Today before church Henry got our local community paper the Grand Ledge Independent and was flipping through it.  He read this aloud to me and Seth:

Lowest of lowbrow to steal wheelchair

To the person or persons who stole the wheel chair in front of a house on Jenne St. of a 96-year-old lady that used it outdoors to enjoy herself. You ought to be proud of yourself. It took a lot of courage to do this.

She used to make mittens for the children and is called the Mitten Lady. She is the widow of a war veteran that was wounded in the war.

Do the right thing and return it to where you took it. If anyone sees a red wheel chair anywhere, call the Grand Ledge police and they will return it to the lady.

I cannot even imagine someone stealing from a handicapped person. You need our prayers.

I told Steve that I just folded Grandma's and put it in her closet!  Seth yells, "Let's give her Grandma's!" 

Her house is less than a mile from ours and we pass it all the time.  We knew exactly what house on Jenne St. they were talking about.  We passed it on the way to church and everyone got excited about maybe delivering a wheelchair later. 

Well, it ended up being around 5:45pm when we finally got to it after the days activities.  We could hear that the TV was on through the screen door, but she never made it to the door.  We left the chair on the front porch with a little note.  I just explained how we had lost our Grandma and thought she could use it.  Love The Steitz's.  We went to dinner with my inlaws and when we got back there was a message on their answering machine asking that we call, and that this chair was so much better than the one that was stolen.  We decided to go by her house on the way home. 

The kids were SO excited.  After Grandma died, they kept asking if we could have another Grandma come live with us!  So here we were all of us on her tiny porch.  She came to the door in a chair she keeps inside and immediately invited us in to "see how she lives" as she put it.  It was like stepping back in time!  Here was this 96 year old woman who lived on her own and was a widow of a World War ONE veteran!!! 

We probably spent about an hour there talking to her and hearing about her life!  Here was this woman pretty much living on her own right around the corner from me!!  I have driven by her house at times wondering about her because I knew an elderly woman lived there.  It was an amazing time!  She was so greatful and kept wanting to pay us.  She gave Shaye a stuffed animal and the kids candy corn from probably 1973!  (Alexandra spit hers in the garden and Shaye said hers tasted great!)  She hugged Seth when she found out it was his idea.  She doesn't go to the doctors and is not on any medication.  Cooks her own dinners and has encouraging handwritten notes all over her walls!  One that says, Slow Down Inez (her name); Be patient, stay humble!  The man that wrote the letter to the paper checks on her every day and makes her her morning coffee.  He is just a friend from town. 

I was blessed tonight!  By my family, by my community (well, NOT the ones who stole her chair;) and by her!  She has the BEST attitude and loves her little house and life!  Pray we are able to share the Gospel with her soon! 

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