Red Jello, Bedtime Stories, and I Spy...

It was a year yesterday, since my Gramma passed away.

This is such a bittersweet feeling. My Gramma loved the Lord completely, with everything she had. I know how happy she is, how she's rejoicing right now. But when I take the time to remember, I get choked up because i miss her so much. Shortly after she passed away, i had a dream. She was in heaven, but for some reason i was talking to her, face to face. I remember looking at her with anticipation, and the biggest smile ever, and asking "Gramma, do you have a nice room up there?" I know she does.

Grandma, these are a few of my favorite memories with you...

- Every time i would come over to your house as a little girl, i would run straight for the fridge, or your dry sink beside it, and you ALWAYS had my favorite jello, or buttermilk cookies ready, because you knew how much i loved them.

- You had this fun little swing set in the back yard. Us grandkids would always play too hard on it, so you were constantly cementing the posts back down (sorry)

- When I would stay the night, you would always read us a bedtime story. You had a great story voice. My favorite was the cloth book. I have that book up in my room now, and i plan to read it to my kids someday.

- You always told the same life stories over and over. Sometimes, i wished i could hear a new one, but oh what I wouldn't give right now to hear them all again. The best was when you talked about your own Grandma.

- We would stay up late, you, Ray, and i, in the kitchen, playing i spy. Oh how i loved that.

- Whenever you were in the kitchen, you were humming a song.

- One time, after i did something really hard, you told me that if pride weren't a sin, you would be proud of me.

- When there was a sale in Kidron, we would sit by the window in the toy room and watch the traffic go by.

- When i would come see you in the hospital, or the nursing home, you always kissed my hand before i left.

- When mom and i came to clean, you always told us there wasn't anything more to do (even though there was), so we could come sit with you at the table sooner.

Gramma, know that i love you, and that you are missed so, so much.