My Grandmother

Oh boy.  I've been putting this off for awhile now.  It's the reason I was having a bad day a couple of weeks ago. 

It's not been a big secret that my Gran hasn't been in the best of health.  A few months ago her breast cancer came back for a third time.  Then a few weeks ago they found a mass in her lung and lymph nodes.  She's been in sever arm pain.  Two and a half weeks ago, when she and Grandy left here, the arm pain was so bad he drove her straight to the hospital in their town, didn't even go home. 

Unfortunatly she didn't leave the hospital.

She contracted what they thought was pneumonia, and now they aren't sure if it wasn't that or just the lung cancer being very aggressive.  Last week Grandy called Mom  and told her she needed to come right then.  So she did.  Gran made it another week, and so Mom came home for a few days.  Then she went back on Wednesday, and things were looking dismal as ever.  Thursday it was determined that Dad, Ashley, me and Luke needed to go down there, and we were set to leave Friday night or Saturday morning. 

Friday morning at 5:30 my phone rang.  Gran's blood pressure had dropped significantly.  Mom held the phone up so that I was able to say my good byes in case we didn't make it in time, and we hit the highway by 1.  She passed at 3:30, about two hours before we got there. 

My grandmother was an amazing woman.  She loved Jesus more than anything, and she loved her family next.  She was the epitome of what a wife and mother should be.  Gran and Grandy had a true love that you just don't see anymore.  I can't remember a time when they weren't flirting, kissing, hugging, holding hands.  Even at 75 after 56 years of marriage.  I  truly envy what they had. 

The entire weekend was such an emotional roll coaster.  We (my cousins, aunt, uncle, Mom, Dad, Ashley) would be laughing, telling stories, teasing each other, enjoying each other's company, and then we would be tearing up at how much we are gonna miss her.  Gran loved a good laugh.  She loved a good practical joke.  She loved celebrations, parties, a good time.  She loved a great hamburger, ice cream, Coke, and the lake.  A vast majority of my memories about her include water, a boat, outdoors, and/or great food. 

I  have never seen an out pouring of love from the community like I did this weekend.  Not an hour went by without someone dropping off food, paper goods, condolences, anything they could offer. The funeral yesterday was sweet.  Our jaws dropped when we pulled up and there were cars lining all the streets since the parking lot was full.  It was standing room only inside. 

So now, it's just time for prayers.  Prayers for my Grandy now that he's lost his sweet bride.  I worry about him, in the house they've lived in for 54 years all alone.  We all are confident that Gran is healed in the loving arms of her Jesus, laughing and having a blast in heaven, but the hole she left sends waves of emotions when you least expect it.