A Lovely Lady

In my last post, I mentioned the recent passing of my grandma.  It's been just about a month since she passed away and yesterday would have been her 86th birthday.  Even before her passing, I didn't know what to say or write about her in a post like this.  In fact, I wasn't completely sure what to say about other things either...thus a break from blogging.  

A month later, I still don't think I can adequately describe what she meant to me.  Although, I'm sure you can imagine. She was my grandma, and who doesn't LOVE their grandma?  I loved being with her, learning from her, watching her, loving her.  I know several of my traits as an adult are linked to hers, especially my "always have to be doing something" nature.  She could never sit still and neither can I.  And coincidentally many of the things I am interested in as an adult, are things she was skilled at: sewing, gardening, cooking, canning and teaching bible class.

(both of my grandmother's at my grandpa's funeral--summer 2011)

Aside from the industrious tasks that she always kept busy doing, I learned a lot about caring for others by watching my grandma.   Before my grandpa passed away during the summer of 2011, I watched her care for him like no one else could. His decline was slow and difficult with added elements of dementia.  Despite her own physical limits, she cared and loved for him continually.  

She also cared for her family.  She and my grandpa went out of their way to be at so many of our events growing up.   Lots of games, meets, concerts, baptisms, high school and college graduations and of course weddings.  My grandparents were even the second pair to make it to the hospital the day our little miss was born.  And they probably would have beat my parents to meet their first great grandchild, but they had farther to drive. :-) 

She also made sure that as much as possible she could direct her family toward God.  Of course, she did a lot through her example because it was a big part of her life. But she also wasn't shy about sharing her opinion...on anything really.  When the little miss was born, her first gift from them was a tiny pair of shoes.  My grandma's instructions were that the little miss was to wear them on her first Sunday at church.  And so she did, at a week and a half. (photo below) My grandparents also gave the Little Miss her first Bible which she still uses today.

Her passing wasn't easy, but it wasn't all sad either.  It was actually full of a lot of warm memories, some laughs, and a special time for our family to remember her together.  Just following the graveside service for her, we took this picture of all my cousins and a few spouses.  A special gathering indeed since the last time we had all been together was 11 years ago.  I just know my grandma would have liked to have been there too.  I'll miss seeing her here.  But in a way that's a blessing, because it means my life was so positively effect by hers.  And I can confidently look forward to seeing her again in heaven.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!