Saturday, January 7, 2012

Margaret

I have a great-aunt Margaret. She is my "Pop's"(my late grandfather's) sister.  She is such an inspiration to me, and has ALWAYS been one my whole life. Her beautiful smile is something that I always associate with her.

Margaret's life has been spent learning, teaching, educating, traveling, writing, encouraging and serving her Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ. When I was young she was a curriculum director for the Beaumont ISD. She would bring me sample books, teacher editions, and I would have "class" in my room with my dolls-chalkboard (that she gave me) and all!  She is a HUGE reason I became a teacher. She brought me Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? when I was about 4 years old. I LOVED that book because it made me "think" I could read! She would come home to Bloomburg about once a month, and boy would I get excited! I knew that when she got there I would probably have some kind of a surprise, and the best part was she would spend time with me. I loved going to her house there in Bloomburg too. We would play games, barrel of monkeys, cards, dominoes, chinese checkers and Parcheese (sp?) my favorite! Somehow I won a lot of those games too! :) She loved riddles, and she always had songs, and poetry to share. She would  decorate her Christmas tree while she was home for Thanksgiving and that was always a high light of Thanksgiving for me. I would know that Christmas was just around the corner when I was helping her decorate her tree!


When I grew up, I always enjoyed visiting her in her home in Beaumont. She was the "hostess with the mostest". We would look through all of her photo albums and I enjoyed hearing all of the stories that went with the photos. She had a lovely home there and had so many beautiful knick-knacks from all of her travels. Sadly her home was destroyed from the effects of hurricane Rita. So she returned to her home in Bloomburg still with her beautiful smile! During her time back in Bloomburg she has a book of poetry that was published .She has enjoyed giving those away to continue  encouraging others. Her poems are so thoughtful and some are very funny. They are a treasure to all of us that love her.

Last year she suffered a heart attack and a  massive stroke, that has left her paralized on one side and unable to speak.  She has had to move into a nursing home. Yet through ALL of this tradegy she remains the sweetest, happiest, most joyful person in the nursing home. When I go to see her, it is just like when I was little. The smile that lights her face up is as beautiful as ever! Her one arm that she is able to move, is stretched out for a welcoming hug, and I know she is trying to tell me how "good it is to see" me.

Anyday that I am complaing about my work, my problems, my ache or pains- if I will stop long enough to think of my sweet Margaret, my problems seem to fade away. I picture her beautiful smile, and ... I smile too.

Is There Anything?

Is There Anything?
Is there anything sweeter?

Almost...