Lindsay Turner is a graduate of Logan County High School and Western Kentucky University. The influence of her grandmothers helped her decide to
take two lengthy mission trips to Brazil during her college years. She was present as one grandmother died and was the first to discover the death
of the other.
When I think of Mother’s Day there are many things that go through my mind. The first thought is my mom. I couldn’t ask for a better mom who is always
there for me no matter what the situation is. Then I think of my two grandmothers who are not with us anymore. My mom’s mom, Virginia Hooper, who my
brothers and I called Gin-Gin, died almost seven years ago in September and my dad’s mom, Marie Turner, who my brothers and I called Nana who died
almost five years ago in October. My two grandmothers were the best grandmothers in the world. As Mother’s Day approaches, I want to tell why when I
think of Mother’s Day, I think of my grandmothers who I wish were still here
First I want to tell you about Gin-Gin. She lived in Nashville, and the house where she and my grandfather lived was like another home to us. My
grandmother taught me so much and always believed in me no matter what I was doing. I remember the last Mother’s Day she was alive. That year was 2003
and not only was it Mother’s Day but this was the year I graduated from high school. and my parents decided for Mother’s Day and for graduation that
Gin-Gin, my mom, and I would go to watch Skaters on Ice in Nashville. But my parents kept it a secret from my grandmother, who was looking very forward
to what we were going to do on that Sunday, as was I. My parents, brothers, and I were heading to Nashville that day to meet my grandparents at church
that day. When we got there my we found out that Gin-Gin was really sick, but she stayed home to try to get well so she could go with us that
afternoon.
So after church we went straight to my grandparents' house. Gin-Gin tried so hard but she couldn’t ever get to feel better, so my dad went with my mom
and me. This is just one memory Gin-Gin taught me many things during her life. She had three things that if you knew her you knew this about her. Her
three loves were God, family, and Lipscomb University. One of her favorite verses was Psalms 23. A couple of months before she died in September 2003,
she were diagnosed with a blood disorder and the doctors told her that it could develop into Leukemia. When I was told this I said it won't ever turn
into into Leukemia, but it did. When the doctors told Gin-Gin this, she said, "I can’t be sick I’ve got grandkids to raise."
After I graduated from high school I started Lipscomb University that fall and I lived with my grandparents. Gin-Gin went to the doctor the first week
of school and they told her she was doing well. Then on the Friday before Labor Day my grandparents and I decided to come to Russellville and visit my
family. On that day Gin-Gin's foot began to hurt and was swollen. But we decided to come to Russellville and then on that Monday Gin-Gin decided to go
to the hospital. The hospital admitted her that day just to make sure that everything was okay. Gin-Gin's foot got better and we all thought she was
coming home on that Wednesday. But that wasn’t meant to be. Instead the doctor told her that day that she had Leukemia. This was a very scary day for
my family and me.
This wasn’t the main battle that Gin-Gin had to fight during this time. She got a staph infection in her foot and she had to have her leg amputated
because the infection was spreading. Before she when back to surgery, she kept quoting Psalms 23. I can remember her now sitting in her bed with all of
us around her bed. We all thought she was asleep and then all of the sudden she would start saying Psalms 23 with us. Three days after Gin-Gin had
surgery she died. My grandmother went into the hospital with her foot hurting and never came out.
She was so strong through this; she never gave up and neither did I. On the Friday before she died she told me she had seen heaven's gates that night.
I told her, "You can’t give up I need you and we all need you." She told me, "I’ll try but I’m just so tired. But this is all of our goals to get to
heaven and see heaven's gates." Gin-Gin taught me so much during my life. She taught me how to love God and how to always trust Him not matter what.
Gin-Gin is in a better place now but, oh, how I still miss her!
My other grandmother Nana was just as much an important part of my life. My dad’s parents lived just down the sidewalk from us. Nana was a woman that
many people knew in this area because of her teaching school and her articles in the paper. She taught me a lot about science and about God. When I was
in 4-H in middle school she helped me with a bug collection for the state fair. This was a fun thing that we did together because I learned more about
science, and we could spend a lot of time together. Living right beside your grandmother can make you appreciate your grandmother more than you can
ever know. I always knew that my grandmother would be there whenever I needed her. I miss that so much. If your grandparents are still alive, please
don’t forget them because when they’re gone you will miss them more than you ever realize.
Another thing I will never forget is going to church with my grandparents on most Sundays. When my grandparents couldn’t see anymore, either my
brothers or I would sit with them to make sure they were all right. But when Nana and Pa had to stop going to church because of their sickness it was
one of the hardest things they had to do because God meant so much in their lives. After my grandfather died and Gin-Gin died, I came back home after
one semester and sat with Nana during the spring semester to save her money. This is where I learned more about Nana than ever before. I never
understood why she would just sit there at the table and just look out so I got her to watch TV with me. She really enjoyed TV.
When it became closer to summer, Nana said, "You have to go back to school. You can’t stay here and take care of me forever." So Nana is the one of the
main reasons why I went back to college and got my degree. I thank Nana for helping me get back to school.
Nana taught me a lot about life, too. She lived until she was 93 years old and the last six years of her life, she was confined to a wheelchair because
she had broken her hip. Through all of this her memory kept in contact until right before she died. Nana always encouraged us in everything we did, and
she always made sure we were in church, just like my parents did. I know that Nana is better off, but I still miss her. Like I said before if your
grandmother or grandmothers are still alive, go visit them because until they are gone you will never realize how much they mean to you.
Even though both of my grandmothers have been gone for a while, I still miss them a lot. They both taught me so much. One of the most important things
they both taught me is never lose sight of God. He will always be there. I always will remember Gin-Gin and Nana, but I know that they are both in a
better place.
I hope that all the mothers and grandmothers have a special Mother’s Day. Especially a happy Mother’s Day to my mom.