Posted in Family Stories, Memories, Faith & Life Lessons
By Scott Broeker – Scott’s Brewed Thoughts
A Conversation That Sparked a Memory
Today I was talking to my youngest about her upcoming Christmas trip to Arizona. She casually mentioned driving through Tulsa, Oklahoma. Without thinking, I said, “I actually lived there for a short time with Grandma and Grandpa.”
Her response?
“Dad… I never knew that.”
So Sarah, this one’s for you.
Let’s rewind all the way back to 1978, a chaotic season in my parents’ life, and a time when God quietly placed me somewhere safe, warm, and unforgettable — Tulsa, Oklahoma, with Grandma and Grandpa.
Why Tulsa? The Book That Built a Legacy
From what I know, Grandpa had gone to Tulsa to devote time to creating “Through the Bible in One Year.” That’s where the publisher was located — where the magic was happening.
Mom dropped me off, and if you haven’t figured it out yet, I was the only grandchild on both sides. So yes… I got spoiled. More than spoiled.
And inside that Tulsa house is where Grandma got me ready for kindergarten.
But before we get to schoolwork and adventures, let’s start with night one.
Confessions to Grandma: A Five-Year-Old’s Faith
Grandma, as always, talked to me like I was a little adult. At some point she asked:
“Do you believe in Jesus?”
“Yes.”
“Have you accepted Him into your heart?”
“Yes.”
This surprised her.
She asked how, and my answer definitely threw her off:
“I followed the mailman on his route. We sat on the step and that’s where I asked Jesus into my heart.”
Grandma didn’t expect that.
And I didn’t realize then how deeply it touched her — or how much that moment would shape the rest of my life.
A Day in the Life With Grandma in Tulsa
Life with Grandma was never ordinary. She wasn’t your typical cookie-cutter grandmother. She was adventure, curiosity, laughter, and faith all rolled into one.
Bug of the Day
Every morning, she introduced me to a new bug.
Not a cute cartoon bug — a real one. She taught me to look it up in the Encyclopedia Britannica, and I learned without even realizing I was learning.
Breakfast With Love
Grandma made:
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice from her little Black & Decker juicer
- Eggs over easy
- Sausage
- Wheat toast
There was just something special about breakfast cooked by someone who loved you with her whole heart. The smell, the warmth, the laughter — I feel it even now.
Learning to Tell Time
One afternoon she cut up one of Grandpa’s old wallets, grabbed a paper plate and a push pin, and created a homemade teaching clock.
After a few weeks, I could tell time — and Grandma rewarded me with a black Timex wind-up watch. The original fidget spinner. I probably overwound that thing daily, but it just kept on ticking.
Forts, Davenport Cushions, and the Cool Uncle
I made countless forts out of Grandma’s old sofa — or the davenport, as she called it.
My uncle lived with them too, and he was a character. My very own “crazy uncle,” and I wouldn’t change that for the world. He took me to see Superman — front row. Still one of my favorite memories.
Watching Two Legends Work: The Making of the Books
Grandpa wrote everything by hand.
Grandma typed it all… fast. They were a perfectly synchronized machine.
I had to keep my distance when they were “in the zone,” but even at five years old, I knew I was watching something important — a legacy being born. One they had no idea would still matter decades later.
Trips to the Recording Studio
They would take me to the studio while they recorded lessons. I had:
- A tiny TV with antennas
- One earbud
- A lunch that basically consisted of Twinkies, pudding, and whatever snacks Grandma packed
I’d sit quietly in the lobby and wait — because back then, kids were expected to be “seen and not heard.”
Crazy how different the world was. We were little adults long before we ever grew up.
Grandma’s Great Countertop Adventure
One day Grandma climbed onto the kitchen counter to reach something, got her foot caught, and ended up injuring it — sprain or break, I can’t remember.
I do remember Mom taking her to the ER and returning with Grandma being wheeled inside on Grandpa’s office chair because it was the only thing with wheels.
That chair?
Still in my garage.
Still used.
A rolling piece of family history.
Hee Haw, Benny Hill, Pickled Okra, and Childhood Magic
I remember:
- Watching Hee Haw, Benny Hill, and The Dick Van Dyke Show
- My uncle eating pickled eggs and pickled okra
- A health food store he worked at
- Stashing fruit roll-ups in the top drawer of my dresser
- Paddle ball toys, jumping jacks, and endless little adventures
Those memories were the bright light during a rough time in my life — my parents’ divorce. And yet, God placed me in a home full of love, learning, patience, and purpose.
A Season That Shaped My Life
Looking back, I’m amazed my memory kept all of this — preserved it like a treasure chest.
I didn’t just stay with my grandparents.
I grew with them.
I learned faith, curiosity, independence, kindness, and the beauty of ordinary moments filled with extraordinary love.
Tulsa wasn’t just a place I lived.
It was one of the places God used to shape me — for life.
And Sarah, now you know the story behind the city you’ll drive through this Christmas.
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