Friday, February 10, 2012

XOXO PINK SATURDAY

Valentine Day! A day of love and fun, candy and beautiful cards and flowers! I have had some very romantic and memorable Valentine celebrations and as a child this day could not arrive fast enough! How I looked forward to the beautiful Valentine box we all filled with sweet cards for our friends .... the homemade cupcakes and cookies decorated red, white, and pink, made by our mothers to make our parties even sweeter! This is one of my favorite days of the year!

**Visit Beverly to join the Valentine Party....

When I think of a love story, other than my own, I first think of my maternal grandmother and grandfather. My "Granna" adored her husband and he loved her! Even when he was bed ridden with a stroke and broken hip at 90 and could not speak, tiny, energetic Granna in her late 80's took all the care of him and you could see the love and trust between these two even then...

Granna and Grandpa lived in NE Iowa in a tiny town called Alta Vista. It was a ways from where we lived in Omaha, Nebraska and so visits were in the summer, and not every summer, at that. When we did get to go we usually went by train. It was a great adventure and it was a trip filled with joy and great expectations....I was never disappointed.

My grandfather was a Quaker and lived as such. Being a medical doctor, with his degree from the University Of Iowa, he was what we refer to today as an old fashioned family doctor. He had a sleigh in the long barn/garage. As a child I was fascinated with the graceful black sleigh that had a modern car sitting next to it. Such a contrast...

When the phone would ring, a wall phone that you had to crank to get out, it was usually someone that needed his help out on one of the farms. Grandpa could never turn anyone away. During blizzards, he would get the sleigh out and Betsy their horse and take off covered in mounds of blankets with his bag. It took hours sometimes to reach the one in need and I always wondered how he did not get lost. When the weather was good, he often took my Grandmother as she was a registered nurse....I heard wonderful stories, both with happy endings and with sad endings....Both of my grandfathers were doctors and their wives registered nurses....

Granna was not only a wife, mother to four and nurse, she was a speaker and well known in her area. She loved poetry and reading and did many readings at the local library and the church at special functions.

A red leather journal...

This journal starts in March of 1909, and tells of their journey to Philadelphia. My mother was eight months old.
In this precious olde journal are faded newspaper clippings and a letter from her to me in 1959 written on pretty paper with pink flowers...

They had four children. Three girls and one son. The second oldest being my mother.
When WWl started, Grandpa, knowing they would need doctors, signed up immediately, with my Grandmothers blessing. They did not see each other for five years. Grandpa was at an Army camp in the South and later shipped to France.

During that long and difficult period, my grandmother learned to manage every aspect of their home as well as the cows and horses. Grandpa wanted to hire a man to do the work and my tiny grandmother refused. She learned and did it all. She looked forward to each letter as Grandpa did not come back until the end of the war...How many couples, today, could survive that? Their love and relationship is also a testimony to values that were common place in America at that time....as I sit here and reminisce I feel blessed to have had them for grandparents and blessed I have such happy sunny and loving memories

My Grandfather, being a Quaker, refused to carry a weapon of any kind. He received awards and medals for his bravery as in the hail of bullets he, with his orderlies, and carrying a stretcher went out in the battle field to tend to the wounded. He was never wounded, but he did have orderlies shot right by him.

The stress of never turning away a person in need ruined his health. When he was in his late 70's he had to give up his practice. His son and family, in San Diego, California, came and after everything was auctioned off, took my grandparents to live in California. They purchased a nice little home first in Ramona and later, after a stroke and broken hip they went to live by their son in one of his nice apartments on his property.

Granna lovingly took such good care of Grandpa. At first he was in the Naval Hospital in San Diego. He developed a deep bed sore and the doctor was at a loss as to why they could not heal it....Granna asked to have him brought home. A hospital bed was set up in the sunny living room and Granna healed those sores! She made his food and then would puree it and feed it to him.... Grandpa died on my oldest sons third birthday...he was 95 years old.

This picture was taken in La Jolla, California in the lovely Scripps Park...see the adoring look....

I hope you enjoyed my not so short tale and I wish you a loving and happy Valentines day!
Smiles and hugs,
Jil ♥

25 comments:

My name is Riet said...

What a beautiful Valentine post. Such a sweet story.
Happy pink Saturday

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Ah, Jil, your story of your grandparents was worth reading every word. What a beautiful couple they were and you are blessed to have had them in your life! It does one's heart good to read about these dear folks.
Our world today could sure use more folks like them!
Such a blessing to visit you today and thank you for sharing this with us. Happy Valentines Pink Saturday weekend to you.

Blessings,
Sandi

Lorraine said...

What an interesting, sweet family history. How wonderful that you know their stories. Those we've loved will always be our valentines. Thanks for sharing. Happy Valentine Pink Saturday!! ~Lorraine ♥♥♥

Kay Ellen said...

Precious entry!! I loved it :))
My grandparents have a special place in my heart too :))

Happy PS!! and Valentines Day,

Kay Ellen

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

What a beautiful Valentine post! I loved the story. Happy PS.

Unknown said...

Jill, thank so much for sharing this lovely story about your Granna and Grandpa, it truly made my heart soar! I could picture them in my mind so well for your descriptions. What wonderful memories and what special people. Thank you for stopping by my blog and your kind words.

Hugs, LisaKay (Belles Roses)

Unknown said...

Oh Jil, what a lovely journey with your family. What a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day..Love to all....
Kindredly,
Shirley

Linda M. said...

Happy Pink Saturday Jil, Thanks for sharing your grandparents story of love. Happy Valentine's day. Joyous Wishes, Linda

Your Craft Book said...

Always beautiful things to look at, I love all of the things you say about your grandparents and the joy that they brought to your life.

I will email you back in the next few days. I am doing an English tea in my house on Sunday. Blessings always, Maureen.

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh WOW, what an exquisite post, Jil!! Happy Pink Saturday and thank you so much for linking up to the Woman Thing link party!!! This is so awesome. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
XO
Cindy

Carol at Serendipity said...

Jil,

A wonderful love story! Thank you for sharing it.

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Valentine's Day.

The Artful Diva said...

Thank you for sharing your Grandmother's love story. Happy Valentine's Day!

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Happy Pink Saturday Jil Sweetie...
Oh what a gorgeous write and share of the love between your Sweet Granna and Grandpa. Memories are the best Love gift that one can have.

I can see you aboard the train, waiting with anticipation to get to your Grandparents home. How lovely to see a sleigh sitting next to an automobile and knowing that your sweet Grandpa always took care of folks, and traveled even when the weather was so horrid. I can in my mind see the sleigh pulling up to a distant farm house with someone waiting in need.

The way your Granna took care of her husband. Loving him till death do them part. She knew exactly how to care for each of his needs as she knew him deepest.

Oh Jil,I simply adored this share and I cannot thank you enough for sharing it with me today. Have a beautiful Valentine's Day sweetie. You have so made mine.

Many hugs and much love, Sherry

Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes said...

I enjoyed reading of your family's honorable past. It almost seemed like I was reading my favorite Little House on the
Prarie story. It is very refreshing to learn of such sweet love and devotion between the two. You have a right to be proud and humbled by their example.------ Shannon

Light and Voices said...

You were so fortunate to have these two people in your life. Happy Valentine's Day!
Joyce M

Mari said...

Hi Jill, what a beautiful love story and yes you can see in the pic how they just loved each others dearly, I so enjoyed reading this beautiful and tender post, thanks so much for sharing it with us....

Wishing you a wonderful Valentines Day.....
Happy PS too....

Hugs~
Mari

Anonymous said...

This is precious, Jil. You can most certainly see the twinkle in her eye in that last photo...so heartwarming.
Thank you for your lovely words about my parents' love story. I am glad if these types of true love stories can inspire others to love more genuinely.
HPS and Happy Valentine's!

RobinfromCA said...

I loved reading the story of your grandparents and their love and devotion. You're right, today we live in a different time and it's not always better. My daughter's husband is in the military and they are surrounded by friends whose marriages are in trouble. They count themselves among the blessed. Thank you for sharing.
Robin

Chubskulit Rose said...

Fabulous post for Valentine's day. I love your pink!

Flamingo Love is my one of my pink this week. Have a great weekend.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Jil, this is such a sweet Valentine love story. I loved all of the little details. From the sleigh next to the modern car to your grandfather not carrying a weapon. They just don't make em like that anymore! Thanks for sharing! Happy Valentines Day! Glad to be following you.
Hugs,
Jann

Michele said...

this is the most wonderful story; you've totally touched my heart. thank you so much for sharing it. happy pink saturday and happy valentines day! xo

A Cozy Cottage in the City said...

Hi Jil,

This has to be the most sweetest love story I've heard in a very long time. Just now, it gives me goose bumps at how this story really inspires me so much! Thank you for sharing it - not many people have the luxury to have a lifetime of love like that, and you are very blessed to have witnessed it. Just beautiful. Thank you also for your visit to my page - I am happy to be your newest follower. :)


Hugs,
Jessie

Nann said...

Loved your photos, journals and rememberings. They are so special!! And I LOVE your blog. Where have you been this whole ten weeks that I have been blogging. I'm signing up to follow you!!

Hey and thanks for coming to my blog and making a comment on my post 'An Affaire to Remember.' It means alot to me. It is so nice to have others appreciate all your hardwork and effort in making an occassion so special for others. If you had been near here I would have invited you to come.

Nann

xinex said...

What a great and sweet love story, Jil. Thank you for sharing it...Christine

mypinkprettiesaboutme said...

Jil what a wonderful memory for you. Thx for sharing with us. I could almost feel their love.

Happy pink week & Vday

LL