This past Saturday was my mother's birthday. She was born Dolores Peggy Jane Granath on November 12, 1930 in Dolores, Colorado. Yes, named after the small Colorado mining town that was the birthplace of both her mother, Blanche Ella Goodwin and her father, Walter Edward Granath, where they had married in 1916. They moved around the mountains a bit, having children almost every two years like clockwork. Walter worked at whatever jobs he could find, and they lived off of much of what they could grow or raise. In spring of 1930, times were very tough. Blanche's half-sister, Leda Crabill and her husband Bob White, had a 'successful' trucking business in the oil boomtown of Hobbs, New Mexico, and told them the oil patch was hiring. That summer, Walter and Blanche made the difficult decision to move their family to Hobbs before school started in the fall, and when the time came, Bob drove up with one of his trucks to bring the entire brood down south. Their first 8 children ranged in age from 12 to 18 months old. However, Blanche was pregnant with baby #9. So, she stayed in Dolores with BOTH her parents and in-laws keeping watchful eye, and a few months later, Peggy entered the world. When this little joy was only 2 weeks old, she and her Momma traveled on the train to finally join the rest in Hobbs.
My mom, Peggy has been gone from this earth 16 years. I feel like it was a lifetime ago, and yet, only yesterday. I still miss her every day, still talk to her every day in my head and prayers, and many of her traits I see in both of my children. They have her kind spirit, her tough stamina. Might we say stubbornness? Yes, I have that trait, too. And both were also gifted with her beautiful, quick laughter and her absolutely unbelievable musical talent. She would break out in a song at the drop of a hat, constantly all day long, and she knew all the words to thousands of songs. Life had a soundtrack and my mom hummed along. Yes, both of my children are thus gifted AND unable to live without music playing.
I wanted to write this post to celebrate my favorite memories of her, but there are just too many to process, even now. So, I'm going to add a favorite photo and close. This one is so classic, because she LOVED Christmas and the holidays. I'm going to celebrate extra this year, just for her. I am so thankful that she was my mother and that we will be together again someday in His glory. I love her so much.
 |
| Mom loves the holidays! |
