She would have been 91 years old this year.

It’s crazy how vivid some memories are, even after her passing away nearly 14 years ago.  She loved purple.  Anything that she cooked was amazing.  Seriously.  If you wanted me to eat something as a kid, all you had to do was tell me that Granny made it.  There was the cake squares (such a wonderful afternoon snack), and the salmon patties (she told me they were hamburgers), and the cornbread (made like pancakes, in a skillet).

She loved flowers.  All kinds of flowers.  There were rose bushes.  Hydrangeas.  Lilies.  I’ve never seen someone care for flowers in such a way.

There were only two things that she loved more than flowers: God and family.  She took care of each us in the most unique and special way.

She left such an amazing legacy.  Part of the reason that I love spending time with my family is that you’re able to see traces of her in each of her children.  Her love for God.  Her love for flowers.  Amazing cooks.  Resilience and strength.  A family that has endured much, but is still bound together by her love.

I hope I make her proud.

Happy Birthday, Granny.  We love you, and even nearly 14 years later, we still miss you and think about you every day.