Saying Goodybe

Bittersweet. That's how I'd describe everything surrounding Grandma's passing. Sad that she's gone of course, but so relieved because she's in a better place.

The funeral was great because all my family got to come. All of my cousins were there...not all of their families, but all of Grandma's grandchildren were back in Maryville to say goodbye. It was so nice laughing with them, catching up, and hearing their stories about Grandma and Grandpa. They had a lot of memories of them when they were still living on the farm since me and Nate are at least 12-15 years younger than all of them. It was something I knew that Grandma would be so happy about. She would have loved to be there, and she was in spirit of course!

I remember some of my favorite memories of my grandma:

• Working with her in the vegetable garden she took care of out on the farm


• Sunday dinners after church


• Sitting next to her in the same pew in church every Sunday


• Her strawberries & shortcake


• The smile and joy she had anytime we came to visit


• Her teaching me to cross-stitch


• Watching her make the most beautiful quilts


• Hearing her tell her stories about growing up during the Great Depression and the story of her father's death & the harvest


• Her sitting right next to my parents at all of my concerts/recitals/sports games/programs at school & church


• Watching her cook (homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, lemon bars, homemade rolls, etc.)


• Helping her in the garden (yes, I did... and I didn't even kill anything)


• The kids room (aka den) with my dad & aunts' old toys


• The elephant piggy bank


• Sneaking around the house, finding special old things or pictures and Grandma finding me and explaining what/why/when/how and never being mad


• Grandma playing cards with me


• The candy dish

Grandma was and is an angel. She was the most loving person and showed that in the simplest of ways. In a lot of ways I think I'm like her... reserved but rambunctious, feisty when I need to be but easygoing, and a giver. I am so glad that I have so many things to remind me of her too. She made a wedding quilt and baby quilts for everyone in my family, but seeing as how me and Nate aren't married and don't have children we shouldn't have gotten any. But Grandma loved us so much and knew she may not be around or be quilting when we were old enough to do these things, so she made us quilts ahead of time. I will cherish my quilts from Grandma forever and they will definitely hold a special place in my future home. I love them! I hope that someday I can learn to quilt better, like her, and pass on this tradition. I'm also trying more and more to cook, like she did. I've learned in my life that family and close friends are the most important things. Nothing else matters. I'm trying to live that out in my life and do whatever I can for those I love & spending as much time as I can with them. I will sacrifice my time, resources, and money to have great memories with those I love and I won't regret it...never have, and never will. I love you guys!!