How my Nana made an impact on my life

This week marks the time my Nana Honey would've celebrated her 83rd birthday. I always think of her, even though she's been gone for nearly sixteen years now. She had one of those endings where she was in hospice on a bed in her daughter's home, surrounded by family. We all had the chance to tell her how much we loved her, long before her body began to shut down and she lost her ability to see and speak. It was a beautiful way to go.

During her birthday week, I often reflect on this sweet woman (hence the nickname, Honey). I have so many of my childhood memories that involved my Nana. Wherever she was meant we were home after my parent's divorced and life was unsure. She had a way of making her home a place where everyone wanted to be, sitting around her and tasting her delicious food. She had these fluffy, soft arms that everyone loved to touch and marvel at their squishiness.

When I was a teenager, she was the buffer between my mother and I. Whenever my mom would crack down on me, bless her heart, my Nana would always protect me. Not that my mother was mean, but she held a high standard and she was very vocal about it. It felt good knowing that my Nana loved me enough to speak up on my behalf. I'll always love her for that.

My Nana grew up living next door to the boy that would eventually be her husband! They went on to have seven children--four sons and three daughters. My mother is the classic middle child.

This is a favorite photo of my Nana because she is beautiful, stylish and curvy.

I posted this photo on my Facebook wall and tagged all my family members in it, so we could share our memories of her. I began to notice a familiar thread about our memories.  Despite having such a large number of grandchildren (twenty-five at the time),  she loved us all and we felt adored by her. I don't have memories of my Nana showering me with gifts or taking me to special places. That wasn't it. I think we all felt so special by her was because she simply let us dwell with her, and we worked, ate, slept, served, and worshipped alongside her. She didn't remove herself from us just because we were children, and there were so many of us. She lived her life, and she let us be right by her side where she was free to love us and let us know how special we were to her.

Me and my Nana Honey, sometime in the late 70's.

She was highly regarded, honored, loved and cherished by us all.  I don't think she had an inkling of how great her impact was on all of our lives. I'm always encouraged, thinking of my own family and what my future as a grandmother will look like. It's not just about cooking, cleaning, and making sure your child's homework is completed. It goes much deeper than that. How you live and dwell with your family will influence many generations after you are done walking this Earth. Our role as wife and mother and grandmother is important--no, it's vital. Don't forget that. Don't waste whatever opportunities you have to positively affect your family.

 This is what my Nana Honey taught me.  A woman as precious and sweet as her nickname.