Girls With Grandmother Faces

Please scroll down to the appropriate places to click on links to other GWGF pages and pictures.

Remember this from "It's a Wonderful Life" ~
"No man is a failure who has friends."

"Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."

Heart Friends

How generous is God that He has given me these special women
who are the true friends of my heart.

How He must love me that He has let us find each other
upon this crowded earth.

There is not blood between us, no common family history.
Yet there are no barriers of background, or even age
~ older, younger, richer, poorer ~ no matter.

We speak the same language. We have come together in
a special moment of time, and the sense of union we feel
will last throughout eternity.

How generous is God that He has given me so many other women
I can call FRIENDS;
the friend with whom the heart feels so joyously at home !

~ author unknown

This page is dedicated to all the
"Girls With Grandmother Faces"~ GWGF.
These special friends bonded as classmates at
Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee,
where we graduated in the early 1950s.

Most of us were not able to stay in close touch in the years of raising children and of careers. Then, many
of us decided we would get together at the 40th reunion of the Class of 1952 at Homecoming at C-N.
1992 became "instant" 1952 again ! After a short time of hugging, talking and laughing,
those 40 years simply melted away !!

A few of the GWGF at a C-N Homecoming ~ on the campus lawn
Hilna, Carolyn, Barbara, Mattie, Yolanda, Imogene, Jean De, Doris Ruth
Classes represented here: 1952, 1953 and 1954

That was the beginning of a special, added dimension to our lives. Since 1992, we have been back to every Homecoming. We all stay at the same motel. We have our own planned activities in addition to those planned for Homecoming by the college.

We have become acquainted with each other's husbands and, in many cases, the children ~ and even the grandchildren. The group has grown year after year.

Some of us, where possible, get together at other times during the year. We've had
lots of "fun" times at relaxing places. We've leaned on each other during times
of sadness as well as the times of joy.

1999 ~ Helen's home, Jefferson City, TN ~
for the story and pictures, click here

2000 ~ large log cabin at Seven Devils, NC ~
for the story and pictures, click here

2002 ~ Eight Gables Inn, Gatlinburg, TN ~
for the story and pictures, click here

(I hope in the future to have a write-up and pictures about
the earlier Spring Flings, beginning in 1995.)

The Carson-Newman Quilt

We came. We met. We may or may not have conquered. But this we know: Each person is a piece of the patchwork quilt that we created this week.

Each person brought in her own quilt piece, not knowing exactly how it would fit in the whole of things, but knowing that somehow it would. Through words, laughter, and sharing, the pieces came together. Understanding provided the thread that combined us.

Now that the patchwork quilt is beautifully integrated and formed, it must be taken apart. Apart again, we wait until the patchwork pieces again are joined, in another place, another time.

~ by Wanda Saylor Palmer
Written to commemorate GWGF Spring Fling
copyright © 2000

Since we are certainly not letting the moss grow under our feet, most of us also have
now joined the electronic age ~ yes, "we have mail." Our GWGF who are online now numbers 33,
and the list grows steadily ! When we hear special news that
should go out to the group, it goes instantly.

Most of us also have a Ty Beanie Baby, Baldy the Eagle, or the Coca-Cola
plush eagle, Reegle the Eagle, in honor of our alma mater's mascot, the eagle.
We have each given our eagle a Carson-Newman name reminiscent of
the days when we were students. A nice full-color parchment "birth"
certificate followed each eagle to its home showing both the name of
the GWGF owner and the C-N name given to the eagle. I have added
a new page about the eagles, the owners and the names.
You may access the eagle page by clicking here.

And so, my Carson-Newman girlfriends, this is for you.
(In some cases a name represents more than one friend.)

Ann, Anna Joyce, Barbara(s), Betty Gay,
Carolyn, Charlotte, Dale, Doris Ruth,
Earlene, Emily, Helen(s), Henrietta, Hilna,
Imogene, Jackie, Jama, Jane, Jean(s), Jeanette,
Kitty (Bobbie Jean), LaVerne, Marian,
Mary Ann, Mary Frances, Mattie, Nancy(s),
Nellie Faye, Norma, Onita, Shirley,
Theta, Wanda and Yolanda

Each one of you has enriched my life immeasurably. While it is not possible
to fully express my great joy in your friendship, let me just say
"I love you. Thank you for being my friend."

The wonderful heart-felt poem below was written in honor
of our group by our good friend and fellow GWGF, Hilna.
From all of us, Hilna, "thank you."

IMAGES OF DEAR FRIENDS

Just as the water shines,
Reflecting clouds up in the sky
With liquid ripples that make circles
No matter how hard you try
To keep them contained inside a boundary line;
So it is with time, and dear friends.
Girls we were, once upon a time.

It's hard to make images stay,
No matter how much you sigh,
And even more difficult it is to keep
The times you love from slipping by;
But the golden friendship never left our mind.
The sweetness is there in our hearts.
Girls we were, once upon a time.

Clear ripples and images linger;
They stay for a long while,
Leaving honey-flavored memories
Like Mom's homemade apple pie.
Times shared together then
Come back and bind
Smiles to the grandmother faces.
Girls we were, once upon a time.

The more you try to save a ripple,
The more on the waters pile,
Until, at last, they multiply.
They add up to make the miles
Of joy and happiness we have down deep inside,
Because, you see, we remember that
Girls we were, once upon a time.

There is a great deal of talent within the GWGF, and I plan to showcase
works for which I have been given permission ~ such as the pieces above.
I have made a special box on my Index Directory page for pages
by category. One such category is for Carson-Newman and one
just for works of the "Girls With Grandmother Faces."
All links from here can also be linked from the Index page.

Hilna has written much more brilliant and beautiful poetry (such as the above)
that will be found in the Index. She is also an accomplished pianist,
having a God-given talent as a musician that few possess !

Our talented artist Jama is shown here with one of her wonderful watercolors.
I took this picture at Homecoming (2000) when she and Leon invited us to their
home for a Saturday afternoon get-together and supper. Her home is filled with
her beautiful work, some of which has been purchased by her friends.

Jane is another multi-talented musician/artist. We have enjoyed her
God-given talent as an exceptional musician many times at our get-togethers.
Just request about any song ~ Jane can play it !

Marian is a talented, prolific and expressive writer, among other things.
She has written a wonderful article about the friendship of the GWGF entitled
"Friends ... Days of Reunion at Homecoming."
Marian writes regularly for her county newspaper.

Mattie has written two books, Judy ...... and ...... Preachers' Wives Tell All.
Mattie also has her own web site, and a link can be found on My Favorite Links page.
She is a sought-after speaker at churches and women's retreats.

Barbara J. also is multi-talented and has her own web site.
Her help to me in launching my own web site has been immeasurable.
A link to her site also can be found on My Favorite Links page.

Mary Ann has been a life-long close friend, being raised in the same church and neighborhood, and she was also a college roommate. Besides being an accomplished pianist and organist, she sketches beautifully as a hobby and is a licensed professional counselor. She has had several writings published. One such you will find via a link entitled "Dance Inside" in the GWGF Showcase category on my Index Directory page.
Another is entitled "Wait For the Springtime."

The poem above, "The Carson-Newman Quilt" was written by Wanda at the close
of a Spring Fling and to commemorate these annual get-togethers. It is a beautiful story
of how each GWGF brings her own unique piece each year to complete
the patchwork quilt for that particular Spring Fling. Wanda has written
another wonderful story about the Carson-Newman experience
~ reflecting on her four years as a member of the Class of 1953.
You may access it by clicking here. It is also listed in my Index Directory.