We call her Nana

I think I've always known that when the time comes to start our family, I do not want to work. I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. The thought of being in an office all day while someone spends that time with my baby did not sit well with me. 

In my marriage, I would be what most people consider a Sugar Mama. I've always held a well paying job which allows Eloy to not work and concentrate on his studies. That was until I had Jeremiah. I went on Maternity leave never to return. The summer after Jeremiah was born Eloy found a summer job. That saved us for awhile but we knew we couldn't make it just on his temp-job and we definitely didn't want to pull out tons of loans. So, I started to look for a job where I could take J with me... like a nanny job. I had no luck whatsoever. Whenever we discussed the issue of me going back to work my eyes would get watery and there would be a lump in my throat.

After searching high and low, our Branch President called me and asked if he could relay my number to a woman that is looking for someone to help with her elderly mother for a weekend. I gave to ok and thought "why not? We could always use the extra cash."

The number was relayed and Eloy and I met up with the woman on the phone, Jeannette, and her mother Shirley during that week.

Shirley has Dementia and Parkinson's disease. She tends to forget things very quickly and trembles. I was needed to give her meals and meds and pretty much keep her company. It didn't seem like too much of a hassle so I agreed to help out the weekend that was needed.

That weekend has turned into 14 months and a new family.

Shirley, a.k.a. Nana, is a sweet, sweet woman. She loves adores Jeremiah. And he adores her right back.

J was 4 months old when we first went to Nana's. You see, Nana used to be a Pediatric Nurse so she loves babies. When I first spoke with Jeannette she thought the idea of having a baby around Nana may work as some sort of therapy for her. And it has. These 2 have the cutest relationship. He calls her Nana and says her name over and over and over on the drive to her house. He shares his cookies with her (or caca, the way he says it). And he gives her lots of hugs and kisses. His kisses are open mouth kisses so sometimes she gets scared when he charges at her.

J around the time we first starting going to Nana's

Nana has 2 bedrooms. This was in "Jeremiah's room".

J and Nana last year, on a hot summer day.

Walking buddies

Nana totally opens up when Jeremiah is around. She watches him play, laughs when he dances, and plays catch with him. He's just like a grandmother to him. It's so sweet.

Getting her to open up is very difficult. She wont talk to you unless you spark the conversation. But once you get her going on certain topics that bring back memories, she smiles so brightly. Last week she shared with me bits of her childhood. She's from Kansas and back home they had a farm full of a variety of animals. Cows, pigs, chickens, Horses, etc... I asked her if she ever rode horses and she said she had the most gentle horse ever. Her name was Betty and she was her favorite. She also shared a story about the mean geese on her farm. that would chase her as a kid. I couldn't help but chuckle as I pictured a young girl on a farm (I pictured the farm from Charlotte's Web... hahaha, I don't know why) running away from squawking geese. Her stories are so genuine and fun to listen to.

What a blessing it has been to "work" with Nana. I say "work" because it doesn't feel like your average job. I get to hang out with a sweet lady all day, play dominoes, watch I Dream of Jeannie, and take walks on this beautiful country side property.

 I often tell Jeannette how grateful I am that we found each other. 

Heavenly Father definitely heard our prayers.