I know I've used this picture before. But it's the only one I have on my computer right now.
There is no Grammie cuter than this.
She turned 80 years old on March 27th, and our family flew down to Cali to celebrate with her. There was a family party, of course, with food (the main attraction), the dice game, and presents. She got a Bose stereo and an iPod dock as a group gift. She also got some cds, clothes (she has a friend whose daughter is Jennifer Anniston's personal shopper...I know!), and I can't remember what else. It was fun to be there with her and see just how many people love and appreciate her. It was also nice to spend time with my mom's side of the family.
Sister Brown was there and she told us the reason she loves Ellie so much. Grammie was a nurse and very often throughout her life has found herself taking care of friends and family when they were sick. She even came to take care of me when I had my back surgery. Anyway, Brother Brown was in the hospital and Grammie had come to sit with him a while, and give the family a little time to rest. He was doing fine, but after a while she got the impression to check his blood pressure (there was no apparent reason to check it, he looked fine). It was dangerously low. She got on the phone and called the doctor, and he said he'd be there as soon as he could. Grammie replied "No, you need to get here now." And he did, and Brother Brown survived because of her quick reaction to the promptings of the Spirit and her insistence that the doctor come immediately. She is a neat lady.
My mom and her two sisters wrote a song that we all sang to her. Alex accompanied us on the guitar. We were very grateful for that. Lol. Here are the lyrics:
Ellie’s 80th Birthday Song
(To the tune of “How to Save a Life” by The Fray)
Step One, gets out of bed by 6 o’clock.
Throws on her clothes, heads to the park.
Does her bends and stretches, no time to lose.
Has to hurry home to take a snooze.
Wakes up again, there’s lots to do.
Pay bills, do wash, and clean up too.
Looks at her watch, it’s almost noon.
Heads out to grab a Golden Spoon.
Where’d I leave my keys, I don’t recall.
Are they in my room or down this hall?
Been in my purse all along.
Who’d have thought to look where they belong?
Going home, gets lost – Oh what a mess.
She’s very grateful for that GPS.
Tries to solve the Jumble on her own.
Has to call Patricia on the phone.
She cannot ignore her family tree.
Gets to work on genealogy.
Time to run an errand for a friend.
Then a church meeting she’ll attend.
Where’d I leave my keys, I don’t recall.
Are they in my room or down this hall?
Been in my purse all along.
Who’d have thought to look where they belong?
As night begins to fall there’s more to do.
Has to brush her teeth and floss them too.
Takes about an hour for this chore.
Dental care ranks high for Eleanor.
Lays down to rest her weary head.
Little Grammie in a king‐sized bed.
We all love you ‐‐‐‐ that’s for sure
Happy birthday, love you, Ellie Muir!
After the party, we went and visited my Uncle Johnny. He's in his 90s and his health is declining. He lives in a skilled nursing facility that is run by nuns ("you know about these things?!") and it was a bit of a shock to see him in such a frail and agitated state. But these things happen, the dying experience is rarely graceful and never easy. It was good for me to see him, I said my goodbyes as I do not know that I will see him again. I told him to say hi to my grampa Muir (his brother), who I extra-missed that weekend.
On Sunday we were able to attend sacrament meeting with Grammie. It was fast and testimony meeting, and she got up and expressed her gratitude for our family and then bore her testimony of the gospel and the Savior. She said what a strength we are to her, as her other two daughters aren't active in the church at this time. I thought how strange it was for her to be thanking us! She is so strong and faithful. She is a pioneer woman! She single-handedly brought the gospel into our lives, and we can never thank her enough for that. I am grateful for the testimony that she bore that day and for the example she is every day!
Thanks for having a birthday, Grammie! Let's do it again when you turn 90! :)
