It's a very special day in our lives. One hundred years ago today, a baby girl was born in Craig County, Virginia on a hill just above the valley where my home Church building stood and continues to stand. It wasn't a fancy birth...yet a very blessed one. And a century later, her life and love continue to touch lives deeper than she could have ever imagined.
That baby girl grew up and gave birth to four children. One of her daughters gave birth to me. Yes, that lady born one hundred years ago today was my Grandma Jenny. Grandma never owned her own home. She never owned her own car. She never had a cell phone or a computer. She didn't attend college and never lived outside the Commonwealth of Virginia. Yet to this day, her life has blessed other lives for generations and will also affect a life halfway across the globe.
Grandma lived a humble life not only in her surroundings but in her heart. She loved...genuinely, unconditionally, generously and gracefully. Although her life brought both joys and heartaches, she never stopped loving. Although she worked diligently and sacrificially to make ends meet for her children, she did so unselfishly because of love. She once told me that even though others were sometimes unkind or unfair to her, she never stopped loving them because that's simply what she wanted to do. It didn't matter how they treated her. She chose to love...anyway. And that love in her heart continues to grow, encourage, inspire and enlighten lives...especially mine.
Halfway around the world, a little girl is born in China. We have not seen her. But we love her...dearly. We can hardly wait to bring her home into our Forever Family. She never knew my Grandma Jenny...but she will certainly learn all about her and each time her name is called, she will be reminded of that precious little girl born one hundred years ago. For Jenna Elizabeth (+ Chinese name) Lorenz will bear her name in honor of Grandma Jenny, her Great Grandmother. Her middle name, Elizabeth, will also be in honor of loved ones on both her Dad and Mom's sides who also bore that name. And "JennaBeth" will always know that much love, laughter and life were involved in the blessing of her life and her journey to us...for decades...even a century.
So Happy Birthday, Grandma Jenny. Although you moved to your Eternal Home almost nine years ago, we remember you...and your love...and your life. We thank God for you. We cherish each memory of you. We look forward to seeing you again someday. I know you always wanted to reach that "100" mark here but I'm sure your Heavenly celebration is beyond anything we can imagine. I can hardly wait to see you again someday. I miss you more than words can ever express. We look forward to telling your Great-Granddaughter all about you...and the love you lived so faithfully. Each day I thank God for the countless ways you touched my life forever...and I am so blessed to call you my Grandmother...and the namesake for our daughter. Remember our promise, Grandma..."I'll see you at the Gates." Happy 100th Birthday, Grandma Jenny. Your love, your life and your name live on!
Cherishing my Grandmother,
Terri & Family
Jenna Elizabeth (aka "JennaBeth") Song Lorenz
Waiting For Our Little One To Come Home From China!
1 comment:
Sweet Gramma Jenny's 100th birthday! Wow! It is SUCH a shame that she isn't here to see Jennabeth (and possibly Emmakate). Wouldn't she just be tickled to death?????? I know she would. I've gone through a box of kleenex while reading the last 2 posts... one because I'm sitting here right now looking at the toys, and the other, thinking about Gramma Jenny and how it makes me miss my Gramma Nora (Field) and Gramma Flora (Baines). They were both angels from heaven. So, we've both been blessed by such great and loving Grandmothers! We will have to pattern our grandmother-lives after them. They're certainly the best examples we could have ever hoped to have or imagined! Well, again, it's one day closer to that sweetheart or, those sweethearts. We will be patient and wait. It will be worth it all, for sure!
Love you all.
Auntie/Mama-love/and PaPa Ralph
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