I’ve not yet dedicated a post to this very special person in my life. But tonight I feel that I must.
I want to introduce to you my Yaya. She is my paternal grandmother and the matriarch of my big fat Greek family.
This past October she celebrated her 93rd birthday. That’s right NINETY-THREE!
She was born in 1915 in New Jersey to Greek immigrants who were in the chocolate manufacturing business. (Oh how I wish that was still the family business!)
She married Papou (my grandfather) in 1938.
She’s the mother of three, the Yaya to 8, and the Great-Yaya to 10.
There is so much more I could tell you about her, but I am choosing to share her in photos:
Summer 2008
The Princess and her name sake
Her kids: Nick (my father), Yaya, Maria, George
My brother’s graduation from the Naval Academy 2000
Yaya with almost all of her grandkids at her 90th birthday
Yaya with all the great-grand kids
Yaya and me on her 90th birthday
And the reason I want you to meet her?? Tomorrow at 7:30am this woman with a heart of gold will be undergoing open heart surgery to replace a bad valve in her heart.
Believe me, I KNOW how crazy it sounds to operate on the heart of a 93 year old woman. I do!
However, surgery is not an option. If the valve is not replaced she would spend the rest of her life in the hospital.
I am asking for everyone here to lift up Yaya in your prayers as she undergoes this surgery and as she recovers.
Please pray for the entire Greek family.
Pray for the doctors, nurses and everyone else who will be caring for her.
My heart is heavy tonight, and I think I can say the same for the rest of the family.
I know God is in control of this situation.
One Bible verse comes to my mind:
1 Peter 5:7,
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
The GRITS family will be leaving early Friday to spend the weekend with my family. Thank you for your prayers and I will keep you posted.
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19 comments:
Nice photos, great Grandmother lived be close to 100 she died in the late sixties.
We will pray for her. You have such a rich heritage and you are blessed to have her in your life. I pray you have many more years!
Your Yaya is beautiful! I will pray for y'all tomorrow.
Praying for your sweet, precious and beautiful Yaya.
Hang in there, friend.
(((Hugs)))
Your Yaya is beautiful and you are so very lucky to still have her around.
Of course she will be in my prayers first thing tomorrow morning, keep us posted!
Hugs Tammy, you hang in there girl!
There are some people whose beauty shines through, even in a picture. Your Yaya is obviously one of those people! I will definitely pray for her and your family. May God's hands be all in Yaya's business and the entire Greek family's business! I pray you will feel those hands wrapped around you starting right now!!!
Just now prayed for her Tammy. What a pretty and sweet smile she has. Her life looks like it's been filled with a great family. One of the Christmas gifts I gave my 89 yr old Grandma was a pen and a notebook and told her to write down some things about her younger days and to tell me more about her parents. Hey, You have inspired me to do a post on this!
Oh, please don't have a heavy heart. Send out love and blessings :) I will pray for her and your entire family. I loved the photos - thanks so much.
Kristin
You know I love me a GRITS...I should call myself "Desert GRITS."
Wanted you to know, your post is lovely...and I will be praying!! Thanks for stopping by--your family seems wonderful!
-Tabitha
Roots & Wings
Thank you! It's so nice to see these (though I'm not in a single one!)
I spoke with Yaya tonight and she's in good spirits and very positive about the surgery tomorrow. I'm still going to say my prayers.
What a precious lady! I will be praying for you all.
I'll be praying for her and thinking positive thoughts. I remember visiting her while we were in college. She was so sweet then and I'm sure nothing has changed!
I'm praying friend! Love you!!
In prayer.....
Godspeed.
Praying for YaYa!!!! She is a beautiful lady!
My best to your yiayia. It has been years since I lost both my yiayia's. I will say a prosefxei (prayer) to God to keep her strong.
Perastika
I am late reading your post. I pray she is in recovery and being surrounded by your family's love right now! What a beautiful lady!
What a wonderful Yaya. She looks so kind and so proud of her family! All of our prayers are with Yaya and her loved ones. Please let us know how she does.
Oh SHOOT. Is that why you were near by? I feel like a heel. I wish I had been up to date on my blog reading.
I will say a prayer for your Grandmother's recovery. I am scrolling up to read the next post (yes, always scroll down to read them in order).
Love ya Lady!
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