My mother’s parents were wonderful and amazing people, and I was really close to them. They lived in the same town as I did growing up, so I had a very special opportunity to really spend time with them. They did not have easy lives, but they loved God, and they loved me. I was not a very nice teenager–pretty rebellious, in fact! But, my Grandma always stuck by me, and that means so much.
Both Granddad and Grandma Jain had amazing stories. Granddad really grew up without a family. As a child, he lived with families working as a hired hand, but he valued school. In fact, he worked his way through high school, and then went on to medical school! He had a very successful career as a country doctor. Not bad for someone who practically raised himself!
My Grandma also had a difficult childhood. Her mother was crippled from polio, so Grandma had to take care of the house from a very young age. She often spoke of how she had to stand on boxes to reach the kitchen sink.
I spent many wonderful days with Granddad and Grandma. Even in their later years, they remained faithful to God and to each other. They were often seen walking downtown and in the stores holding hands, and many people commented to me how special that was.
Grandma died several years ago after suffering with a terrible illness. She had to have been in an excruciating amount of pain, but she still always had a smile to the very end. The last time I saw her, she was still groggy from coming out of a surgery. But even in that clouded frame of mind, she affirmed her love for me. What a special memory!
Granddad lived a few years after that. He too suffered, but he always showed such peace. He spent the last few years in a nursing home, and I took my own kids up to see him in those days. He truly loved God and had a major impact on my life.
This recipe was one that Grandma Jain made quite often. Whenever she had some over-ripe bananas to use up, she’d make this cake. I remember her saying that her sweet-tooth kind of lessened as she got older, but she still liked this cake! I made it today to take it to church dinner tomorrow. Just smelling it baking and licking off those beaters brought back so many wonderful memories. I can’t wait to eat it tomorrow!
Granddad and Grandma, I love you both so much and miss you terribly. I look forward to the day when we will be reunited in the Holy City where you both are rejoicing today! And I have five great-grandchildren to introduce to you. They can’t wait to give you both big hugs!
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Thank you for allowing us to read such a wonderful and heart felt post.
My nan is still with us but I treasure all she has taught me. One thing that she went out of her way to do even though she is mid 80 was to write down a recipe for lemon cake. I have since emigrated to Canada from the UK, but I still have this recipe on the same piece of paper that she wrote it on. I know that I will one day lose this and so should re write it but something at the moment will not let me do that. And even though I now know this lemon cake off by heart, each time I make it I search for this piece of precious paper and refer to it.
Sounds yummy! I’ll be sure to try a piece tomorrow, since I didn’t get a chance to have any of your yummy cake last month!
Has it been a month already?
I’m glad you got the right frosting recipe with it! Grandma’s banana cake wouldn’t be right with the wrong frosting! And that is one of the rare cakes that seems to get better as it sets for a couple of days.
Have ya’ tried Grandma’s cinnamon rolls?? I always told her that I could smell them about the time I hit Thomas county coming home from college. She always said she was still practicing — and I always volunteered to be her guinea pig if she wanted to try more!
(for those who don’t know — I’m Lois’s big brother)
Great memories! Granddad and Grandma Jain definitely had a positive impact on many.
As you can tell by Cory’s comment we still make the yummy banana cake. I also make Grandma Jain’s Swiss chocolate sauce (some seem to consider that recipe a family secret) and it is always a hit. Kelissa’s all time favorite will always be Great Grandma Jain’s popcorn balls. I haven’t made them for years, and Kelissa really misses them. We need to have a popcorn ball party.
(for those that don’t know- I’m Cory’s wife & Lois’s sister in-law)