What a lady

Last Fourth of July, every member of the extended family was summoned to Coeur d'Alene, per Grandma's request for a big family picture. We gather for the Fourth every year, but it was one of our best visits, with the cousin parade, baseball game and fireworks. and those family pictures sure are a treasure.This year, every member of our extended family once again descended on my grandparent's river house, but for a more somber occasion--to say goodbye to Grandma.After an intense 4-month battle with cancer, my Grandma B passed away June 23rd. Her last few months of life were difficult, but she was an incredible woman. I had the blessing of spending my week between DC and spring term helping my grandparents. It was a difficult week, but I am so grateful for the chance I had to spend that time with my grandma. From weeding her garden to taking her hand and walking her into her chemo and dialysis appointments to watching her speed around the grocery store in the motorized scooter, I treasure all of those memories.
My grandma was moved to a hospice room the day I came home from school. I am so glad I could be there with the rest of my aunts, uncles and cousins as we gathered that weekend to say goodbye to Grandma. As she slipped out of this life, our family rallied together to support our grandma by camping out in the hospice.

(Grandma's funeral was on her and my grandpa's 55th anniversary. Here they are at the family celebration for their 50th)

She was just 72, but what an amazing woman she was. She loved her kids and grandkids so much. When we were little, she and her sister took their grandkids to a week at the beach house in Lincoln City, where she would take us exploring and to the teddy bear store. She loved to sew, and made me the most elaborate doll clothes. My favorite article of clothing from the ages of 5-7 was the magenta sweatshirt with the ballerina hippos she sewed on. She had the best arts and crafts and the best stories and was the best grandma, always so devoted to the family. Like her obituary says, she was the consummate grandmother.It was tough as everyone gathered in the river house this weekend, because it is so grandma's house. Her purse in the closet. Her flowers in the garden. Her decorations everywhere. She was the leader of the family--the one who cooked delicious meals for crowds, kept us on our toes and just loved us.

I am comforted by the Atonement, the fact that I will be able to see my grandma again and the fact that she is somewhere better--free from the earthly body that gave her so much pain at the end.

"and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" -Revelation 21:4

Goodbye, Grandma. I sure do love you!