Grandma Bonnie

Growing up I always loved introducing myself. The exchange oftentimes went something like this:   "Hi, I'm Bonnie Robertson."
"Oh, Bonnie...that's unique.  I don't know many Bonnie's."
"Thanks. I'm named after my grandma."

Part of my identity has always been (and always will be) being a part of the legacy of my grandma, Bonnie Johnson.  She was the best definition of a matriarch, and she had the unique ability to make every child or grandchild feel like they were her favorite (although, my brother would tell you that I was the true favorite...haha!).  On Monday evening my grandma passed away.  The loss for our family is significant, but there is so much peace in knowing she is with Jesus and she is healed.  She passed away just shy of her 99th birthday. You can read more about her here, but simply put she was one awesome, classy, strong lady.

My grandma was a classy lady.  She even wore dresses and nice shoes to go fishing.  Here she and I are before a family wedding.

This is my grandma, mom, and me in front of the first house I lived at in St. Joseph, MO.

My brother and I spent so much time with our grandparents growing up.  

Even after we moved to Columbia, MO, when I was in elementary school my grandparents still came to so many of our athletic games and events.  This is my grandma and Grammy Jo cheering me on at a softball game.  They were two great women! 

When I was 17 I wrote a short essay to win a $5,000 scholarship at Mizzou.  My mom has kept it all these years and it seems fitting to share now.

Who is the most influential person in your life?

So far in my life I have been very fortunate to have been blessed with loving parents and amazing mentors and friends.  Numerous people are responsible for helping to mold me into the person I am today; however, none have had a more influential impression on my life than my grandma.

My grandma is my eighty-seven year old hero that has taught me how I want to live the rest of my life.  Society may label her as "elderly" but she has never quite fit the definition.  She drives a large, white pick-up truck so she can go "mudding" (her term for four-wheel driving on her farm) and she loves to fish into the late hours of the night.  My grandma is stubborn and strong willed, qualities that make us so similar, but more importantly she is loving and persistent.  Her inability to age has taught me what it means to be forever young and to love every minute God blesses us with.  However, it is not just her love for life that I find so impressive, it has been her ability to persevere through it that I find so amazing. This pas year my aunt, one of my grandma's three daughters, died of cancer.  At the age of seventeen I'm far from being married and having kids, but even I know that no parent ever wants one of their children to go before them.  The grief my grandma faced was immensely painful.  Her heart was broken.  However, seeing my grandma at her weakest allowed me to see what it means to be strong.  She grievingly faced the pain but eventually found the strength to keep on fishing.  My grandma has taught me that in life we all will face the adversity of our darkest hour, but even through grief we still have the gift of life and it is through the hardest times that we must live the most.

My Grandma has not missed any of the big milestones of my life.  I feel so thankful she was able to meet both of my boys before she passed away.  Here she is with me at my high school graduation.