Happy Birthday Grandmother!

My Grandmother, Ruth Nadene Brown, turns 86 years young today! What an accomplishment and what a life she has lived! I hate that she lives 6 hours away, and that I don't get to see her more often.

Grandmother was one of twelve kids. Her mom died when she was a young teenager, and she was left to care for her remaining siblings at home. She got married and moved out west to Amarillo with her husband and became a farmer's wife. She birthed four boys (see where I get the boy genes from?!?), one who died as a baby. She raised her three boys, some nephews, grand kids and great-grand kids.

Grandmother is an incredible, strong woman; an awesome cook (especially noted for her homemade rolls and pies); and a child of God. She's never been extravagant, but likes nice things. She's driven a Cadillac for as long as I can remember, drives it until it has a lot of miles on it, and then gets another one. She's always taken a lot of pride in her possessions and takes good care of them. She lived in a farmhouse for years, but took care of it, as if she was living in the White House. She's the ultimate housewife.

My grandfather died seven years ago, and she hasn't really missed a beat. She was a caretaker for him and has been for several of her siblings. She just retired last year at the age of 85, where she worked at the church nursery for years and years and years! She was a housewife, but it was never beneath her to work and make some money.

Happy Birthday, Grandmother! Thank you for the inspiration that you have been to me and for the strong, pillar of a rock, that you are. I can and have learned so many lessons from you and your life. Thank you for all of the love and all of the delicious coconut cream pies and homemade rolls that you have made over the years. I love you and wish that I could be there to celebrate your life with you today. Happy B-Day!