Blog Challenge #10: Photo Savenger Hunt - Reflection of You

As noted in the previous post this week's Blog challenge was issued by our famous Cowtown Stacy. Tonight I am posting about my version of a "reflection of you". This post is about my grandmother who we lost tonight. This woman was someone I would consider a reflection of what I want to be. She was smart, compassionate, hardworking and just a wonderful person. I am so privileged to have had her in my life for these 34 years that I have lived. I will forever miss her.

This photo is from July 2007. The family gathered to celebrate my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. The day after the big party we all gathered back at their house and had a little mini family reunion. The day was beautiful and it was so nice to sit and share memories with everyone. We laughed and talked and laughed some more. Grandma presided over this group of people knowing that they were all on this earth because of her.

This photo is from our first visit to Grandma's after our DS, now almost 4, was born. I was so proud to present her with another great-grandchild. She looks pretty happy to see him too, doesn't she?

Okay so how is this woman a reflection of me? She is what I want to be. She was the matriarch of this family. She was a sweet, gentle woman who would protect any of us with the might of an aircraft carrier if she thought one of us was threatened. She was the go to person in my life. I always knew that if I had a problem and went to her I would not get a lecture, just gentle guidance to a solution. I want to be that person for my kids and my eventual grandkids. She nearly made it to her 96th birthday and she did it with grace. She had many, many challenges throughout her life but she overcame them. She raised 3 self-reliant, hardworking children. She is my ideal. She is a reflection of what I want to become, grow to and emulate.

Grandma was a lover of children. She was a farm wife. She was self-reliant. She was instrumental in instilling a love of flowers and gardening in me. She, along with my mother, taught me to grow, can and freeze food we grew. She helped me learn to make jam and juice. She helped make many summer vacations fun by taking my brother and I to her house for several weeks. She would get down on the floor and play with any and all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved playing games, particularly cards.

She shared her birthday with the sailing of the Titanic. She got a real kick out of that. She loved to come and watch my cousins and my brother and I show our 4-H animals. She was fan of Oregon State University. She delighted in attending sporting events there, though she did not get to do that as much as she would have liked.

This is a reflection of what I want to be. Rest in peace Grandma Mary Sinko April 10, 1912 - March 26, 2008. I was so lucky to have you in my life.