I had a very special teacher in fifth grade. I had no idea how special she was at the time, and I’m afraid I wasn’t always appreciative of what she was doing for us. I had no idea what an impact she had made on my life until years later. What clued me in was how my attitude about Ellen G. White was so different than my peers and even some of the older folks. You see, my fifth-grade teacher was Grace Jacques, Ellen’s granddaughter.

Grace grew up at Elmshaven, near St. Helena, at the northern end of California’s Napa Valley. It was a lovely Victorian home built by railroad developer, Robert Pratt, during California’s Gold Rush days.

Elmshaven was the new name Ellen gave this haven of rest in the elm trees after moving there in 1900. She lived there until her death in 1915.

Grace often told us stories from “Grandmother’s home.” As I recall, they were fun and delightful stories of a dear, sweet grandma who loved children, and they loved her. Grace described how she and the neighbor children would play in the yard with Grandma joining in the fun. Her home was a place where children were welcome—a place where they delighted to be.

Those images of laughter and play, and the kind and gentle grandmother, were locked in my mind. We had recently moved away from my own grandmother, and the stories reminded me of her. When I was in college, many of my classmates, even theology majors, had this strange picture of who Ellen was. They saw her as a stern, unpleasant, and judgmental woman whose main mission in life was to ruin all possibility of people having fun. I wondered where they got such a far-fetched idea.

While at Elmshaven, Ellen wrote some of my favorite books: Christ’s Object Lessons, The Ministry of Healing, Acts of the Apostles, Gospel Workers, revised The Great Controversy, plus penned many articles and pamphlets. The books, Education and Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, were also authorized for publication at that time, and the completed Patriarchs and Prophets was published two years after her death.

While at Elmshaven, Ellen put much emphasis on education and helped establish a worldwide education system. No wonder her granddaughter, Grace, chose to become a teacher.

After Grace retired, she moved back to her childhood home and became the tour guide for the Elmshaven compound. I had a chance to visit while she was there, and I told her how grateful I was that she had shared those wonderful stories of her grandmother. I was given a very special gift. I was allowed to see Ellen through her granddaughter’s eyes—to see her for who she truly was—not some distorted view by those whose hearts are rubbed the wrong way by what is true, noble, and good, nor by some whose self-proclaimed mission is to inflict her words upon others in some sick quest for importance or control. I am forever grateful to my fifth-grade teacher and the beautiful gift she gave me.

Elmshaven was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1993. You can plan your visit at http://elmshaven.org.

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Conference communication director.