Mamba Kate, husband Gary and grandchildren: Grady, Emeline, Jane and Kate

According to her daughter, Leah, “Mamba is one of those Nana’s that all my friends envy because she really wants to be a part of every facet of her grandchildren’s lives…

She wants to hear their stories, play their games, learn their school lessons, watch their movies, read their books, talk about their friends and help solve their problems.

Savoring the moment

Leah says, “I think Mamba’s grandchildren love her so much because while their parents may rush them, Mamba takes her time and lets each small thing take on a life of its own.  A short story book may take 30 minutes to read because it leads to multiple other stories and discussions.  Also there is nothing too silly for Mamba to do…she might amuse the kids by doing yoga in a parking lot during a stop on a road trip….or she might lead the kids on a walk around a small block that takes an hour because there are so many things to collect on the road.  Mamba lives in the moment just like her grandchildren do, and they love her for it.”

Mamba on slide at grandchild’s party-who said only the kids get to play!

Not only do her grandchildren love her, but her two daughters, Leah and Leslie, and their husband’s John and Robert want her to know how much they love and appreciate her too! Oh yes, and husband Gary thinks she’s pretty special as well!

Congratulations again to Mamba of the week, Kate Gerbitz.

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I was a lucky child for I always knew my mom loved me.  I guess it all began when my mom was expecting me.  She counted down the days until my arrival by knitting me a baby blanket.  And if you know me at all, you know that I still, at age 33, sleep with my “banky.”  It doesn’t look the same, but it sure does make me feel the same way I did when I was a child.

Growing up my mom was super mom.  She made countless sacrifices for me and both my brothers.  I remember every Christmas, each one better than the one before.  There is nothing like getting that new bike or Cabbage Patch Doll and lucky for us, “Santa” always came through,

I also remember trip after trip to Bowling Green for gymnastics.  She was at every ballgame when I cheered and at every competition that we entered.  When I arrived home from school or practice, she was always home.   Not only was she home but she had a hot meal on the stove and my cheerleading uniform ready for the next day.

I talk to my mom everyday.  And in fact, it’s more like three times a day.  We talk about everything and nothing all at once.  But the one phone call I will never forget is the phone call we made to tell mom we were expecting our first child.  She was screaming so loud that my brothers were convinced we won the lottery.

Unfortunately Ms. Amelia decided at 38 weeks to set up camp on my sciatic nerve.  Because of this, my labor was induced.  I told mom nothing would happen in the hospital for at least 24 hours but she refused to listen.  She was right there by my side, beaming, gifts in hand.  After 32 hours of labor, Amelia entered the world and nothing has been the same since.  See, there is something strange that happens to a mother when she becomes a grandmother or, in my mom’s case, a “Granzy” (My mom is just way too fancy to be a grandma).  They become what you always wanted your mom to be; your playmate with no rules and no restrictions.  When Amelia and my mom are together, I hear comments like,” Its okay, you can play with that” or “ one more cookie and then we will go eat wherever you want.”  I always laugh and think to myself “Did that just come out of her mouth?”  And when they are together, no one else exists.  Those two are in the floor playing games, outside on a walk, or in the kitchen baking goodies.  And I absolutely love to watch them play beauty shop.  First, let me say, Granzy wont go anywhere without makeup or the “ perfect hair” so it is amazing to me that Amelia is allowed to comb, tease, and spray  anything she wants on my mom’s head!

But of all the things Amelia likes to do at Granzy’s house, her very favorite is making a trip up the ladder to the magic attic.  You see, the magic attic has an endless supply of beanie baby stuffed animals and every time we go to Horse Cave, Amelia expects a trip up that ladder.  Granzy always goes upstairs and carefully picks out  2 or 3 that she thinks are perfect.  I am convinced this is why stuffed animals are taking over my house.

For me, it’s the small things my mom does for Amelia that are the most important.  She always has her favorite foods when we visit.  She sends care packages for every occasion and most importantly, the love she has for Amelia is so obvious it warms my heart.

Like I said before, I always knew my mom loved me.  But I just don’t think I knew how much until Sept 14, 2006.  That was the day Amelia was born and when I looked in her eyes for the first time, I got it.  I remember thinking, “Wow, my mom sure does love me.”  It all clicked.  I know everyone thinks they have the best mom in the whole world, but I really do.

Congratulations Sandy! And congratulations Stephanie, who is about to make Sandy a nana again! Isn’t the power of a mother and grandmother wonderful?

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At age 8, her father remarried and proceeded to father nine more children by his second wife, Mae (Turner) Martin…lovingly referred to as “Mammie”.  Mary Dee, as a young girl growing up, lived with other families in and around the Roseville community often helping take care of their children in exchange for a place to live and call home.  (it is with grateful acknowledgment to one of these families for the earliest picture of Mary Dee at age 8, which is the only known picture to exist of her as a child).

Around the age of 15, she went to a local baseball game where she would remark to her friend, “That man is going to be my husband” (pointing to the catcher on the baseball team, Bernice Witty).  At 19 (1938) she would indeed marry Bernice and move to the Oleoak community of Barren County where they lived with his mother, Beulah Bailey Witty.  Mary Dee worked at the Kentucky Pants Factory until 1949.

In 1949, at the age of 30, she became a mother to her one and only daughter, Paulette.  Four months later, she and Bernice became superintendents of the “County Farm” (Hillcrest Home…on Roseville Road).  Over the course of the next 20 years, they saw to the well-being of many older citizens of Barren County, who otherwise had no homes or families to support them (this was before the days of medicare/medicaid and social security). The “county farm” was also temporary home on many occasions to runaways from other areas until they could be reclaimed by their families, and juvenile delinquents, who because of their age, could not be housed in the county jail; and sadly, on other occasions the Hillcrest Home also became temporary shelter for children who were being removed from their parents’ homes to later be placed for adoption.  This latter group were the hardest for her due to their ages (some mere babies, sometimes entire families of children–6 or more; these kids were often brought upstairs into her family’s living quarters and cared for until social workers could place them elsewhere).  Bernice died of a heart attack in 1969, and Mary Dee and her daughter moved to Glasgow.  She remarried in 1975, but would lose that husband in 2001 to Alzheimer’s Disease.

In 1970, she started her employment with Park Avenue Pharmacy/Hatchett Home Medical where she remains employed, now only part-time, to this day.  Always a believer in “working hard and earning your pay”, she sees no reason to retire…even at age 90 1/2 years “young” (please, don’t call her “old”).

Mary Dee became grandmother in 1971 to David Woodcock and in 1975 to Scott Woodcock.  David, in turn, would give her three great-grandsons: Andy, Austin and Aiden.  Scott would give her three great-granddaughters: Stacie, Madi, and Kennedy.

One has to laugh at the fact that she was in her late 80s when she got her FIRST “speeding” ticket…and rode a 4-wheeler (driven by her youngest brother) for the first time.  Two years ago on Christmas morning, her doctor (Karen Small) called her and said, “Let’s take a ride.”  That ride consisted of an aerial tour of Barren County…and one of her most prized Christmas gifts.  She has often said she would love to “fly to work” (which is less than a one-fourth mile trip by car).  In February 2009, her family and friends helped to celebrate her 90th birthday with an open-house held at her church, Bethel United Methodist Church, with some 100+ people in attendance.

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Our  3 girls are very blessed because all 4 of their grandparents are still living.  They are still healthy and actively involved with their grandchildren.  This past week was Grandparent’s Day at school.  Both sets of grandparents got to attend the lunches. Maggie and Kristin’s schools hosted the event on the same day and Kelsey’s was Thursday.

I would like to nominate my mother-in-law, Clara O’Leary, and my mother, Margaret Barrett, for Nanas of the week.

These are my husband Tommy’s parents, Tom & Clara O’Leary  (aka Papaw and Grandma) Besides my three girls they have five other grandchildren (pictured below).  Mikhayla 14, Kelsey 13, Peyton 12, Hannah 12, Kristin 11, Maggie 8, Emma 8 and Kaylee 6.  Even though they live almost 3 hours away from us they come to a lot of the girls activities.  The girls love cooking and sewing with Grandma and working on wood projects with Papaw.  Papaw loves to pick and tell jokes to all the grandkids.

These are my parents, Bobby & Margaret – (Pa and Nana) They have a total of 5 grandchildren.  Dylan 19, Cole 18 and Kelsey, Kristin and Maggie.  The girls enjoy going with them to hear music, riding Pa’s horse “BUCK” and Sunday dinner every week (the mashed potatoes are everyone favorite)

Margaret and Bobby's grandchildren

Congratulations to Margaret and Clara! Two wonderful grandmothers and moms!

We love you-Lakettia and Tommy and girls

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