Has Your Sufficiency Been Surrensified?

Hi Again Friends!   May blessings to you as we begin this beautiful month of May. With the passing of my mother-in-law last November, this will be our first year to remember that all our moms and grand-moms are in heaven.   I hope you’re greatly blessed by my tribute story and are reminded to treasure every Mother’s Day that your moms are with you! In Christ always, Carole 1 Peter 4:11

Has Your Sufficiency Been Surrensified? A Tribute to Grandma Brewer (1890-1987) by Carole Brewer

… the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Proverbs 27:9   Irene Clara Brewer was a descendant of Captain Thomas Stevenson. a commander in the Continental Army under General George Washington. Her mother’s cousin was Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton), was international star of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Born in 1890, Grandma Brewer became my good friend during the last thirteen of her ninety-seven years on earth.   Just two days before our wedding, my own maternal grandmother had a stroke. She survived for only two months leaving us with her sweet blessings and commissioning my husband and me to love and take care of each other. With her passing, I was a newlywed with no living grandparents. God lovingly gave me Grandma B.!   Grandma Brewer moved to California from South Dakota after the loss of her husband and became a permanent member of the Brewer family household. (Prov. 31:27-28) With the news of our engagement, she had some mixed emotions.   She did enjoy herself immensely at the bridal shower and wedding but one week after our honeymoon, it was time to completely move my husband out of his parent’s home. As we collected all of his belongings, Grandma Brewer followed us from one room to the next openly sobbing with handkerchief in hand. She had lost the last grandchild to marriage. Several months later, we started having one-on-one conversations and began to develop our relationship. Grandma commented to me, “I think you thought I was kind of jealous of you. Well, maybe I was, just a little, but that’s all over now. I love you very much.” From then on, our friendship was set. Grandma B. taught me how to cut-up a chicken and make banana bread. She sparked my interest in scrap-booking because she was the champ.   Grandma wrote witty poems, gave marvelous dramatic readings, and gifted her family with numerous crocheted “affa-ghans” She was widely known amongst family and friends as a prolific quilter. In addition to her many basic patchwork creations, Grandma used patterns like Double Wedding Ring, Sunbonnet Sue, and Bear Paw. She created an outstanding United States quilt prior to the Second World War. After extensive research, Grandma compiled pictures of the state birds and flowers for all of the then, forty-eight states. Carefully embroidered representations for each state and an American eagle in the center makes her work of art a historical treasure.   Many times upon entering my in-laws’ home, Grandma Brewer greeted me with a breath-taking bear hug that would, for a moment, make me wonder if my rib-cage would remain in tact. After one of those incredible hugs, I remember Grandma’s warm robust voice asking, “How’s your hycopperosity?” Stopping for a long moment to consider the unusual question, I replied with a giggle, “Fine thanks. How’s yours?” With a twinkle in her eye and a broad smile, she enthusiastically answered, “Fine!” I was always excited to tell her about my aspirations as a singer and teacher and Grandma Brewer listened with great interest. One time, she looked through me with her steel blue eyes saying, “That’s all fine as long as you don’t ever think you’re better than anyone else.” She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26 On almost every holiday, her beautiful blue daisy embroidered table cloth and napkins graced the family table. At each event, she would proudly turn over the hem to show the backside. “You won’t find a single knot”, she would proudly declare. It was true. The back looked as neatly stitched as the front.   While passing to me the potatoes and sweet corn twice and then three times, Grandma would ask whimsically, “Has your sufficiency been surrensified?” What a great word! You won’t find it in the dictionary, but it sounded like a good description of how I felt after that hugely fortifying meal; surely surrendered and solidly satisfied. Surrensified! Grandma Brewer was a quilter and crafter, poet and dramatist, baker, historian, patriot, and Christian. She was the mother of three, the grandmother of nine, the great-grandmother of seven, and the great-great grandmother of three yet she had plenty of love left for me. She filled an empty space in my heart with a banquet of offerings that has left me more than full and satisfied. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise… Prov. 31:30-31

CAROLE’S UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, May 7th ‘The King & I’ Women’s Tea Speaker and Worship Leader 11am – 1pm Freedom Church, Cameron Park, CA Thursday, July 14th Roseville Women’s Connection Luncheon Music & Keynote Speaker 12 Noon to 1:30pm The Old Spaghetti Factory, Roseville, CA

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Connect with Carole! FOLLOW JESUS! Website: CaroleBrewer.com   Podcast: BibleChicks.com ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌