How we met:
Well, Ryan and I first met Joann aka Grandma when we started hanging out with the Nelson family. Actually, Jim and Gina were building an addition onto their home for Grandma at the time so she hadn’t even moved in yet. But hanging out over at the Nelson house, you always wind up in Grandma’s place, sitting on her couch and chatting. And she has a cat that can actually talk to you. I swear. I’ve heard it. It’s awesome.
Three things I appreciate about Joann:
1. I love that even though we are in no way related, she’s my surrogate Grandma. She’s everyone’s Grandma! She loves on you. She encourages you. She makes you laugh. You are always welcome in Grandma’s place. And she truly has a crown of wisdom upon her head.
2. Her Southern drawl. I love it. She’s got the sweetness of the South upon her tongue and the dignified tone of a thousand aromatic orange blossoms when she speaks. You just can’t help but smile when she talks to you.
3. Her love for her family and extended family (those not blood related to her). She loves everyone. She loves being around the children and treats my children like they belong to her. To her, family seems to be the biggest strength in life apart from her love for the Lord.
My favorite memory of Joann:
When I think of Grandma it reminds me of Titus 2:3-5. She’s a woman, set apart for the gospel of salvation, and she’s always encouraging and admonishing us younger women to love our husbands, love our children and to love the Lord. But my favorite memory, maybe the one that always sticks out in my mind when I think of Grandma, is 4th of July a few years ago when Johnny was 18 months old. We were over at the Nelsons for a pool party and there were just tons of people there. Grandma was drinking a coke and she asked me if Johnny could have a sip. Of course, I hadn’t let Johnny have anything sugary to drink yet except for watered down juice. So I politely smiled at Grandma and said, “No, he’s not old enough yet.” And she just smiled at me and said, “It’s just a little sugar.” I laughed. Grandma is just so sweet, always full of sugar ready to make people smile. And that is my favorite memory of Joann – she is so full of life!
July 28th, 2011 at 9:45 am
Amen! Couldn’t have said it better myself:)
July 28th, 2011 at 9:48 am
Thanks for being the best grandma ever!
July 28th, 2011 at 10:03 am
I love Grandma! Her mix of class and sophistication with spunk and southern sassiness is something you just don’t find everyday. She walks in a room and fills it with joy. She is one of those people that just makes you feel comfortable in any setting. And she is always so encouraging to the people around her! Grandma is definitely one of a kind and we are so blessed to be around her.
July 28th, 2011 at 10:17 am
She is the best! Love her truly, she is an awesome example of a Godly woman. I love her like a mother and she is very much a grandmother to my children as well! I have to agree with everything Kasi said as well. We are all Blessed to have her in our lives and in our church family!
July 28th, 2011 at 10:19 am
I call her Mama. I truly love her. She is the epitome of a classy Southern Belle. Her only draw back is she doesn’t like sausage gravy. How can you be a southerner and not like sausage gravy?????
July 28th, 2011 at 10:54 am
Oh sweet Grandma — I simply love her. She is filled with gentleness and wisdom… what a combination — and seasoned with God’s grace she seems to encourage and exhort with even a simple “mornin” and her sweet smile. I love watching her love on everyone she passes! I am blessed in so many ways by this woman of faith!!!
July 28th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Oh boy! Where to begin…I was married into this grandma but you wouldn’t know it. The first time I met Grandma Joann was when Christopher and I were dating and we went to Tallahassee to visit her after her husband passed away. It didn’t take me long to figure out her awesomeness! She of course made me her famous fried chicken and introduced me to fried chicken and honey. It’s the only way to eat it! Her relationship with Asher makes me love her more. She always makes time for him and “going to Gigi’s” is a treasured time for Asher. (not just because she gives him jello) She is full of wisdom and she and Gina have taught me many things about being a wife. One in particular about putting newly purchased clothing in the closet and when he asks about it, you respond,”this old thing?” I love her spitfire personality and warm caring heart. I wouldn’t trade my grandma for anything!
July 28th, 2011 at 11:09 am
That’s my momma :>)
July 28th, 2011 at 11:25 am
I love Grandma for all of the reasons that everyone else shared. Something that is very special about Grandma is her fried chicken. She gives anyone a run for their money with her fried chicken. Fried Chicken.
July 28th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
I love Grandma. My favorite memories of Grandma are the silly ones, like when she gave my boys a shower and dressed them in pink nightgowns and convinced them they were “Snuggies”. Or when she’d had enough of Sashka’s long hair and cut some ridiculous-looking bangs for him. When she squeezed my elbow and said she was late cause she couldn’t find any pants to fit her butt (her words not mine!!) into. I love that she’s part sweetness and part fire. I love how her clothes always match perfectly cause “that’s just how I was raised, sugar.”
I love being called sugar in a southern accent. And I love that fried chicken!!!
July 28th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
The best gift JoAnn has given me is showing me that a mother in law can love you like you own mother. She took me in the day we met and has shown me nothing but unconditional love. She has encouraged me through the years and has been a shoulder to cry on when I have needed that. She has been a wonderful example of hospitality and love and has shown me what it means to make a total stranger a friend. My life would not be the same without her and of course the son she raised that I call, husband. God has been very good to me and I am very aware that good things can only come out of His Hands!
July 28th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
She sure knows how to make me laugh! <3
July 30th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
It seems to me that her children have risen up and called her blessed! And how much she deserves it. What a wonderful lady, and a dear friend! Teresa