Geneaive (Granny’s sister), Granny (Louzine), and Mary (Granny’s niece) -1940s
Granny (Louzine) and Mary – 2025
Granny’s niece Mary and her son and his lovely wife came down from Ohio to visit with us this week. We all had a great time catching up and fellowshipping one with another.
Mary and Granny are are about the same age, but Granny is Mary’s aunt. That closeness in age between generations often happens in very large families as the older siblings start having children while their parents are still having children.
Because of their age Mary and Granny were very close as children. Since Mary married and moved away they have stayed close by talking on the phone, but are always excited to get to visit with each other in person. Those visits have happened less often as they both have gotten older.
Watching Mary and Granny sit together holding hands and talking softly is a sight to behold. So much history. So much love between the two.
My heart has been heavy this week as I learn more of the tragedy in Texas. I know many of you feel the same and like us you are praying for all the folks suffering.
All loss of life is heart wrenching, but the little girls have been on my mind a lot.
I’ve thought about the little girls in my life, of my adorable great nieces—three of them. I’ve thought of the young girls at our church—there are many. I’ve thought about my own daughters when they were little. And I’ve even thought of Mary and Granny—the girls they used to be, the fun they had playing and growing up together.
I just can’t fathom the heartache of the people in Texas. I’m praying for God to comfort and help all those suffering.
Last night’s video: Am I Worth 25 Million?
Tipper
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So precious!!!
Louzine and Mary. PRECIOUS
I love this. Seeing Granny and her niece enjoying being together.
As I go through the day doing things with my little girls, 7 and 3, I’ve been thinking about those poor parents of those girls. It is so incredibly sad. Makes me cry just thinking of what they must be going through. We are praying for them all.
I love that Granny and Mary got together. That’s so sweet. Isn’t life just like that? Crying sad one minute and tearing up over something sweet the next.
The picture of granny and her sister & niece is precious. I am sure granny is glad to have that picture.
My question today is off topic but something that came up here at work & I couldn’t think of anyone to ask but you. Here is the context: here in our part of Appalachia people often describe someone who is very poor as “poor as Job’s turkey”. Is there a similar saying for someone who is rich? Here’s the example: Now that she’s got that big job at XYZ Company, she’s richer than ___________. In my family they would say “richer than Cooty Brown”. I have no idea where that saying comes from or what it means. But when I looked it up on Google. It referred to a “Cooter Brown” saying related to someone being intoxicated & had no reference to wealth or riches.
Donna, I’ve heard the one about Job’s turkey 🙂 and I’ve heard richer than Cooter Brown too. I can’t think of any other rich sayings but hopefully some of the other readers will. I have also heard drunker than Cooter Brown 🙂
What sweet pictures of Granny and Mary! I love photographs and am glad that you captured that moment of them together.
As close in age and in friendship as they are, I doubt (and wonder) if Mary ever teased Granny, by calling her “Aunt Louzine”. 🙂
Thank you for praying for my fellow Texans. It so devastating seeing videos and reading accounts of families still waiting for news of their loved ones and also knowing how many funerals are taking place. And I’m sad to see pictures of my home state with such debris and washed up homes and vehicles.
May God comfort those in need, as well as New Mexico and North Carolina.
I recognized Granny’s sweet smile in the picture of the three girls even before I read their names. So glad Mary and her family were able to visit with Granny and all of you. The older we get the more priceless those kinds of visits become.
I didn’t mentioned children in my first comment. Anytime I hear of a child dying, either by natural death or accident, I get upset, it bothers me. One of my best friends had his 12 year old son killed by being burned to death on July 5th, 1991 while on a youth church trip. The cabin they were staying in at a state park was struck by lightning and burned. There is more to this story that I won’t try to tell. As bad as it is for me after my adult daughter and wife’s death, I can not comprehend how I could go on living after the death of a young son or daughter. I have said this many times and mean it, I wouldn’t last long as a law enforcement officer, I would be done for after going to the death of a child especially if was because of abuse. Either the one that did the abuse or me, one of us wouldn’t walk out of the room. My Daddy died on Jan. 20, 1991, his birthday was on July 5th, so it is easy to remember the death of Chip’s son.
I love all three of my siblings dearly, but one of my sisters is only one year younger than I am. We were best friends and still are. We grew up with mom dressing us like we were twins. I see this from our many Olan Mills photos she had taken when we were little. We both loved to play baseball and basketball. Most girls just wouldn’t play, so we were lucky to be good at sports and the guys didn’t mind letting us join their games. We also did girlie things like collect clay from the riverbank and make ‘pottery’, and use milkweed for fish when we were playing house, and play with our Barbie dolls. Every single time it rained in the summer, with no lightning of course, we would run and play in it—and after, we would jump in the mud puddles left in the dirt road beside our house. I had so much fun growing up that when we get together—it’s always a giggle fest. We laugh like we were still little girls in our 60’s. I pray for everyone affected by the Texas floods and hold a special place in my heart for all those little girls who are in the arms of Jesus.
Brenda, did your toes spread out from playing in the mud holes or puddles? Daddy was raised on a sharecropper farm and said one of the other sharecropper ladies told him when he was a child if he kept getting that mud between his toes it would make his toes spread out. He asked her if she had sit down in a mud hole. Many years later in life the two “ran into” to each other. I have never seen two people hugging and laughing with one another like they were doing. Daddy apologized to her and she told him she had thought it was funny too.
Randy,
Well I do have wide feet…so maybe. LOL
I really enjoyed hearing about granny and Mary’s visit together! Tipper, you live many of our dreams of the way things ORT TO BE… I’d say that photograph of granny and those baby girls was very sweet indeed. And am I the only who notices children don’t smile (for the most part) nor are happy like they once were? They just seem forlorn to me. I have to watch myself with the news and so I have not heard about Texas floods… Dear Lord, my heart and prayers for comfort and making it day by day certainly go out to all families impacted by this terrible tragedy. I suppose there are many things we just can’t understand that happen and are worse than terrible. Maybe we never will. My heart goes out in peace and good wishes for all good things to you all. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.
It made my heart smile to hear that Granny had a sweet visit with Mary. The picture says it all as to the joy it brought them both.
There is a KJV scripture phrase “good old age” that most all of us would hope to reach. Plainly Granny and Mary have. And from all we know of you, Tipper, you are clearly on track. I just read the obituary of a co-worker, a much loved and respected Mann (his name also). Another who lived well. (His wife’s maiden name is Pressley.) Each such person helps to make, and to keep, the world a better place. Of course we feel our individual part is so small it won’t really make a difference. Reminds me of the story of the fella throwing beached starfish back into the sea. A nay-sayer passing by scoffed, “You can’t possibly make a difference. There are too many of them.” As he tossed another one back, he said, “Made a difference to that one.” And yes, the searchers and rescuers are making a difference but need our prayers. Some of them have been, and will be, finding what they dreaded to.
They are just precious, what a wonderful memories they have created for not just them but your entire family. This photo will now be passed down for generations to come along with those memories.
Absolutely true. I have thought about and prayed for the little campers so much. I’m still praying that God will allow some more people to be found alive. I also pray they can recover the bodies of the missing for the peace of their families. I know the path these folks still have ahead of of them as we are watching our own dear mountains communities still continuing to rebuild a year after Helene. It’s so difficult. It makes me wonder about huge flooding events in times past and how they dealt with it, not having the technology and equipment we have today. Those were strong folks that paved the way for us. I’m grateful they were. If you haven’t heard the song, “May all who come behind us find us faithful.”, you should Google or YouTube it and listen to it. I love it. Be blessed! ♥️Jane in SC
Tipper,
The wonderful photos you shared along with the words from your heart express so much of the way I’m feeling.
I was able to be with my older sisters recently and I realize that the three of us share memories that no one else has or shares with us.
Wait, that’s not entirely true. If they pass before I do, I still have Jesus. He remembers everything too, and I can trust His broad shoulders to lean on and to laugh and reminisce with Him until such a time that we are all reunited. Only He can give us the grace to get through times like this.
My heart goes out to all who have been torn apart from loved ones in these horrible weather tragedies.
My Mom was only 18 when I was born. Her youngest sister was 6. I grew up very close to Joyce and felt like she was a sister to me. I lost Joyce in 2023 and my Mom in 2020, and still miss them everyday.
There are no words for the Texas tragedy. Prayers for all who lost loved ones. May God grant them the peace that passeth understanding.
My mother had a niece who was older than her from August 9 to December 1. Her niece was the daughter of an older brother at least 21 years older than Mama.
So glad Granny and Mary were able to visit. Good for their health and their souls.
That is a truly sweet photo of the little girls. I was thinking about all the Guardian Angels carrying those dear little girls up to Jesus. Their souls are with the Lord now. I pray the grieving families are wrapped up in the Lord’s love and comfort. May their Memories be Eternal.
I’ve cried hearing about the little girls lost in the Texas flood. It hits too close to home when you have children or grandchildren close to that same age. I have comfort knowing that God has a plan and that I can trust that His ways are better than mine. Lord, please bring comfort to those families dealing with this terrible event.
I have an uncle who is only 3.5 years older than me. He would go on vacations with us and spent a lot of time at our house when he and I were kids. He’s more like a brother than an uncle so I understand the closeness that Granny and her niece feel. He lives in Texas now, so I also understand how difficult it is to not get to see one another as often as you would like to. So glad that Mary and Granny were able to have some quality time together!
What a blessing that Granny’s niece, who is also her life long friend has come to visit her. I enjoy seeing the before and after pictures but also saddened that Geneaive is no longer with them to enjoy their visit. I have no doubt if she knew Jesus she is watching from above.
Praying for all who have suffered loss in TX during their recent flood. Asking for God to comfort them during this time of great loss. Only God can give them true comfort and peace while they grieve. My heart grieves with them with each new loss of life number posted on the news. Sad beyond words.
I was seventeen when my youngest brother was born in 1966, he just turned fifty-nine. My first child was born three years later, another son three years after that and my daughter was born three years later. My brother, their uncle, has always considered them to be like his brothers and sister. They are very close. I was thrilled when he was born. I helped my mother take care of him until I married two years later. I have always considered him as one of my children. He has grown up to be a good Christian man with two children of his own. I am so proud of him. It’s good to see Granny and Mary visiting with each other. They have a special relationship and I’m sure they treasure their time spent together. There is nothing better for a person than spending time with their loved ones. It’s a wonderful panacea. I continue to pray for Granny and I know the Lord has her in his care.
That sure is a sweet picture of Granny and her niece. I think of my sisters and brothers, one of them has passed. I love them so much.
I cannot fathom the grief the parents are suffering in Texas. I cannot watch the news. It is heartbreaking.
That photo from the 1940s is absolutely heartwarming. Granny’s grin is priceless! Thank you for sharing with us, Tipper. I am so happy for Granny that Mary could visit. Sounds like it was a wonderful time.
Good morning, Tipper! Like Randy, I am in my 70’s…76 in August. My oldest sister is older by 6 months than our uncle. We always laugh about that. There are six sisters, all immensely close. We FaceTime every single night from 2 to 3 1/2 hours. People can’t believe we talk that much and whatever do we talk about. Memories growing up is almost a nightly thing. My oldest sister is 80, then comes 79, 78, 76, 73, and baby sister at 64. We all know our time in this world is not that far away so we appreciate being able to FaceTime and spend time together since we are scattered across the country from SC to Washington state. We all have health issues but still we chug merrily on. I also ache for the families who have lost their family members. A tragedy if ever there was one. I read where George Strait donated 3.5 million to help these people out, and paying for funerals for families who can’t afford to bury their loved ones. There are good people still around. I pray for Granny every night, and hope everyone has a great day!
I’ve been thinking of the girls, too. It hit close to home as our 10 year old just went to her first church camp last month. I just cannot imagine if she had not come home. My heart aches for all the mamas whose hearts were ripped out. Lord, come soon.
So happy Granny got to spend time with her niece/ friend.
Yes, praying for all the folks in Texas. Especially those who have lost loved ones such as those precious young children. Can’t imagine the sorrow they must be experiencing.
That had to have been a beautiful visit from Mary. She and Granny have cherished their love & friendship all these years. I bet there was nonstop talking the whole time they were together.
Thank you so much for prayers for those affected by the devastating flooding in my state of Texas. They are still looking for over 150 lost souls after a week since the tragedy.
Prayers for you also as North Carolina is going through a tremendous amout of rain also.
I am happy Granny was able to enjoy Mary visiting. Like I have said many times nothing better outside of my faith than spending time with family. Yesterday, I spent several hours visiting my sister in law and her husband, one thing we talked about was the 50 years we had enjoyed with one another. My wife’s oldest sister is very close in age to one of her aunts, I know of another family where a nephew is actually older than one of his uncles. For many years I thought the two of them were cousins. Concerning the title of today’s post, I am 71 years old, I guess some would consider that elderly, but it just seems like yesterday I was a teenager just starting out my adult life. Where did the time go? I sometimes compared life to be given a $100 dollar bill when you are born, now at my age I realize more and more each day how close I am to having spent that $100. It seems like everyday someone I have known from somewhere in my life has died, many of them in the 70 year old range. I like to joke and tell people I am not old, just high mileage. I also say my hair is not gray, it is mature blond. If I was compared to a high mileage car, I would be ready for the junk yard!
Yesterday I finally got a little bit of rain, it was only about a quarter of an inch, but I was glad to get every drop, maybe this broke the pattern and I can get some more rain from the predicted thunderstorms.