Thank You, Mammaw!

When I was in my rough teenage years, I remember Mammaw used to tell me that if I ever wanted to run away, I was always welcome at her house. During some hard times, I remember lying awake some nights trying to figure out how to get there. She has always been a safe haven for her grandkids, always made herself available to those who needed her love. 

When I moved up to Utah, I lived with Mammaw and Pappaw Dean for two weeks until school started. Her house was always perfectly decorated, neat, and tidy. "A place for everything and everything in its place," she'd always remind me. She would always hum when she was cleaning. I always noticed it while she was wiping the counter off after dinner. We'd play Phase 10 like it was our only job. "When we're at the card table, you are no longer my grandson," she'd tell my cousin Jason—just as she threw down a Skip card.

She always makes me feel like I'm the favorite grandchild. She made me a quilt after I graduated from high school. She took me to White Elegance to pick out my temple dress, and then bought it just for me. She just about died when she found out we were pregnant for the first time. "He's our baby," she'd sing when Sebastian would come over. She sewed him who-knows-how-many baby blankets. We still use them. She always makes Curtis feel like he's been a member of our family his whole life. She handed him some money when he was searching desperately for a job, "You don't even have to tell Jessie I gave that to you." 

But she makes all her grandkids feel that way. She hangs Garrett's poinsettia on her door every Christmas. She helped Trent purchase a high-end sewing machine to help him start his business. She talks about her adventures with Gordon before he left for his mission as if nothing else were worth remembering. It's not just our family. I know she does the same sorts of things to my other cousins—and their spouses.

When Mammaw found out we were pregnant again (due within two weeks of our impending move across the country), she worried over who would come help us with Sebastian and the new baby. Since we left Utah, we've been missing Mammaw's open door and good southern cooking, and she's been missing our card-playing skills and healthy appetites. She decided to fly up to Portland to help us take care of the baby, occupy Sebastian, and prepare for the move.

Before the baby arrived, we had a good time letting Sebastian get used to her. He would share celery sticks and peanut butter with her. I never thought he would eat celery (maybe because his father and I never do)! After a few days, he knew how to get what he wanted out of her—including Oreo cookies. Mammaw helped me sew two dresses for Baby Girl. I downloaded a free pattern, and Mammaw helped me decipher the directions. I must say they turned out just darling! Our Trial  Dress (to practice before the Blessing Dress) features a black and white polka-dot skirt with a white bodice. The Blessing Dress is a simple, white long skirt and bodice with lace trim around the bottom and lace cap sleeves. 

Every day that Baby hadn't come seemed like a disappointment to both me and Mammaw. Mammaw arrived on Saturday, May 24, and Baby was due on Monday. Nothing Tuesday or Wednesday or—nope. Thursday was the magic day! 

After Livia arrived, I didn't have to lift any finger, wash any dish, or tape any box. Mammaw wanted to make sure to bake a chocolate pie for us to eat. "Remember how I used to offer you cookies or a slice of pie at my house, and you'd say, 'Mammaw, I shouldn't.' But I knew you needed it more than you didn't want it." She knew exactly what I needed that week, and that was to enjoy my sweet Baby Livia. I was afraid I wouldn't get to take care of her cuddle with her all day long. We had to pack up the rest of our apartment, label boxes, move those boxes to our storage unit, plus cook and clean as always—all with a rambunctious toddler wanting to play.

Thank you, Mammaw, for enriching my life. Not only for this week, but for all the weeks you've taken care of me and known exactly what I needed.