I had seven Grandmother figures in my life when I was born. Two Grandma’s, four Great Grandma’s and one Great Great Grandma. I just lost my last one. It feels odd knowing that I don’t have any Grandma’s on earth anymore.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write a post about her because I knew it would be very difficult emotionally. I know she will never get to read this. Recently she told my Mom she thought I should be a writer. She really loved this blog of mine. This post is a tribute to her. To celebrate and remember a life well lived.
I am so happy to know that she is no longer in pain and is rejoicing in Heaven. A few hours before she passed away I prayed that her Mom and Dad our cat Lizzie would be waiting for her. It is still so recent. As I write this it hasn’t even been 24 hours since she was just across the hall from me. I was able to fly in to see her just in time.
That’s the funny thing about time, though. There really is never enough of it. I know that I had more time with both of my Grandma’s than some people ever got to have with theirs. I mean that both in the number of years they were apart of my life and in the amount of time I got to spend with them. I have lived with both sets of my Grandparents at different points in my life. So while I did get a lot of time with them at the end of the day it still doesn’t feel like enough. There are so many special moments in my life that are yet to come. And of course, I want my Grandma’s there for that.
I am so thankful that I made it to her side just in time. It wasn’t the goodbye that I would have wished for. However, a month ago she told me her goodbyes so I do have that. She couldn’t speak by the time I got here and couldn’t keep her eyes open for long. She saw me, though. She knew I was here and that means the world to me. Two days before I got to her I wrote her a song.
I knew I wanted to try and come see her before she left this earth. I started to try to figure out exactly what I wanted to say. We’ve always been on good terms so I didn’t have to patch anything up with her. I also didn’t really feel like anything had been left unsaid. It dawned on me that with the type of relationship that we had there was nothing more to say than thanks for the memories, I miss you already, I love you always. Once I thought of that the song just poured out of my heart. I got to read it for her and I know she could hear me. I hope that she enjoyed it and that it brought her comfort.
I would like to share a list of 10 Things I Am Glad to Have Inherited From My Grandmama:
♥ A Love for God
My whole family has been very instrumental in my relationship with God. Grandmama was a great encouragement in that area of my life. She was a prayer warrior. I have inherited her love for the Lord. I wish I could have taken her to my new church. I know she would have really liked it and it would have made her proud to see my involvement there. Because of our faith in God, I know that we will meet again in Heaven.
I took this picture on Christmas a few years ago. The way the camera caught the reflection of the sun reminded me of a cross. It seemed like the perfect picture to add one of my favorite bible verses to.
My Mom told me that she wanted her headstone to read “Grandmama of Melissa and Michelle. She was so proud to be our Grandmama. I have no doubt that she’s filling in her friends and family in Heaven about what my sister and I have been up to.
♥ A Love for Shopping
The shopping gene is very strong in both my Mom and I which came directly from Grandmama. When I was little we had weekly shopping trips. I realize that it sounds very extravagant and makes me sound spoiled. Yes, I was spoiled I will admit it. But, the shopping trips weren’t about spending money. We didn’t always buy things. The three of us really enjoyed just going to the mall to walk around and browse in the stores.
Black Friday Shopping with Grandmama and my Mom
Black friday shopping was a big tradition for the three of us. Every single year we would get up before the sun to go shopping. I am not a morning person at all but I would the first one up and ready to go. I will think of her every time I go shopping.
♥ A Love for Travel
My Grandmama was always planning a trip. She loved going on an adventure and I do too. The list of places that she traveled to is incredibly long. She was blessed to visit some great places. One of her favorite ways to travel was on a cruise.
She was very encouraging of my traveling as well. She looked forward to seeing my pictures and hearing my stories. Two trips with Grandmama that come to mind are a cruise that we took for my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary and a surprise trip to Walt Disney World for my 13th birthday. Even after she became too sick to travel she still spoke about where she wanted to travel to next. Her love and desire to travel stayed with her to the end.
♥ A Love for Writing
Grandmama loved to write letter and notes of encouragement. She worked very hard to keep in touch with family and friends. One of our dear family friends went through Grandmama’s address book and in just one month she had listed over 44 people with birthday’s. It was important to her to try and send everyone a card in addition to trying to call them all. I love writing letters to my family and friends. Of course, I love writing my blog. I even write songs and stories from time to time. I will forever treasure all of the sweet notes and cards that I have from her.
♥ A Love for Quality Time
Spending quality time with her family and friends meant the world to her. She cherished those moments and looked forward to them. Whether spending time on the phone catching up with someone or visiting with them in person she would light up. I too love getting to spend quality time with my favorite people.
♥ A Love for Disney
My Grandparents were married the year that The Disneyland Resort opened. They went to Disneyland several times over the years. I was very young during the times we went to Disneyland together but I vividly remember our Walt Disney World trip. It was a complete surprise to my sister and I. Grandmama and my Mom put the whole trip together. They didn’t even tell my Grandpa untill the day before because they knew he might let it slip. It was one of the most magical trips that I have ever taken.
I remember going to see Disney movies in the theatres with her. And seeing Disney on ice together. Eeyore was her favorite character so I loved buying her presents related to him. I wish she could have taken one of my tours when I worked at Disney. I know she was very proud that I worked there but I know she would have been delighted to see me in action.
♥ A Love for Taking Pictures
She loved taking pictures. We used to spend hours scrapbooking together. I loved going to crops with her and my Mom. We would go to someone’s house and stay until midnight scrapbooking. We took pictures of everything. I still do that. My Mom and I have started sorting through pictures to try and pick what ones we would like for her visitation. There are so many pictures and memories to choose from.
♥ A Love for Keeping in Touch with Friends
Even after moving to Tennessee she worked very hard to stay connected to her friends in California. A lot of our family members lived far away but she stayed in touch with them too, even distant relatives. She loved being connected and invested in the lives of others. I love keeping in touch with my friends even when we live far apart. One of my best friends lives in Australia but she is ones of my closest friends. Grandmama taught me to make staying in contact a priority.
♥ A Love for Reading
I have had a strong love for reading for as long as I can remember. Both Grandmama and I could finish a book in record time. There are still books sitting by her spot in the living room. I was so happy to surprise her with two autographed books for Christmas last year. I got books for her at Candace Cameron Bure and Dick Van Dyke’s book signings in Los Angeles. She had both of them finished within a few days.
♥ A Love for Creativity
I could go on and on about how creative she was. This is another thing that I see in both my Mom and I. She made the most precious Flounder costume for me when I was little. I’ve heard about the incredible cakes she used to make for a living. She used to get very creative for Christmas and birthdays.
I feel so lucky that I got to call her mine.
So sweet…and all so true!!
This was a wonderful tribute, written with a heavy heart but a true love in your soul. Thank you for sharing what an amazing women she was with us.