"It Will Be OK Mommy"

Those were the most comforting words that came from my sweet angel Lauren while we were at the funeral home Sunday for Ma Ready's funeral. We went early to let the girls be there without a crowd of people around. As we went up to the casket, I was carrying Lauren and when she saw the tears streaming down my cheecks, she was patted me on the back and said, "It will be OK Mommy". She repeated those words to me several different times throughout the evening and the next day. Who would have thought that a child could be such a comfort. I believe having the girls there made the entire time more bearable for everyone. Both girls were so well behaved. We were so proud of them. I tried to prepare Lauren for every part of the process and she handled everything so well. I guess the next hard part will be going to Mom and Dad's house. Lauren has never been there without my grandmother being there.



A Few Precious Memories

• When Ma Ready and Pop lived in Bristol, they would take us for ice cream at a little store down the road. Pop would always drive down through the yard to get to the highway. Bill and I thought that was so funny!


• When they lived in Knoxville we would spend a week with them during the summer. Ma Ready always made us a new pair of pajamas for the week with them. She was quite a seamstress.


• When they moved back to Readyville, the first time we visited them they didn't have their furniture in the house, so we sat in lawn chairs inside the house and slept on cots. It was like camping (without the bugs)!


• Ma Ready loved sending and receiving cards. She would always go to the post office and request to see all the stamps available to pick out the prettiest ones. I picked up that habit from her and fondly think of her while at the post office.


• She read her Bible daily. I know she would read the Bible through every year. I wonder how many times she read it through in her 92 years?!


• After Pop and Jess died, Ma Ready and her sister Elizabeth enjoyed spending time together. When they were able, they would drive to Nashville to go the the mall. Later as they got older they would go to Murfreesboro for a shorter trip. They also loved to eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel. They would go at least one day a week. All of their favorite Cracker Barrel's in the area knew the two ladies by name and also what they would order. They would call each other every morning and every evening. When they went out together they would dress in matching shirts!


• I enjoyed driving down to get Ma Ready and taking her to my parents house for Christmas.

• Mom and Dad gave Ma Ready a surprise birthday party when she turned 90 years old complete with a big birthday cake. They invited people from church to come. Ma Ready cried when she realized it was a party for her and said she had never had a birthday party before.

I'm so thankful that my parents brought Ma Ready to live with them. If she hadn't been with them, she would never have known the girls. She always perked up when we visited. Every time she saw Lauren she would say, "Come over here and let me kiss your head!" We will certainly miss those kisses! I know I will think of many other memories after I post this, but right now those are the things in my heart! We love you very much Ma Ready!