One Year Later

It was one year ago today that I received news that would be forever imprinted upon my heart: my dear Grandma had passed away.  She really was the most incredible woman I've ever known-- a God-fearing woman who was devoted to her family.  She was brave-- she enlisted in the war (WWII) after her boyfriend died while fighting.  She decided she wanted to fight in his place, and at the age of twenty, she left her home in Brooklyn behind and travelled to Georgia for training.  She was stationed in Miami, where she met my grandfather, and later settled in South Carolina, where she lived until she died.

My sister scanned these pictures (among others) last year.  I've included a smattering-- they focus on Grandma, but some also feature my grandfather, my great grandmothers, my great aunt, my mother, and my uncle.  I think these pictures capture something of Grandma's spirit-- that of woman who was nurturing and brought joy to those around her.  She was a dear friend, and always up for just about anything.  I miss you, Grandma!

XOXO,

Lillian Vera Herbrandt Howard Beach, Long Island, NY July 28, 1931

May 3, 1942

George Wyman and Lillian V. Herbrandt Stiefel October 21, 1944 Wedding Day

6 years 4 months old. March 1, 1930 at school Miss Geharst Grade 1B

Palisades Park, NY Aug 29, 1941

1942

Polly's Rock and Round Top Mountain in background Catskill Mountains, NY Aug 1943

Anna Marie Nickens Herbrandt and Lillian Vera Herbrandt (Stiefel) Jones Beach, July 5, 1942

George F., George W., Lillian H., and Melanie C. Stiefel Dec 25, 1956

Lillian V. Herbrandt and Anna Marie Nickens Herbrandt Jones Beach June 5, 1942

Lillian Vera Herbrandt and Anna Marie Herbrandt Lillian wearing favorite rust dress she made Palisades Park NJ Aug 29, 1941

Anna Marie Herbrandt, Ben Tumulty, Lillian Herbrandt 1941 Rye Beach

Statue of Ponce de Leon St Augustine, Fla. Lillie Mae Stiefel, Lillian H. Stiefel, Claude Stiefel, and Melanie Claire Stiefel

George Bach & Lillian Herbrandt Boundbrook, NJ

Bus ride from Davis & Geck Margie Egan and Lillian V. Herbrandt at Lake Ronkonkoma Aug 9, 1941

Beta Sigma Beta Club   Bottom Row L to R:  Nancy, Anna, Adele Curnan, Dorothy Shuman, Doris Lightfine, Rose Macaluso, Ann Turano, Lill, Rose   Top row L to R:  Roy, Walter Wilber, Peter Cuso, Peter Andrews, Alf Englund, John Osterita, Vincent DeMilo, Angelo Geraci   Sun 6-1-40  Picnic at Valley Stream  on the step of Valley Stream High School

Lillian Herbrandt Stiefel and George F. Stiefel  Dec 30, 1945

Melanie Claire (with Sparky), Lillian H., and George F. Stiefel (with Bootsie) posing for Graniteville Herald

Melanie Claire & Lillian H. Stiefel & Brownie

Lillian Herbrandt Stiefel, Juliette Hughes, Louise Barton, Margaret Timmerman, and Mildred Leopard, and Adelene Hite  1944   Women in Graniteville Company payroll and real estate departments

Lillian Herbrandt Stiefel and Melanie Claire Stiefel    St Augustine, Fla   June 1956

Marilyn Converse & Lillian Vera Herbrandt   March 1944

Hazel Pitts Barr, Melanie Claire Stiefel, Anna Nickens Herbrandt, George Wyman Stiefel, Lillian Herbrandt Stiefel, and George Franklin Stiefel   New Haven, Conn.

George F., Lillian H., and Melanie Claire Stiefel (7 weeks old), October 26, 1952

Lillian H. Stiefel, George F. Stiefel, and Jacko the Monkey  Oct 1952

Melanie Claire (7 weeks old), Lillian H., George Franklin, and George Wyman Stiefel   Oct 26, 1952

Jessie Mae and Claudia, and Lillian H. Stiefel  Aug 1949

The Sailor Husband

My sister emailed me this picture of my grandfather and I just had to share it!

Three days before New Years Day 1946

(Granddaddy is on left)

XOXO,

Trust Me

The big message that I've been getting from God of late is "Trust Me." It seems that I've been trying to run the show, and God keeps telling me to take it easy and rely on Him.

I'm reading The Hiding Place, which is the story of Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who risks her life to put Jews into hiding during World War II. She's very courageous, putting an inordinate amount of trust in God as she comes to the aid of hundreds of Jews and leads the underground resistance in Holland. I'm still in the beginning of the book, but from what I understand, she finds herself in a concentration camp, where she loses both father and sister, but at the end of the day, she still loves the Lord her God. She's able to pray for and forgive her captors. It's a pretty amazing story.

Below is an anecdote from the novel that really inspires me and speaks to my heart. It takes place when Corrie is a little girl, asking her father lots of questions about life. It struck me as I am like the little girl, confused and wondering, asking too many questions.

At last he (Father) stood up, lifting his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor.

"Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?" he said.

I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.

"It's too heavy," I said.

"Yes," he said. "And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you."

I pray that I will trust Him to carry it for me.