Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma!!

I want to explain something.. Here are some pictures of my Grandma on her 80th birthday.. She has ALZHEIMERS.. A terrible disease that robs... But there is something that you can't see in this picture and that is this..

: you can't see a resilient, strong, capable women who lost her son and husband when she was in her 20's and then a month later her father.. or her 2nd husband when she was in her late 30's.. who supported her little family for years...
: you can't see a kind women, a "mother of the church", a friend, a Lydia...
: you can't see the best grandma.. (who always had new pj's for us, who cooked all our favorite special foods at xmas, and who organized the surprise santa visits with presents for us.. )
: you can't see a mother.. much missed...

She was and still is all these things.. I just wanted to remember again who she was...

7 comments:

letisha said...

This is so nice Leanna. Good to document these memories. So glad u did one day!

Donna C said...

Happy Birthday Arlene!
I'll add "and a great and kind friend" to your wonderful list. Thanks for the pictures and the reminder of our heritage.
Donna Colter

Anonymous said...

awwww nice post leanna....she was an incredible lady and still is!!! wow 80 that's amazing!! we have amazing memories of her!!

juanita

Unknown said...

yes that was really nice to go back a few years with grandma Peppley. I do remember what a lovely lady she was. So nice you have all of those great memories of her. I will also remember how happy she was inspite of all the hardship she endured. Auntie Sandi

Anonymous said...

not sure how I got that debbie on there. Sandi

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Arelene!

Leanna thanks for sharing your memories and a picture of your Grandma....she was a special friend to my parents and to us. We have many wonderful memories of her and her beautiful spirit!

Judy Dopko

Aimee said...

What a sweet Grandma and what strength you can find during tough times knowing she's been able to overcome so much.

Someday it will not matter how big my house is, how much money is in the bank, or where i have travelled.. only that I have been important in the life of a child...