The McPherson Life: Grandma Gardner in the garden

I am pretty sure I have the coolest Grandma in the whole world. I know she is one in a million. I am so glad she let me take a few pictures of her the other day as I was up planting with her. I don't know if she realizes how much we as a family love and admire her so much. I want to be like her in so many ways and am constantly amazed at all the energy she has and how she freely gives of her time and herself to others. I hope to get more opportunities for photos as the garden grows throughout the summer. Growing up my grandma had the most beautiful yard ever, she had flowers everywhere and there was never a weed to be seen in her garden. She still loves having things tidy and neat and isn't afraid to give her opinion on what others should be doing in their yard or home and she's usually right!

Lately she has been telling me some stories from her life. She recently went to the Manti temple, and totally loved being able to go back. She recalled first attending when she was ten years old. Their ward in Neola loaded up in a bus and headed down to camp there and do baptisms for the weekend. How many of us would willingly jump at the chance to go camp outside the temple and do the same today? She also talked about some family vacations she can remember. She said she remembered going to Yellowstone and Disney Land. She and my grandpa also took Darren and Jason to see Mesa Verde. They rode in the truck camper on the way down, and taught them how to blow bubble gum bubbles on the way.
I forgot to mention she is turning 90 this fall!

Out of all of these the top picture is my favorite! Grandma is always giving everyone the thumbs up sign meaning that she approves of whatever at the time. I love going to her house and seeing her hold up her thumb, saying "Come again!" She loves to have visitors and still babysits quite often her great grandchildren. I always try to take up my nieces and nephew when I have them because she loves kids. She was telling me the other day of all the babysitting she has done throughout her life including taking her sisters little boy in her home for a month at one time along with her own kids. My grandma is such an awesome example of service without expecting anything in return.