Great Great Great Great Grandmother Jane left family behind in Tennessee, so I don’t know how long she had the benefit of her mother and grandmother.
Her daughter Lucy was 32 when she left her mother (Jane) behind in Indiana to pioneer in Iowa. They probably wrote letters to one another, but Lucy never saw her mother again.
Lucy’s daughter Emilia was just 8 years old when she came to Iowa, so she only knew her grandmother (Jane) that long. Emilia was 36 when her mother (Lucy) died.
Emilia’s oldest daughter Laura was 14 when she lost her grandmother (Lucy), and 46 when her mother (Emilia) died.
Laura’s oldest daughter Leora was 24 when she lost her grandmother (Emilia), and nearly 72 when her mother (Laura) died. She spent time with her grandmother, sometimes living with her after she was widowed. Leora’s mother was such a blessing to her while she raised her family. They lived together a dozen years after both were widowed. Leora spent time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Leora’s oldest daughter Doris was 44 when she lost her grandmother (Laura), and 69 when her mother (Leora) died.
Doris’s oldest daughter Joy was 18 when my great grandmother (Laura) died, 43 when I lost my grandmother (Leora), and 71 when my mother died. What a blessing!
When four generations were together at Grandma’s in Guthrie Center, I didn’t think it was unusual. I wish I hadn’t taken those grandmothers for granted. To share so many of those years, I was being mentored in so many ways without realizing it.
While wondering whether my grandmothers also enjoyed this incredible gift, I noticed that the longest-lived women, overlapping with an extra generation, were especially beneficial to Leora. What a gift to a woman who endured so many losses and hardships during her ninety-seven years.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. – Psalm 100:5
These pictures are priceless!
Thanks, GP! Those color photos have lost their zip, but I still get a kick out of them.
The older color photos I have have faded too. With today’s technology, there should be a way to repair that, especially the matte finish ones.
Oh, how wonderful! I am a first-generation Canadian. My parents came to Canada (separately), as young adults, from Eastern Europe. They met and married here. I never knew any of my grandparents, much less great grandparents. I get my understanding of the importance and love of those earlier generations from stories such as yours. Thank you for sharing them. A blessing indeed!❤️🙏✝️
Bless you, Gail. Your story is so poignant. I took my grandparents for granted, but I certainly don’t anymore!
I love your thoughts about the blessings of “overlapping generations” Joy. Xo! ❤️
Thank you, Vicki. I certainly took them for granted long enough.
But look how you’re keeping them close now. 🥰❤️🥰
It’s easy to not realize the significance of something when we’re younger. I have one of those times too. After my mom raised her four boys, she went back to college to get a degree in social work. I didn’t appreciate how brave she was to do this then. When I was graduating from high school, she graduated from college. She wanted some pictures of the two of us. I was in the moody teenager phase and ruined those few precious photos with my dour expression. I wish I could go back and remedy that.
You are so right, Pete, but those photos also tell a poignant story. Hurrah for your mother! Mom always wanted to go to college but was a farm wife and lived miles from anywhere.
What a lovely post, Joy. We all can beat ourselves up for not taking advantage of our grandparents while they were here but the beauty of grandparents is they loved us no matter.
You are so right, John!
😊
I only got to meet my maternal grandparents, and only remember my grandfather.
Remember as much as you can, Annette!
So beautiful! The photograph of the four generations is simply awesome. Family is a blessing…I am glad your grandmother had so many wonderful people in her life. She endured great loss, but she also had this incredible network of support with the whole extended family.
Linda, yes! Since I’m the “keeper” of her diaries, I’m exploring some of that now.
That is a special generational photo. You really were blessed to know all these women so well, so long.
I certainly was, Eilene!
It’s wonderful that you know so much about your fantastic family’s history, Joy. It makes me want to do some research.
Would you believe I’m still learning, Tim? I have Grandma’s diaries (1950s to 1987) as well as my mother’s, which I can compare to my own on the same day!
[…] Blessed by a Long-Lived Motherline by Joy on Joy Neal Kidney […]
Lovely post, Joy. I never knew my grandparents, but fortunately, our children were able to know theirs for which we are thankful. xo
Thank you, Lauren. Grandparents can be such blessings!
That four-generation photo is such a precious keepsake! All four of you were blessed to have each other.
We certainly were!
I’ll bet you remember posing for that wonderful four-generational picture like it was yesterday! 🙂
No, Nancy, I was just a bratty preteen in those days.
Ha ha! Weren’t we all?
I love the four generation photo. Until Mom passed away three years ago, we had five generations in our family. It is such a blessing.
Oh, how wonderful! I haven’t seen a photo of five generations in a long time.