Reflection on a wonderful Grandma

Its been a busy past few weeks.  I'm continually reminded of how very blessed I am to have the people I have in my life.  Its amazing how God just puts people in your life when you need them most.  My life has gone through quite a lot of transition the past week or so.  On an exciting note, I assisted my parents in moving to Arizona where I know they will find a new way of life and I have full faith God will bless their time there.  I'm so proud of them for following God's will for their lives even if it meant a lot of heart ache along the way.  I'm excited for this new chapter in their lives.  It is hard though, this will be the 1st time since this family began that we are not all in a close distance to each other...I know we'll make it work, and could make for some interesting holidays from here on out!  

It was with heavy hearts that we lost my grandma Betty on September 3rd.  We were all at her bedside in the hospital room as she took her last breath.  Its the hardest thing I've ever had to endure watching, but all at the same time peaceful.  She was tired and was ready to go and she had just what she wanted...her family at her side, all loving her and loving each other.  I couldn't imagine the pain my Aunt Karen, Uncle Randy and my mom have endured for i couldn't imagine loosing my mother.  I know its all a part of life, and she did have a great life, and she lived!  She lived for her family!  Just moments before she passed she said the best thing she ever did was be a mom and eventually being a grandmother.  She said as far as she was concerned it was the single most important thing a woman could do and she was so very proud of her kids and grandkid...that she thought she did a pretty good job :)  Some of you may see it odd that i'm posting this now, but due to moving my parents we were unable to attend the funeral.  So this is kind of my own little service to her.  Remember her...her eyes with such sparkle for life, her love for her family and the traditions we carried on for years, and one of the things i will remember most is her laugh.  I'm happy to say all of us girls got the giggle genes and i'm so glad because now when i get the giggles i know I will think of her.  It was so amazing to get to know her in my adulthood, grandparents hold such a different place in your heart as you get older than when you were a child.  She gave me the best thing i could ever imagine and that is a wonderful mom who loves her children more than any other people on this earth.  She has amazed me this past week in the loss of her mom, her strength is just unbelievable.  I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful woman to look up to in my life and even luckier that she is my mom.  

The following poem was the poem I was lucky enough to pick for the program for the funeral services.  

God looked around His garden

and He found an empty place,

He then looked down upon this

earth, and saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you 

and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful.

He alwasy takes the best.

He knew that you were suffereing,

He knew you were in pain.

He knew that you would never get

well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough

and hte hills were hard to climb.

So He closed your weary eyelids,

and whispered, "Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you but

You didn't go alone.

For part of us went with you

the day God called you home.

I will forever miss you grandma but you will always live on in my heart and in my memories.