Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful that I come from a long line of hard working people who did what they had to in order to take care of themselves. Independent, spunky, people who didn't care what other people thought - just did their thing and lived their lives the way they wanted to.....on their own terms. They didn't cave to peer pressure or try to impress others with wealth, possessions or achievements, but rather a quiet, confident people.

I think of my Grandma Larsen (my Dad's Mom) a lot - she died at age 90 in her own home, living there by herself for the last 35 years of her life. She took care of herself, trimmed her own hedges, nurtured plants/flowers like the best of 'em, cooked, listened to Twins baseball games on the radio, did craft projects, went out with her friends, volunteered at her church, drove her car, went shopping, etc. She was eccentric and quirky, but that was kind of her charm.

She did exactly what she wanted and didn't let circumstances or external forces change that. She became a widow in 1959 at a relatively young age, with a 19-year-old and a 12-year-old still at home. After Grandpa died, she worked 2 jobs to make ends meet and provide for herself and her children. She did what she had to do in order to live the life she wanted to live. I LOVE THAT about her. I love that I'm RELATED to her, that I have that same strong, independent, persevering blood running through my veins to this day, to carry on her legacy. I know my Dad had it in his veins too, and so I feel like it's my duty to live up to the standards that they lived by.

It was inheritance from Grandma (that passed down to Kristi and I because my Dad was already gone) that allowed me to put a down payment on my house, so I feel that both she and my Dad are here with me, enjoying this house together. I hope she is proud of the person that I have become and continue to be.....and I hope that her and my Dad are looking down from Heaven and are happy with the way I am passing along their traits, genes, and way of life.