my grandma

this is a photo of my grandma just two weeks ago. she passed away saturday morning. her entire family was by her side through the night. it was a long night full of the known, yet unknown. we talked to her, sang to her and prayed for her. on friday i told her i loved her and followed it with, "i know you love me, too." (which is what i have been doing since she has been unable to respond) for the first time in a week, she whispered, "i do" and winked at me. winking has sort of been our little thing this past month-her way of agreeing with me or laughing with me.

here are just a few of the things for which i thank her: for taking me to church every sunday when i was a little girl, for taking me to pick blueberries every year and not getting upset that i ate more than i put in the bucket, for making me help keep her house clean when i stayed with her after school and during the summers (i promise i vacuumed every day), for being half of the couple whom i consider to be the perfect picture of true love, for not getting upset the time i used the iron to melt crayons all over the top of her freezer, for teaching me to sew when i was five years old and never giving up on me, but always challenging me to make it better.

so much of who i am is because of her. and i must say that i am so thankful that i had such a wonderful grandma, friend and role model. i will miss her, but am thankful that she is in a much better place.