Gram

by Meredith

My heart has been heavy the last week.  My dear Grandma Helen passed away last Thursday, January 24 at 10:15pm.  She had ongoing respiratory problems and they caught up to her at age 90.  But, up until the last month - she got to do everything she wanted to.  She has been my second mom and best friend for my entire life.  I hope I can be just like her.  Handle things with grace, have the most unconditional love for my family and friends, keep my faith in God strong, be hard working, focus on the present and keep going.  I love you Grams, so very very much.  I'm so happy you were mine and I was yours.  Even though you're gone, I feel like you'll be with me forever.  Until we meet again in the land of glory, love your Meredith.

John 14:1-4, 18-19, 25-27

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”

¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

{Dad's birthday brunch at Dangerfield's}

{Annual birthday cake made by Gram}

{Gram's 89th birthday at Sunsets}

{90th birthday at Church}

{Walk by Minnehaha Falls}

{Three generation trip to Duluth}

Vintage Scarfs

by Meredith

While Gram and I were looking through some of her things, we came across a box full of her little scarfs.  They were very popular in the 50's.  She let me have them and absolutely adore pairing them with an outfit for color.  You can find them all over vintage stores.

Gram's House

by Meredith

Thankfully I haven't had hard change forced upon me for most of my life - up until the last year and a half.  I loved that, even though experienceing change is a good thing, because no matter what change happens.  It's inevitable.

This past weekend we moved my Grandma into an assisted living community.  Her place is beautiful and looks like a one bedroom condo I would purchase.  Also, it's super close to our home in Richfield.  It just got too be to much - helping her and my mom.

I always knew this day was coming, but wasn't sure when and never wanted to be the one to pull the trigger.  We had to do it though.

It's a strange feeling doing something you know you have to do, but really don't want to in fear of the impact.  When we were moving things Miranda Lambert's the House that Built Me kept playing over and over in my head.  I kept thinking about all the times I walked into her kitchen and she was sitting there in the same corner spot beneath the radio with a cup of coffee. She had lived there since 1952 when my grandpa built it and they moved from Iowa.  My mom was raised there, I stayed there all the time growing up and majority of holidays were celebrated in this home.

Then I started to think of all the new memories yet to be made.  She feels good and looks good.  Not everything will go away.  It's just a house after all and she can't take care of it, or herself, the way she use to.

It's funny too - I went to church Sunday and the sermon was on change, and how Autumn symbolizes change and the ability to let things go - just like the trees do when they drop their leaves.  Only then, when you are emptied, can you make room for more - something new.

It will be ok.