78 years ago today, Marilyn Maxine Waite was born in Winfield, Kansas.  20 years later, she became Maxine Rusk (upon marrying Arlos) and 27 years later…she became Grandma.  Wrex was her first grandchild and they share such a sweet, sweet bond.

Some of Wrexy’s best and favorite memories are of days spent with Grandma.  He’d go for weeks at a time down to their ranch in Kansas during the summer.  She always cooked his favorite foods and always had a horse lined up for him to ride while he was there.  (She knew the way to his heart, for sure!)

I am so incredibly thankful that I get to share Granny right along with the rest of the family.  (I’ve mentioned that I’ve married well, yes?)  She’s a drippy-sweet extrovert who’s gorgeous – inside and out –  and who is always ladylike and put together, no matter the occasion.

She can read and write stories like nobody’s business and is the best person I know at staying in touch with people.  She truly is one of the most generous, engaging, big-hearted, optimistic, beautiful people on the planet!

She is one of our biggest supporters, prayer warriors, cheerleaders, encouragers and exhorters!  (What would we do without this woman?!)  She loves the Lord and is definitely leaving a legacy of the fear of the Lord with her children and her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.

Grandma actually has quite a few names – Grandma Rusk, Granny, Maxine, Great Granny Max…but Sawyer’s favorite is Goo Goo!  One of the grandkids named her that early on and 20 some-odd years later, it’s still sticking!  Sawyer ADORES her Grandma Rusk!  They’ve had the sweetest, sincerest little bond since Sawyer was a tiny, tiny babe.

Goo-Goo is always at the ready to make memories with her family and to pour into them in any way she can.  There is no task too messy or time-consuming; no activity too big or small that she won’t participate in to show love to her kiddos and grand-kiddos.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANNY!

We love you so very much and are honored to be a part of your heritage.  You have loved us and cared for us and supported us in so many ways and we are forever grateful for you.  We pray that you are showered with love today, on your birthday…a day that the world most certainly changed for the better.  We love you!