my great aunt maryann.

a poem by martha snell nicholson, one of her favorite christian poets :)

isn't that so good?! ahhh, i just love her.

my ganny died of cancer when i was 13. her sister, maryann, is the spittin' image of her & i love that we still get to have great conversations about life. (& i love moments like these when i embarrass her by making her "perform" her favorite poem. she got all giddy at the end. it was the cutest thing i've ever seen!)

isn't she the cutest?

she is the last of the nyman family alive, (she's 87? mom, help me out here!) & the last i'll ever know of my ganny (except for my mom & uncles. hi uncle brad!). she is the most knowledgeable person i've met when it comes to the bible (she practically dated billy grahm. no joke!).

my mom at maryann's new home away from home

i found her bible sitting next to her when we were there visiting the other day & i wanted to steal it & run! (i didn't..don't worry). every page is FILLED to the brim with notes..just covered! oh, to be able to pick her brain for hours on end! she has a love for the bible unlike anyone i've ever met. (don't worry dad, you're next in line) :)

she thought her hair looked way too big here when i showed it her :)

(& she thought my cell phone was the wildest thing she'd ever seen! ha.)

anyways, i could go on & on about her. i could talk history with her for hours over a cup of tea & be happy as a clam. i'm just thankful to still have opportunities like these with my great aunt. she's just crazy over a&e too..her great, great nieces! whew! she's an inspiration & someone i admire dearly. 

enjoy!

*edit--maryann went to heaven today, 7.14.10. she had a stroke a few days ago, & just like that, she's in heaven. Jesus welcomed one heck of a servant home today. so glad i have this video now. one day she's spoutin' off poems, & the next she's in the midst of the king of kings! so weird. wow.