Lessons from the davenport

One on my very favorite childhood memories is sleeping over at my grandma's house. I always had fun playing outside making mud pies with eggs from the chicken house (but grandma didn't like me using the good chicken eggs for mud pies.) the days would fly by so quickly, I loved playing in the small playhouse my grandpa had built for me, and inside were tons of small tin pots and pans and tea pots. I guess that is where my love for cooking started. My grandpa would always lay out on his patio chair, the kind you can rest your feet up on and lay back on, like a small bed. It would always make me giggle to see him sleep outside. I tried falling asleep outside myself a few times but just never could, maybe life was too exciting too sleep. Well, after a long day of fun and play I would get ready for bed and brush my teeth as my grandma would clear off the davenport and lay blankets down. First a sheet, second the pillow, third and fourth were usually two thinner blankets folded once the long way. They would usually fall off by morning but decided not to say anything about it, it was nice to have a bed made for you, even if it did fall apart by morning. :)

As I would get all snuggled into my bed on the davenport grandma would always read to me a story, maybe two if it wasn't too late. She always had the most wonderful books, with pictures that still make me smile. She would tell be of Moses, and how his mother put him into a basket and sent him down a river, the book showed pictures of crocodiles chasing after him, but just in time a small wave would lift his basket higher, just out of danger's reach. She told me about Sarah, Abraham, and Issac. About Joseph and Mary and what Christmas is really about. She read me stories of how God wants us to share, and love one another. She read so many stories, I just can't name them all. Then, when she was done she would pray with me, this was my favorite lesson from the davenport, you see, she taught me how to pray. With her sweet peaceful voice, her voice I don't think that I could ever forget, she would pray over me, my mom, my dad, and my sister and brother. She would say the Lord's prayer straight from her heart, and she would always take time to thank Him for all he had done that day.

She may not have known what she was doing then, but those lessons from the davenport showed me how to become God's friend. If it weren't for her, I truly believe I would not be the same person that I am today. Because when even I'm sad and a little short on my words, when I try to talk to God and nothing seems to come out, I just think of my grandma and how she would pray, the sound of her voice and the words she would say. I hope that my children have a grandmother like that. I love you with all my Heart Grandma!

To my wonderful Grandma, Bonnie Claire Guza, you have always been there for me, I thank you so so much for all your prayers! You are the sweetest lady I know! I love you!