♥ grammy. ♥

i had a feeling it would be soon.
especially yesterday, when i took pictures of mom taking gram out for a walk.
i knew it.
i knew that she would most likely be less than a month here.
and now she's with Jesus; vibrantly alive and strong, beautiful and whole.
and home.
not to mention she's with grandpa jack, her husband; and all her immediate family.
it's a beautiful thing up there.
and what a gorgeous day.
what hurts my heart is seeing others cry; hearing mom call people and tell them the news.
i feel like i'm crying for the whole family, for goodness sake.
i've been a leaky faucet ever since that moment around 9:30 today. 

my birthday 2010

july 3 2009

july 30 2009 ^^gram, me, and eliyah as a wee little thing:)

november 14 2009 ^^grandma, grandpa, lyddie and grammy.

november 2 2009 drinking coffee in the kitchen with me:)

november 3 2009 gram and a friend.

january 1 2010 ....it's obvious rach and lyd had fun getting gram dressed up. ;)

july 17 2009 my graduation party.

july 30 2009 gram holding eliyah:) she was just 3 months old. gram cooed over her all the time.

february 12 2011

don't ask me which year this was. she was in scotland. mom says it was in 2000.
crazy to think that 11 years ago she was traveling.

may 8 2010 ^^this makes me laugh:) dad says she looks like a professor or something.

may 8 2010 ^^that look in her eyes; she was about to say something. this brings to mind her phrases that centered around my imaginary boyfriend. i'd be walking through the living room, and she'd say "oh, you look dressed up today. you going out with your boyfriend?" and she'd have this cheeky smile on her face.

in the kitchen before the funeral people came for her, mom nudged me.
"good morning, grammy!" she quoted in a high voice. we laughed and i started crying.
"i'll never forget that; your suave way with her."
yep.
it's true. everyone said i had a way with her.
she brought out the best and worst in me. we'd have good mornings and interviews and conversations goodnights and be snarky. that was when she talked more.
she was 87. and i'm so glad she lived that long. if she had gone earlier, with less of a long decline, i don't know how much harder that would be.
i remember her banana bread. the clip on earrings she wore. the jello with mandarin oranges that she'd bring to lunch after church on sundays. the hugs she would give. how i was jealous of her clean buick car versus our van that always looked inhabited, if you know what i mean. her chocolate chip cookies in a tupperware container with a slice of bread to keep it moist.

making krumkake with her in her kitchen. burning our fingers on the fresh lovelies and eating them with smiles and pride over our dainty work of yumminess. the scavenger hunt mom and anna made up for her to find a cute little tv how many years ago. the stories i hear of her coming to the house when i was born, and the pizza she warmed up for everyone and the handkerchief on her head, oh so stylish. ;) the story she would tell on prompting of how grandpa jack asked her on their first date, and how he proposed a while later. the white sugar she would let us sprinkle on our rice krispies and cheerios the morning after a sleepover at her house. adventures, adventures. and the bag of bugles and snacks she'd bring on roadtrips with our family? cherished.
i love her. and i'm so grateful God gave her to us . . . . and for how He's taking care of her now.
♥