Grandma

When someone you love becomes a memory,

that memory becomes a treasure.

~unknown

This is grandma holding Hudson at the Fourth of July parade 2008.

My dear sweet grandma passed away March 9, 2012

Funeral was yesterday, it was hard to say goodbye. I am following strict orders from my uncle to go home and write down our memories of grandma and our feelings from the day.  Since this is my journal,  here we go.

I don't think I will ever be able to put all of my feelings and memories into one post but I'll try to do my best.

  One of the stories told by my mom and grandma over and over was when I was little and I was at grandmas I was in my chair waiting for toast saying "un toas, un toas, un toas" (I want toast) over and over and over, until I got my toast.  Grandma would tell me this story often, then grab my face and kiss my cheek. Years later when I was grown up, not as much as I am now, but grown up still the same, she still fixed me toast.  After school I usually had just a few minutes to stop by her house before I had my dance or piano lessons (which was 4 out of the 5 days), I would always change my clothes and have some toast.  She wasn't always there to make my toast but she always made sure there was a loaf of bread and some jam waiting there for me. That is a treasure.

I remember spending the night at her house and forgetting my tooth brush, so there we stood side by side brushing our teeth, me with my finger. That is a treasure.

I remember going to her work at the hospital, getting into her desk drawer for lipstick and gum.  It's funny because my cousins and I were talking and they used to do the exact same thing. I think she kept it in there just for us. That is a treasure.

I remember sitting at her kitchen table, just her and I. Sipping herbal tea she taught me to play rummikub.  I was disgruntled at the time, I wasn't a numbers person and I certainly wasn't a math person, but I learned that it wasn't that hard and I enjoyed the game. That is a treasure.

Our "girls" spring break shopping trips to SLC staying at the Howard Johnson and walking to Denny's for breakfast. That is a treasure.

Grandma taking the whole family to Disneyland, not one, not two, but three times. She went on all the rides with us.  That is a treasure.

When we moved back home after dental school we lived just a few doors down from her, the kids were constantly running down to her house so they could visit her, she always sent them home with baggies of candy. That is a treasure.

She brought the funny papers with her to church every Sunday so she could give them to the kids. That is a treasure.

Running over to her house to fix her TV or bring her lunch. That is a treasure.

Visiting her in the hospital and seeing how her face lit up when she saw the kids, giving them hugs and kisses even if that was all the strength she had in her body. THAT. IS. A. TREASURE!!!

She loved her children without a doubt, she loved her grandchildren, no question, she loved her great-grandchildren for sure.  This incredible woman had a lot of love to give and you could feel it. 

Yesterday was a beautiful celebration of the life she lived, The Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren sang A Child's Prayer.  The first verse was a little shaky (for me) the second a little better and during the round I'm sure angels joined in because it sounded beautiful and there was the most amazing spirit there. That day brought me even closer to all my cousins whom I love dearly, every one! Closer to my aunts and uncles and even my own brothers.  Dear sweet Scott had a hard day, I was worried he would. But he was well taken care of by our wonderful family.

 I think I used an entire box of Kleenex, the pockets of Nate's suit coat were overflowing with spent tissues. By the end of the service there wasn't a speck of makeup left on my face.

Stephanie gave a beautiful life sketch and My uncle Jeremy spoke of family memories.  They both did an amazing job and stood there so strong. 

It was a dreary day switching from rain to snow, isn't that just the way it supposed to be at a funeral? While we were sitting there waiting for the procession to begin my dad was throwing snow balls at everyone.  Nothing like my good ole' dad, lightening the mood, I love him for it.

Sorry my pics are blurry, my camera wouldn't focus...still won't, anyway.  These are the pall bearers and honorary pall bearers, toughing it out in the rain. I'm sure she was beaming at the sight of these wonderful men.

I will miss my grandma so so much, I love her dearly. She has been an amazing and wonderful part of my life.  I know she is happy, I know she is with her mom and dad, and two older brothers whom she adored.

This is from the back of the funeral program, I don't know who wrote it but it is AMAZING:

The Best

God saw you were getting tired and a cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around you and whispered, "Come to me."

With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away.

Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

It's lonesome here without you, we miss you more each day,

Life just doesn't seem the same since you have gone away.

When days are sad and lonely and everything goes wrong,

We seem to hear you whisper, "cheer up and carry on."

Each time we see your picture, you seem to smile and say,

Don't cry I'm in God's keeping, we'll meet again someday.

A couple of my very very favorite pictures of grandma.

♥   I love you Grandma.   ♥