This is my great-grandmother, Hildred.
She was born in 1908.
She got married in the Great Depression.
She sent her sons off to WWII.
She lost a husband of 30 years to a heart attack.
She raised 4 children, and now her descendants number: 76--including 1(+1/2!) great-great-grandchildren
She married her elementary school sweetheart at the age of 69. (he found her after all those years and had never forgotten her!)
She has lived for the last 5 years only 5 minutes from my parents house (where I was living pre-wedding) I have been able to see her about once a week, and she is the most lovely person you will ever meet. I wish I had spent more time with her when I was younger.
Her century old body is shutting down bit by bit but she never complains. She is always thrilled to see her family. She tells stories of her two mischievous boys growing up in Chicago in the 40s (one of whom is my grandfather), her travel adventures with her sister after the death of her first husband, and life in Arkansas with her second husband.
But she recently turned 101, and I knew she wouldn't get to make it to the wedding. She can hardly get in and out of car anymore and the drive to our ceremony location would be 45 minutes. But I wanted to include her somehow. So after getting ready with the girls at my parents house, we packed up a little early and headed to her retirement home for a quick visit before the wedding.
I can't wait to share the rest of these photos in my recaps. She is the most precious person, and I'm so thankful for the time we've got to spend together. I don't know how many more days God has mapped out for her life, but she has lived a wonderful one.
15 comments:
How sweet is that picture!
Wow, she is 101. Congrats Grandma, she is a doll.
That is so incredibly sweet! I am glad that you were able to get such a wonderful picture with your great grandmother to always have! Very special!
So very precious! You will cherish this picture forever! I am so glad you were able to see her on your wedding day!
That is so wonderful you were able to share a part of your day with her!
How awesome to have this relationship and to be so close. You captured her well. What a wonderful picture!
That's so sweet! I love the picture. It almost reminds me of a picture I saw of a bride and groom visiting a grandparent in the hospital after the wedding - So cute!
That is such a wonderful photo! I teared up a bit reading this, it's so touching and lovely that you went over to see her before going to the ceremony!
Great Picture!
That post seriously just made my day. How sweet of you to stop by on YOUR big day. I love that photo.
I love that you went to see her before the wedding! That was so sweet and kind of you. I lived 5 minutes away from my grandparents growing up so I know how close you can get. They were like having another set of parents
oh my gosh. I literally just got tears in my eyes. That is so thoughtful of you. I'm sure she truly appreciate being included in your special day.
That's so sweet and wonderful! You are so lucky to have gotten to see her on your wedding.
What a beautiful way to include someone on your special day!! Such a sweet photo!
I teared up a little when I read this. I think it is amazing that she married her childhood sweetheart after all of those years!
This is so precious! I love this. I'm hoping my grandma will be able to make it to my wedding. She's only in her late 80's, but I don't think she or Grandpa will be with us much longer past the wedding and Christmas (PS...been following for awhile after finding your blog through WeddingBee)
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