Life

So life is an interesting thing to think about. I know that sounds like an odd way to start a post, but go with me on this one!


My Gran passed away a few weeks ago now. I miss her dearly. And I have had the privilege of spending a lot of time with her before she went to be with Christ and now am learning even more about her that I did not now after her passing. One thing that was discovered was a whole bunch of letters of communication between her and my Papa while my papa was training or fighting in World War 2. They are AMAZING to read. The laughter, the wishes, the dreams, the love, the fears. It is all hand written to each other in these letters. I knew my grandparents and knew them both well, but this was a side of them I had not been blessed to see until now. I am so honored to be reading these letters.  When in a time of crisis or hardship you could see my grandfather comfort my grandmother to not worry and that it would be ok and he still wants to be home for Christmas. That song, 'I'll be home for Christmas' sure has new meaning for me. 

I miss my grandparents and think of them often. As I have been going through trials in my own life. Even lately, I am looking to my grandparents on both sides of my family for insight. They lived through some of the toughest times in our nation and had some tough times in the personal lives.  They made it and came through with amazing insights for their children and now for their grandchildren and I only hope I can pass on those values and ideals onto my children.  They learned the value of money which is an important lesson that kids in my generation and younger a lot of times forget. Money was cherished and hard worked for to get it.  Now kids think that they just ask mom and dad and money just comes to them.  I think teaching children the value of a dollar could help put things into perspective for them.  I think that now that I am learning a budget and the value of the dollar and seeing these letters and hearing stories prior to now from my Gran and reading journal entries from my MeMa is showing me how GOOD I have had it and that now may be a rough patch financially but nothing like what they went through. And seeing how my mother and father turned out just is another illustration of how money does NOT buy happiness.  If you talk to them or their siblings they remember the awesome things their parents did with them, or the Christmas mornings that they had and they were never 'sad' about what was or wasn't there it was always we were given this and we did that with family! That is really special to me and I hope that I can instill the same values in my children as was instilled in my mom and dad.

Life is truly a short time here on earth.  We are blessed with those we love and cherish and place time and invest of ourselves in them.  I am thankful for all I have and all I have had.  I am grateful for my life. I think that life is a blessing and each of us should cherish each and every day to the fullest of our ability.  I look forward to the many opportunities that God is placing before me now and in my future that I cannot even see yet. 

I know this has been a bit of a haphazard post and I hope you can forgive me for that but I really wanted to put these thoughts down on paper and I just wanted to share. I hope that you can appreciate it for what it is worth. 

I have been thinking about things I want to change this new year. And I know it is already the 3rd week of the new year but I am just getting to posting about it. I am trying to always have a book (at least one) that I am reading. I am working to get back into ballet form and shape! That is a big goal of mine! I will be back out there dancing. =) I want to be blogging at least 5 times a week. I really want to expand on my writing and please send feedback. I want to expand my horizons and try new things with my girls this year as they are older. I plan on going to at least 1 (Lord willing more than 1) yankee game in the new stadium.  I also want to be working on at least 1 piece of artwork always this year. I want to put those out there (probably up on here) for critique and a critical eye.  I plan on those being photography, painting, drawing, poetry, not sure what else but at least those options. I really have some major changes I want to do this year and for me 2011 is truly a year for new changes and explorations in my own life!

Well, I am signing off! Have a blessed day and know that I will be back soon!

Gran

Hi....

My Gran (my father's mother) passed away this past Sunday January 1st, 2011, she is a wonderful woman of God and I just have so many thoughts in my head that I thought blogging might be a good way of expressing some of how I am feeling and some of the thoughts that have been on my mind with my Gran passing. 

Gran was the life of the party. =) She always had a way of making us feel welcome and loved no matter how long between visits. I cherish that she and my Papa only lived about 5 minutes away from me since I was a child, and we were always going out there and seeing them. It was a joy in my life. Gran always took the time to teach each of us how to swim, how to bake, how to cook, how to eat lol (she was always baking and cooking for us).  Come to think of it, I cannot remember a time I did not walk into her home and it smelled like either something had just been baked or cooked. =) It was a WONDERFUL smell that will be forever engraved in my mind.

Gran and I got to spend some precious time together over her battle with cancer. She fought breast cancer since 1999 and boy she is a strong woman and would not let that cancer take her down and fought with all she had. I admire that will and fight within her more than anything. She always was worrying and caring for each of us even when she was so sick.  She was wanting to help us and be there for me through my recent struggles in my own life and my marriage.  That was her spirit though and what she always ingrained in me from the time I was a small child was that you always think of others and their needs. Put others before yourself.

There are no where near enough words to encompass what a wonderful, strong, loving, kind, woman of God my Grandmother Ruth was.  She always had a smile on her face and made us kids smile.

I know she is at peace, and was at peace before she passed, she spoke the words 'I am not afraid'. That was such a peaceful statement. She knew she was going to be in heaven with her heavenly Father and with her husband. =) it makes me smile to think of them reunited, not in pain anymore.

There is so much more I could say, i probably could write a novel just about my Grandmother (in fact about both sets of my grandparents). I just am blessed and feel so honored for the time I was personally given here on earth with her and that she and I had some amazing conversations over the last few months of her life and I forever am grateful for having her be such a big part of my life and my children's lives. =)

Thank you Gran for everything! You are missed deeply, and loved deeply, but we know you are in a better place! I am at peace knowing you are watching over us from up above. Love you Gran!