Celebrating Nana: A Heartfelt Visit for Her 90th Birthday
Celebrating Nana: A Heartfelt Visit for Her 90th Birthday
Last fall, my sister and I had the privilege of visiting our Nana at her home in Southern Missouri to celebrate her 90th birthday. What unfolded was a perfect reminder of why family connections and creating lasting memories matter so deeply.
Our days began with quiet, peaceful mornings on her deck, sipping coffee and tea while reading our books. A charming mama cat, fresh from having her kittens, would often visit us as we took in the beauty of the world around us, listening to birds chirping in the trees my Grandpa Jim had lovingly planted years before.
One of the most treasured parts of our visit was spending time in Nana's kitchen, where she walked us through her process of making homemade biscuits, sharing tips and stories that made each step feel special. We also talked through making her famous homemade donuts, which is a tradition that brings back countless happy memories. Just getting to spend that sacred time in her kitchen felt like receiving a precious gift.
A meaningful stop on our itinerary was walking the local golf course with our Uncle David. Our Grandpa Jim, a member of the US Forest Service, planted hundreds of trees there before he passed away in 2014. We visited his favorite grove, which now bears a plaque in his honor featuring a quote by S.N. Baxter: "When I pass to my reward, whatever that will be, I'd like my friends to think of me as one who loved a tree." Seeing his legacy so beautifully preserved was a poignant reminder of how the things we care about can live on long after we're gone.
We also explored the "Trees Can Talk" trail that Grandpa had helped create. We learned about the importance of trees and their role in our ecosystem, another lasting piece of his passion for the natural world.
As afternoons arrived, we settled back on the deck with glasses of wine, chatting about Nana's gardens, watching butterflies dance among her flowers, and enjoying more reading time together. There's something magical about these simple pleasures when shared with the people we love most.
Dinner was a nightly treat, whether it was Nana's home cooking or an outing to the local winery for brick oven pizza. Evenings found us gathered around the fire table on the deck, popping popcorn, sharing stories, laughing, and simply enjoying each other's presence.
One of the most breathtaking moments was witnessing the northern lights together. It felt surreal, like something out of a dream, and a true bucket list experience I was so grateful to share with her.
Celebrating Nana's 90th birthday wasn't just about marking a milestone; it was about honoring connections, preserving stories, and treasuring time spent together. As I work with families navigating the complexities of aging and planning for the future, I'm reminded daily of how precious these moments are. The recipes passed down in kitchen conversations, the stories shared around fire tables, the legacies left in planted trees, are all threads that weave our family together across generations.
I left Nana's home feeling grateful and refreshed, reminded of how meaningful family traditions are, how restorative it is to be surrounded by nature, and how much joy exists in life's simple moments. In my work, I see how important it is to not just plan for the practical aspects of aging, but to make space for creating and preserving these beautiful memories while we can.
Here's to more memories, more love, and plenty more celebrations ahead—and to helping families make the most of every precious moment together.
Marie works in estate planning, elder law, and estate & trust administration, helping families navigate the important decisions that come with aging. She believes that while planning for the future is essential, celebrating the present moments with our loved ones is equally important.
