Today, I am dedicating this to my sweet grandma, Irene Mae Nugent.  Today is the day that she died one year ago… one day before her 98th birthday.  I was very close to her.  I spent many summers with her…. so many good memories. Those memories are treasures to me now… riding horses, eating Wheaties with sugar heaped on them, helping grandma in her yard, grandma teaching me how to drive her blue pickup truck, watching basketball games in the summer evenings and her love of animals and geography.  She was a very independent and spunky little lady!  It is so bizarre to think that she is not here anymore… but I know that she is young again (with red hair) and she is riding horses and having a blast with my grandpa, Hap, and my aunt Laura.  She is also with the Lord!  She is full of joy and peace and no more anxiety.

About six months before she died, she was having trouble sleeping.  I brought some Lavender to her and asked if I could put this on her feet.  I also told her to put it on before bed.  The Lavender essential oil started helping her sleep and when she ran out she said, “Angela, I just need that Lavender.”  Well, we made sure that grandma had more Lavender!   Grandma was able to live independently (with the help of my mom) up until the last week of her life (and she was still sharp as a tack!)

In the hospital, she was surrounded by everyone that loved her… she could not respond anymore but she could hear us.  I brought my Lavender and Frankincense and put some on her feet… you could see her body immediately relax.  It happened so quickly, which I am so glad that she did not have to suffer a long time.  My mom, my sister and cousins — we all got to surround grandma and love on her.  That was so special.

A few days after she died, I was reading about Spikenard.  Spikenard is a form of Lavender and this is also the oil that Mary used to put on Jesus.

John 12:3
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard (Spikenard or also known as Lavender) an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

I used Frankincense because it is a spiritual oil and it helps with stress and despair. Frankincense is a white resin or gum. It is obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God.  (Exodus 30:34) Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up, analogous to a burnt offering.

I thought this was so cool… I was able to put these oils on grandma right before she went into heaven… the same oil (Lavender) that was used to put on Jesus to prepare him for his burial.  And Frankincense… a pleasant offering.

At the time, I had no idea what these essential oils symbolized, but He knew.  I love that she went to be with the Lord smelling like Lavender and Frankincense!

I am so grateful that we had this little lady in our lives.  And I want to give you hope today… Jesus is real.  He is the kindest person I have ever known.  He loves you today.  I know grandma is looking down today and smiling.

Here is a poem that she had clipped into one of her journals:

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Good-bye..”