Remembering Grammie

{my grandparents with me on our wedding day, 1999}

My dear Grammie passed away yesterday afternoon. She had been ill for quite a few years, and over the past couple months had really started failing even more, so we knew it might be soon . . . still, it came as a bit of a shock that she went so quickly. It's been bittersweet, knowing we'll miss her in so many ways, but also knowing she is whole and happy now, and would never wish to be back here. My heart aches for my Grampa, though--they had been married almost 61 years and I know her passing will leave a big void in his life. Please pray for him.

I was thinking back on some of my memories of her, many very special memories from my growing up years, before she became sick. As a kid, I spent quite a bit of time at my grandparents' house, since they lived only a few miles away. I remember sometimes staying there during the day when I was sick (my mom was working at our small Christian school at the time). Gram would make me comfy on the couch with pillows and a blanket, and always a chair beside me with a cup of orange juice on it. I'd spend the day reading through their vast collection of comic books; it wasn't too bad being sick at Grammie's house! :) Another memory is of Gram taking me out for lunch, just the two of us. I know this happened at least once, maybe more than once . . . I still remember where we went and what I ate for lunch. In later years when Jo and I were at boarding school, Gram and Grampa would often come and pick us up for the weekend, and sometimes they would take us out to eat on the way home.

Grammie was always proud of us and supportive of us in so many ways. She would give my sister and me lots of little odd jobs to do in the summers so we could earn some money. We helped in the gardens, picked blueberries, hung out and folded laundry. She almost always had her famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on hand, and her special iced tea (made with frozen lemonade mixed in) and insisted that we take frequent breaks to have a drink so we wouldn't get overheated. :) During our high school and college years, she was in charge of sending us an envelope of "goodies" (letters, candy, etc.) from our church family. We received one of these packets every week, and she would always include an index card with quarters taped onto it for our laundry, and sometimes a few dollars of extra spending money too. She had a very generous heart and was always looking for ways to bless and encourage us. In more recent years, she has passed on some of her own special treasures to me . . . dishes, some of her jewelry, etc. I know that I will always think of her when I use them or look at them.

I am so glad that our goodbye here on earth is only for a little while, and that I can look forward to seeing Grammie and many of my other loved ones again. "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!!"