With a little help from the fam, I was able to fly home the following Tuesday - Sunday for the funeral. It was so good to be with them. Johnny was scheduled to fly out Thursday morning, to make it in time for the viewing that night, but because his plane was damaged in a Denver hail storm, and since he was scheduled to fly back to Utah the next day, his flight was cancelled completely. We all wanted him there, but apparently it just wasn't in the cards.
Still, I'm so grateful I got to go home. Even though it was hard, I needed to say goodbye to Grams.
Grams was without a doubt one of the most influential people in my life. She was the best listener and sympathizer in the world. She always made me feel better when I was sad. She was such a supportive grandma. She taught me how to make pies and fudge and dinner rolls and caramels. She made me laugh anytime I was around her. She gave me fashion tips. She was always there for me, right across the street.
She loved me enough to come to my wedding even though she felt so weak and could hardly hold her head up. She never missed a grandchild's wedding.
I miss Grams so much. But I'm so thankful to have had her in my life these past 21 years.
Here are some pictures of my most recent memories of Grams.
Chris and Emily's Wedding in Oregon, June 2007
Joseph and Julieta's Wedding in Utah, April 2008
My High School Graduation, May 2008
Grams' Surprise 75th Birthday Party, August 2008
Trevor's High School Graduation, May 2009
Fourth of July, 2009
Emily's Baby Shower for Tanner, July 2009 (Grams hosted so many showers at her beautiful home!)
With me, Laura, and Becca (her adopted granddaughter), July 2009
At the Hospital for Tanner's Birth, August 2009
Thanksgiving in Utah, 2009
Christmas in Arkansas, 2009
Sushi with the Fam, August 2010
Julieta's Baby Shower for Clark, August 2010
Christmas in Arkansas, 2010
My Wedding in Utah, April 2011
After the funeral on Friday, we all came home and changed into casual clothes for lots of family pictures. Here's all of the grandkids. We came from Alabama, Colorado, California, Utah, and (most impressively) China! I think that covers everyone..
For this shot we threw in some spouses, too. I think we're just missing one wife and four husbands.
This is everybody!
Just the immediate family here (minus a very missed Johnny).
Here are some pictures of my most recent memories of Grams.
Chris and Emily's Wedding in Oregon, June 2007
Joseph and Julieta's Wedding in Utah, April 2008
My High School Graduation, May 2008
Grams' Surprise 75th Birthday Party, August 2008
Trevor's High School Graduation, May 2009
Fourth of July, 2009
Emily's Baby Shower for Tanner, July 2009 (Grams hosted so many showers at her beautiful home!)
With me, Laura, and Becca (her adopted granddaughter), July 2009
At the Hospital for Tanner's Birth, August 2009
Thanksgiving in Utah, 2009
Christmas in Arkansas, 2009
Sushi with the Fam, August 2010
Julieta's Baby Shower for Clark, August 2010
Christmas in Arkansas, 2010
My Wedding in Utah, April 2011She will surely be missed by anyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Here's some pictures from the family gathering for the funeral that I'm stealing from Emily who I believe stole them from either my cousin Maren. (Seriously, if you read Emily's blog you've already seen every one of these pictures. Thanks Emily and Maren!)
Thursday night after the viewing, all the girls in the family got together at Grams' house. We laid out all of her jewelry on her bed and then we picked out things we wanted to keep. It was so much fun to look at all of her stuff! She had accumulated quite the collection over the years. And now we can each carry a little piece of her with us whenever we wear her jewelry.Here's some pictures from the family gathering for the funeral that I'm stealing from Emily who I believe stole them from either my cousin Maren. (Seriously, if you read Emily's blog you've already seen every one of these pictures. Thanks Emily and Maren!)
After the funeral on Friday, we all came home and changed into casual clothes for lots of family pictures. Here's all of the grandkids. We came from Alabama, Colorado, California, Utah, and (most impressively) China! I think that covers everyone..
For this shot we threw in some spouses, too. I think we're just missing one wife and four husbands.
This is everybody!
Just the immediate family here (minus a very missed Johnny).I love my family. I love how everyone came together for a sad and hard thing, but we still managed to laugh and remember Grams with such love. That's the only way anyone can remember Grams. I think we're planning a reunion next summer, so I really hope to see everyone again then and to continue this legacy that Grams left us!
