateful of what we have during each moment and not to take it for granted.

She taught us to respect, love and appreciate our military men and women. She has seen first hand the horrors that we have evaded due to their sacrifice.

She taught us to value our health and take care of our bodies. Mostly this was done by example, the women is a medical marvel.

She taught us to love the outdoors. During summers with our grandparents we literally were not allowed inside while it was light out except to eat and use the bathroom. We always crashed into bed, happily exhausted and woke the next morning excited to do it again.

My Grandy is an amazing woman and I hate to think that at some point she will not be here and her memories and lessons will be ours to pass on. I am honored that I am named in her will as the “Keeper of her thoughts“, as I have inherited her journals and photo albums. I am SO looking forward to delving into her life, but wish she would let me see them while she was here to tell me the stories.

Chase has met his Great Grandmother once, and Jimmy has yet to do so. I so hope that they get to spend some time with this marvelously inspiring woman.

Happy Birthday Grandy. You continue to amaze me everyday and I’m grateful that you and my Grampy Gramps were an influence on my life.