Taking Time to Remember Grandma Dvorak

This showed  up in my Facebook, it really made me think of my Grandma Dvorak.  It's one of those God things since it showed up around the anniversary of her birthday in heaven.  The only reason I remember that it is close to the end of March is.... she wanted to die in March and it wasn't happening and she was starting to get upset.  LOL  OK let me explain that one.  Grandma was a VERY devout Catholic, I don't think she went anywhere without a rosary in her pocket or somewhere near by.  She loved St. Joseph the foster father of Jesus and as Catholics we dedicate the month of March to St. Joseph.  She wanted to die in the month of St. Joseph.  I just love that God granted her final wish and took her home in the month she so desired.

Grandma taught me so much.  She was a classroom teacher but also a silent teacher.  She was the teacher that wanted you to learn something but she wouldn't tell you what you had to figure it out and she rejoiced with you when you did.  She often said you needed to learn one new thing every day before you went to bed.

She taught me to love my heritage.  She was proud of where she came from.  In fact my Dad will tell you he only started speaking English when it was time for him to start school.  They spoke Czech in the house while he was growing up.  She taught me how to polka, waltz and sing songs in Czech.  She even gave me start on stage by giving me a solo, a couple of them.  She taught me a song to The Blessed Virgin Mary and we would go to churches in the area and sing it for special occasions.  The last time I sang it was at her funeral.  (I really think she would be disappointed with me on that one.  I better find it and find somewhere to do it again.)

She taught me how to really love your spouse.  (Silent teaching at it's best.)  Grandpa had health problems for as long as I can remember.  He was mobile and helping Dad on the farm in one memory and the next he was in a wheelchair.  Grandma took care of him all the time.  OK there was a short, and I mean short, stay at the nursing home, but he didn't like it there and she brought him back home and took care of him until he died.  That is true love.  On days that I am struggling with my relationship I just think of the love and laughter they shared and I can carry on.

She taught me how to be a good teacher.  I struggled with school for a time and she would help me work on things during the summer.  We didn't hit it hard but we worked on things for maybe one week during the summer.  The fun ways she found for me to learn only inspired me to find the same fun things for the students in my care.  Also at her wake and funeral I lost count of the people who said, "She was the best teacher."  Not many families who's loved one lives past 90 can say there was a FULL church at their funeral. I CAN!!!  Oh and she taught me chocolate helps boost your brain power.  Yeah we studied with M&M's or some kind of chocolate near by.  No wonder so many people liked her. 

She taught me how to laugh at life and not take things too seriously, unless you have to.  With Grandpa's illness she could have been so negative, but not her!  If something happened, like Grandpa spilling his chew can, she would find a way to laugh about it.  She always had a smile on her face.  I don't remember he being sad.  I know she probably was, but she didn't let it become our burden, it was hers alone.  Man, I miss that smile and laugh.  My uncle laughs that she got the last laugh when she passed away.  The day/night of her wake was a beautiful, sunny, warm day.  That night we sang "On Eagle's Wings", a song she did not want at her funeral (but it was her wake).  The next morning was cold and dreary.  My uncle says she told God to "punish us" with the cold weather for singing that song.  LOL

This is her at our wedding.

Here she is holding two of her Great-Grand babies Reid and Christopher.

The last thing she taught me was how to love God more than anything.  Like I said she had a rosary near by all the time.  She would find God's hand in ANYTHING that happened to her.  She taught me to believe God will take care of everything and ask the Saints for help when you don't know where else to turn.  She taught me which Saints, especially her favorite, would help you and when.  I was even blessed to be baptized on her birthday.  When I started college she even sent me a prayer to help me get through tests.  It was a great help.  

I was so sad when she passed away.  I was 7 months pregnant with Breanna and knew she was a girl.  Grandma was so excited for me. I really couldn't wait for them to meet each other.   I feel like she was meant to help me with Breanna from heaven.  I needed another advocate at the feet of God to help with the trials that are Breanna.  What is really funny is Breanna just came in the room and looked over my shoulder as I was cropping one of these pictures looked at it and laughed her laugh of recognition.  I think she knows who Great-Grandma is and probably sees her often.  Lucky girl.

Long story short.  I've been thinking about her a lot and the post on Facebook was just so timely I had to share.  I am so blessed to have had Grandma as my guide through life and into the next.  I miss her greatly and can't wait to see her again.  If she didn't make it to Heaven I don't stand a chance!

Not a colored photo, but I bet the shirt had purple in it.