My Grams

My dear, sweet grandma died yesterday afternoon after suffering a brain hemorrhage during the night. I, unfortunately, comprehend things most when I'm physically present, so it's still so hard for me to believe it's true. Tears are constantly streaming down my face, but my mind keeps saying "it can't be true, she'll still be there with her crazy smile and big hugs when I get home at Christmas"...but she won't be, and my heart hurts.

Outside my immediate family and Chris, grandma will always hold the place of "most impacting individual" in my life. She taught me life lessons that no one but a grandma can teach. I learned what it looks like to be hard-working AND people-oriented. I learned what it looks like to love everyone you come in contact with. I learned that if people are "attention-seekers", they must need attention...so give it to them! I learned that it's possible to forgive people who do you wrong...40 times 40. I learned that you really can get all the love you need from God, and that His love really will fill you to overflowing. And I learned that I have SO much more to learn.

I'm most sad for those of us that are left here, because we don't get to learn from her anymore. But, I'm not sad for her. I PRAISE Jesus, because she was healthy these last two weeks. She'd been suffering from crippling headaches, lethargy, forgetfulness...and the last time I was with her, I could sense discouragement slowly seeping into her soul. Her body didn't keep up with her spirit, and it was crushing her. Thank you, Lord, for giving her this last gift of a healthy body. She always said she wanted to die working, and she got to.

I'll miss you, grandma. So much. I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you when you left, but I'll see you again, and we'll giggle and hug and cuddle and be crazy like we always did. I'm glad you're not in any more pain.

Grams, these are the things I'll remember most. Thank you for being a lover of the little things...they made all the difference.

- Pressing down on your vericose veins while we held hands and talked.
- Barely touching your side and making you scream 'cause it tickled so much.
- Ice cream sandwiches and Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights.
- Trips to Sam's on the 4-wheeler
- Picking WAY too much sweet corn than we should eat, and then eating it all anyway.
- Having a fellow strawberry lover.
- Norwegian prayers
- Waves goodbye
- Sewing projects when I'd come up over the summer
- Electric kisses
- Giggling in bed
- Baby's Boat's a Silver Moon....
- Never complain, always smile
- Fresh bread baking
- Swimming in the baby pool in our bras
- Freezing things from the garden
- Searching through your huge box of mittens/hats/scarves to get all bundled up to make snow forts
- Precious Moments
- "Hey, Good Lookin' "
- Haircuts in the kitchen
- Church every Sunday, without fail
- Your "green thumb" that I definitely didn't inherit. :)
- Never being able to get you to sit down for an entire meal.
- Watering your flowers every night
- Every little kid in the WORLD loved you.
- Your response to compliments..."sickening, isn't it?!"
- Life is really good.
- Blue trident gum in your black leather purse
- Crazy doll in the attic
- The Polyanna Board Game and crazy men waddling down the cutting board
- You never once yelled, and I never once wanted to disobey

Thank you for the big things, too. You taught us how to love, how to deal with pain, how to forgive and truly forget, how to lean on Jesus in everything. I loved you as much as anyone could love their grandma, and my whole heart misses you right now. I hope you know how much you're loved.