In the Midst of Love
This is the story of us. A story about my family; written by me. My whole heart poured out into tiny words.
Roland's on the River will always be my favorite place.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant (5) or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; (6) it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (7) Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
There are thirteen grandchildren, four aunts and four uncles, and behind them all are two of the loveliest parents/grandparents that has ever walked this earth.
This story is about them. My grandparents. Sidney and Suzanne Roland (a.k.a. Nana & Papa).
Sidney Roland, a boy who grew up in Union Point, GA. He had 5 siblings that were all very close growing up. He loved sports but loved just simply being outside more than anything. When college rolled around for him, he found himself at Piedmont college on a baseball scholarship.
The infamous 57!!!! This was my Papa's '57 Chevy. A symbol that will forever remind me of him.
He would always want to take the grand-kids fora ride around town in his special car. Little did we know, he installed a speaker that plays on the outside of the car and would blare Christmas music in the middle of July or ice cream truck songs with no ice to give away!
He was proud of his car and wanted everyone to see it. In his time, he entered and won many car competitions.
The piano man! That was my Papa. He would play the piano every singe day. He learned by listening, not by reading music. A talent very rare, but spectacular to say the least.
When the sun shines down upon us, we know you're here.
Quickly after Papa passed, the hymn "Come Thou Fount" became my stronghold. He loved this song and every time I hear it, I know he's listening along.
Suzanne Roland, a young girl from the big city. She grew up in Marietta, GA. She had 1 brother, her twin! She loved her family dearly. Her beauty grew and grew as she did. A very elegant and graceful one, she was. She danced her way through childhood and onto the college days, where she found herself at Piedmont college, in Habersham, GA.
The most beautiful soul, you'll ever meet.
Nana always stands at the door to welcome everyone into her southern paradise, called home. With such an inviting personality, she is loved by many folks! This home is home to everyone in my family. It is a staple of love and compassion, though none of it would be that way if it weren't for this lovely lady. Joy overflows her heart and it is such a blessing to have grown up with a Nana, as special as you!
Nana has always spoken so highly of her mother and has shared many treasures with us that was passed down to her from her mother.
Not only does she welcome you in, but she also bids you farewell too. Every single time I leave her house, she walks me to the door and gives me a hug. She has taught me many many things in this life, but one of the things she keeps teaching me every day is to be intentional in everything you do. She is best at it.
I can imagine that you see where the story is going already. You guessed it! The young boy from Union Point met a beautiful girl from the city and they fell in love during their days at Piedmont college, in Habersham, GA. Thus began the story of us.
“‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? (6) So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Sidney and Suzanne tied the knot and decided to have kids. The first to come was my uncle, Sidney Roland III. Not too far behind him was my aunt, Laura. Next to come was my dear mother, Alice. Surprisingly last but not least, uncle Scott arrived. The tradition lived on! A few years after having children, they built and nestled into their home on the Chattahoochee River.
I remeber my mom always telling me that she helped split the wood that was used for shingles in their home.
I have had countless people comment on Sidney and Suzanne's house. Everything from, heaven on earth, to, this needs to be featured in Southern Charm Magazine. (I agree with them)
The mantle decorations are always so perfect.
The wallpaper installed when the house was built is one of my favorites. It truly brings out the personality of this home.
Papa found his passion through Blueberries! He grew and sold blueberries for as long as i can remember. He would offer to pay for a quater an hour to go pick blueberries for him. (I thought it was a great deal back in the day.)
From the eyes of a grandchild, I have never seen anyone love who loves their parents more than my own mother, my aunt and my uncles love Sidney and Suzanne. Not only that, but the love that Nana and Papa have for their children is just completely ravishing to witness. A site to behold, nonetheless.
“Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
As the grandchildren started to appear, my story comes to life. I am the daughter of Alice Roland Brewer, who is daughter of Sidney and Suzanne Roland. My mother is an angel wearing a human body costume. She has taught me everything. The values that she has instilled in my life have been passed down from her parents.
To be apart of a family, in it's entirety, that serves the Lord is something that almost cannot even be explained. The bond that is shared between each and every family member is like no other.
I asked each child of Sidney and Suzanne to share with me one thing they are grateful for about their parents and this was their responses:
“Kindness and hospitality. Through my dad and moms actions I was shown how others should be treated with kindness, always. I also learned the gift of hospitality, by the way they always had their home open to many thousands of friends and strangers who have passed through their lives.”
The word hospitality, that Sidney thought of, could not be more true. Suzanne is the ultimate chef in this house. You will never, ever leave her house hungry. this also is a perfect description of servanthood as well. She always gives everything she has to anyone in need. "Give everything you can give, and no one will go without." A philosophy to live by.
“I am most thankful for their Godly influence in my life. I am grateful that they brought us up in a Christian home, where we attended church, both on Sunday morning and evening services and also on Wednesday night services. I am grateful for the strong Christian values they lived before us. I can say... I never heard my parents ever having an argument! Now that’s something to be thankful for! We are blessed!!!”
“One word that comes to mind is believe. They taught me to believe in God first, to believe in myself, and to believe in others. I feel that this also led to heart of servitude. They always told us help others and to give with a joyous heart. For faith is something you believe in but have not yet seen.”
“self·less·ness
concern more with the needs and wishes of others than with one’s own.
”a noble act of selflessness”
The word I think of is selflessness and how they were always more concerned with needs of others before themselves. I hope I can show just 10% of their selflessness. ”
I could never repay Nana and Papa for all that they have done for not only me but my entire family and the community that surrounds them. They have been anchors in my life and will continue to be, even many years from now. The values that they have taught me will still hold true and make a difference for the rest if my life. Their legacy will live on and it will impact so many more lives, as much as it has mine own.
Nana posses many talents, one being crafty. She took some of Papa's most favorite shirts and sewed them around pillows for every family member. Hugging these pillows is like hugging him again.
Both Sidney and Suzanne are some of the most remarkable people that have walked this earth. If I could measure the love that has been poured out by those two, it would fill up every ocean this world has to offer. Still to this day, with Papa no longer residing here with the rest of us, they are a duo like no other. There is no Sidney without his Suzanne and there is no Suzanne without her Sidney. The legend will forever live on. The impacts will continue to be made. The love with forever grow.
This swing was Papa's go-to spot. He would ride down to the river and just sit for hours.
We miss you, Papa.
A little piece of you sure feels good.
