Violet's Mystical Violets

This is the story of five-year-old Violet

who is surrounded by love and her namesake flower...

and where these mystery flowers came from.

Violet's Grandma Rosemary was my

sister's, sister-in-law.  I met Rosemary

when I was 12 years old and when

my sister married her brother, I made

Rosemary adopt me as a sister, too!

She was warm and bubbly and loved

to cook and sing and laugh.  I adored her!

She also loved her granddaughter Violet

shown below with daddy Jason. (Rosemary's son.)

Shortly after that photo was taken, Rosemary

was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue.

Her disease devastated her body and

the family. 

Her son Jason, his wife Lynn and Violet

moved in with Rosemary to help care

for her.

When Rosemary could no longer speak,

it was two-year-old Violet who would

crawl onto Grandma's lap to soothe her.

Violet instinctively knew to be gentle,

and would "read" books to Grandma Rosemary.

Violet was a lovely blessing in

Rosemary's final year.

Soon after Rosemary died at the age of 56,  almost exactly two years ago,

Lynn was driving home after picking up

a quick McDonald's supper.

She heard Violet babbling from her

car seat strapped to the back seat.

"I'm feeding French fries to Grandma!" Violet calmly shared.

In the rearview mirror, Lynn could see her toddler

daughter holding up some fries.

Lynn could feel Rosemary's presence in the car

and sensed baby Violet was seeing her.

When they arrived home,

Violet continued to talk with Grandma.

Lynn said the house felt very heavy and she expected

someone to pop out from every room.

As Lynn put her to bed, Violet waved over Lynn's

shoulder and said "Night-night, Grandma ."

A few days later, Violet was playing with blocks on

the floor. She looked past Lynn and suddenly said,

"Oh, hi Grandma!"

Jason asked her if she saw Grandma, and

Violet said, "Daddy, she's standing right there!"

Neither Jason nor Lynn could see her.

Looks like Grandma Rosemary had an even

bigger surprise for Violet.

Jason and Lynn still live in Grandma Rosemary's house.

Jason said there were never any flowers in the back yard.

The spring after Rosemary died,

the back yard was miraculously covered in tiny

purple violets!

Jason and Lynn were astonished and enchanted

and knew it was a special gift planted by

a very special grandmother.

Jason posted these photos on Facebook of Violet with her

special violets this spring that popped up even thicker

than last year.

Jason was happy for me to share this story about

his dear mother so others will know

our loved ones who pass over

are still very much with us...