"Marmee" Meets Brielle

Mrs. Beaver:

(I'm sliding back in time to this past week. Since this blog serves as our family photo album and the diary of events important to us, I still want to capture more of the sweet moments from the trip Lissie and I took to visit Aaron and Anna.)

When Lissie and I entered the Nix' home, I was greeted by Aaron's mom, Tina, who was holding Brielle. Tina immediately placed the little girl who is the first grandchild on both sides in my arms.

What a special handoff, from one grandmother to the other! As I've said on this blog before, the unity between Aaron's family and Anna's is a very special gift from the Lord that we all treasure.

Aaron's sister, Amber, was poised to capture photos of the new grandmother & first grandchild

Aaron's parents, Ric and Tina, have chosen to have their grandchildren call them Papa and Nana. Mr. Beaver wants to be Grandpa. I debated long and hard as Anna's pregnancy went on what I wanted to be called by our grandkids. In the end, I settled on "Marmee". Marmee is the name the four sisters in the famous children's chapter book Little Women call their mother. Although this woman is fictional, I have admired her character for many years. The book is set during the Civil War, and the girls' father is voluntarily serving as a chaplain to the troops. At one point in the novel, Jo questions her mother about how she can be so supportive of their father being away at war when it means hardship for her. I love Marmee's reply, "I gave my best to the country I love, and kept my tears till he was gone. Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty, and will surely be happier for it in the end? I have a better friend, even than your father, to comfort and sustain me. My child, the troubles and trials of your life are beginning and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all, if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father...The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of life-long peace, happiness and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother."

I hope to be a grandmother who is wise enough to winsomely point her grandchildren to that Heavenly Father whom "Marmee" speaks of so lovingly in Little Women.