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!