Margaret Mae Johnson

Two weeks ago today, my sweet grandmother passed away and earned her wings in heaven (as my cousin Danah put it :)).

I just want to use a this post on the blog to remember her...I want Gavin to know everything about her, but I know there's no way he could ever understand what an amazing woman she was. I'll just do my best to explain it! :)

Grandma was the kindest, most gentle and giving person...yet she was stronger than anyone I know. She was always happy and cheerful, but when she was serious, you knew she meant business. She met and married the love of her life, William, my Pa, when she was a teenager. Together, they had four kids...2 girls and 2 boys. Above all, Pa and her family were the most important thing to her. She LOVED golfing, fishing, playing cards, and Law & Order. My grandma was a pancreatic cancer survior for several years...something that's very rare, but that's so fitting for her. She was a rarity. :)

From the time I was born until a couple of years ago, Grandma and Pa lived in Hideaway Lake, a community in Lindale, TX. Growing up, we had family Christmases there and I was fortunate enough to spend parts of summers there growing up. Here are just some of the things I remember growing up...

• Fishing off the dock with hot dogs and cheese


• Swinging on the porch swing that would hit the wall if you swung too high :)


• Jumping on the neighbors trampoline


• Playing the penny/quarter game on the stairs


• Decorating Christmas cookies..it was a tradition! :)


• Playing pool...but only with your hands until you were old enough to use a cue


• Don't Spill the Beans (with REAL beans people)


• Watching Wheel of Fortune with Grandma on her little TV while Pa watched something in the living room 10 feet away on the big TV


• Eating frozen chocolate milk


• Playing spades


• Going to church and AWANAs...especially church on Christmas Eve


• Watching some good rounds of golf


• Swimming at the pool and walking downstairs from the pool to the beach on Hideaway Lake...this was the coolest thing to a little girl.


• Paddle Boat rides


• Grandma's Boneless Birds


• Sneaking Orange Slices or whatever other candy was on the bottom shelf of the pantry. :)


• The grandfather and cuckoo clocks


• "Rudolph" at Christmas hanging over the fire place (he was really an elk my Pa put a red ball on)


• Grandma's "God Don't Make No Junk" poster hanging by the sink


• Sitting in the windowsill playing with all of the toys she kept there for her grandkids


• Playing in the spillway


• Going for walks around the neighborhood


• Timberline


• Taking your shoes off before you walked on the carpet


• Grandma drinking her Swiss Mocha

She lived a full and wonderful life. I learned so much from her that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am blessed to have called her my grandma.

Love yall,

B