I remember unconditional love for her children and for me.
I remember that she believed that I could accomplish anything and therefore helped me believe it too.
I remember a giving heart.
I remember sneaking upstairs with the cousins to see the treasures hidden there.
I remember crashing with the whole family in one room up at Lake Redstone because our tent had blown away with us in it…and I remember her snoring in harmony with Grandpa.
I remember $2 bills given at Christmas to all of the cousins so that we could buy our parents gifts from the $2 table at Boardman's.
I remember horrifying my grandmother that I not only drank tea before I was 16, but that I put the milk in first!
I remember weekend trips from Wheaton College after Grandpa Lambert died...to get a home cooked meal, provide some company, and seek some solitude at the same time.
I remember finding letters from Grandpa written to Grandma during the war and marveling at how much he loved her.
I remember our fairy tale trip to Alaska and I remember the hug she gave when she realized I was crying as the plane took off because I had enjoyed it so much and was so thankful to have been given the opportunity.
I remember helping her move out of the house in Chicago and being in trouble for months because we got rid of some things….like 25 year old chopped nuts from the Tastee-Freeze!
I remember her willingness to let me live with her when I couldn’t stand The Pit anymore, but couldn’t yet afford my own place. And I remember pulling her glasses off, putting away her book, and turning off the light almost every night.
I remember the once-in-a-lifetime Lambert Family Trip to San Francisco…the fun we had planning and the fellowship while we were there will never be forgotten.
I remember enjoying her stories the first time I heard them and getting a little tired of them after the 5th or 6th time.
I remember making t-shirts for the whole family to wear at Christmas and her joy at seeing them worn first all together and then by random people for years to come.
I remember notes, sent from Lantana to Boca, requesting my presence because she needed to talk to me about a "terrible problem" like not having a birthday card for a friend or something equally awful.
I remember how important it was that we made the family calendars for everyone so that we would all know about important birthdays and anniversaries.
I remember being asked how she could preserve her World War II newspapers and memorabilia and all of the stories while we were putting them together.
I remember hearing all about long-gone family members while looking back at the family tree and boxes of old pictures.
I remember the joy of getting a real live letter in the mail, the excitement when it was a long one and the shame when we were chastised for not writing or visiting.
I remember looking at the globe with grandma to see where all of her children and grandchildren had scattered and traveled.
I remember having to search for her teeth and hearing aids before we could “go get a bite to eat.”
I remember Les Brothers, Mahbenka, The Farmer Girl, and Fannie Mays.
I remember the embarrassment of going to any checkout counter with her and watcher her argue about a price difference or $0.03.
I remember spiritual discussions in which she treated me not as a granddaughter, but as a Sister in Christ with whom fears, doubts, and questions could be discussed and advice could be offered from either one of us to the other.
I remember her willingness to help…be it grading papers, labeling books, or lending a listening ear.
I remember countless times of explaining that you can be “on the rag” or “chewing the fat”, but that you never, ever, ever “chew the rag”!
I remember her excitement at seeing me teach at SRCS and her plea to emphasize to my students that America is a great nation and that they are the future leaders of the world.
I remember her telling me that “getting old is for the birds” and “never get old.”
I remember her telling me when I left for Japan that she wouldn’t be there when I got back…and I remember the sorrow that the mere thought of that caused.
I remember the shock of hearing that she had passed away and the pain when the shock wore off. I remember wondering who would ever love me like she loved me…and knowing that the answer could only be Jesus!
