nanny barkie

last night, we unexpectedly lost a matriarch of our family. brian's grandmother, nanny barkie to us (margaret snodgrass), suddenly passed away & went home to be with our Lord. at this moment, it's unimaginable to think we're going to make this trek to TN this afternoon and not find her waiting at brian's house for us. or walking through the door to join us for dinner.

her passing has surely left a gaping hole in the fabric of our family. she was a fixture in our close knit crew...whether you live in elizabethton or only return for visits, you likely have a funny story about barkie. she told it like it was. she had some hard knocks. at the age of 24, she became a single mom to martha, who was then 4. she threw her life into raising a daughter who would grow to love God & one day her own family. she took care of her own mother, our precious nanny robbie. she took care of her grandchildren; while working full-time she helped in any way she could with brian & his brother & sister. her family was so incredibly important to her. but i know that in a way she longed for this day. i know that she was torn between this life & the next. i know she wanted to see those old familiar faces that were waiting on her. who i like to believe were there with our Father. who helped to welcome her into the presence of an Almighty God.

but we, we will miss her presence. but we will one day rejoice with her. & how amazing. she now stands in a perfect body, worshipping our Lord. once again, someone we loved & touched & cared for...is at His feet. how humbling & how hopeful.

we love you, nanny! we envy your sight...for now you see fully.

@ a wedding shower at first christian church...nanny barkie, nanny robbie & aunt ruth.

nanny, martha (brian's mom) & julie (brian's sister) @ a baby shower for Garrett, Oct 07.

uncle steve (nanny's brother) holding garrett.

nanny getting to snuggle with garrett @ his first easter, 2008.

garrett's first TN christmas, dec 2008.



garrett & barkie on the front porch of brian's parent's house, march 09.



lucy's first trip to TN, sitting w/ nanny & martha, oct 09.

lucy getting some snuggles from barkie, dec 2009.

brian's brother (michael) & his son, jackson @ nanny's house with brian, garrett & lucy; dec 2009.