My Grandma

Last night my sweet and wonderful grandma left this earth to go on to the next to see her mom, dad and sisters. I do not have words enough to express the sorrow and loss that I feel at her passing. The only thing that makes this a little easier is my knowledge that her spirit still lives and I will see her again. She was such an amazing woman. Every part of my life is filled with memories of her. When I was four I moved across the street from her and I grew up running back and forth from her house to mine. I always knew that she loved me unconditionally and it only increased my love for her. She was always positive and had something good to say about everyone. She always tried to get me to look at the positive in each situation. She had such an amazing view on life.

She was the love of my grandpa's life and they were childhood sweethearts. During high school they were cheerleaders together. How great is that!?! I have heard about how when raising their children they would push the furniture against the wall and cut the rug dancing. For any sentence you said she seemed to be able to come up with a line in a song that pretty much said the same thing. She exercised almost every day of her life which ended up saving her life later on by giving her a strong enough heart to withstand the blood clot that went to it.

She taught her kids and grandkids how to take care of their elderly family members. Both of my great-grandmothers lived with her while she took care of them. What a great legacy she left us and my uncle, aunt and mother were all able to reciprocate in kind.

I have so many memories of her. Camping, sitting by her at church while she played with my hair and back. talking about books that we had read, discussing dates, walking through Hinckley and hearing about what she did growing up and seeing where it took place, talking about joys and sorrows. The list is too numerous to write even a small part of it. She was one of my best friends in addition to being my grandma.

I also remember how much everyone felt loved by her. My friends all absolutely adored both her and my grandpa. They didn't call them by their first names or even Mr. and Mrs. Warner. It was always 'grandma and grandpa'. I remember always feeling sorry for anyone that didn't actually have them as their grandparents. haha

I think that the thing that I learned most from her was about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I knew, by how she lived and things she talked about, that she had a deep and abiding love for the Savior. There was never a doubt in my mind about how she felt. She not only believed in the Savior but believed that you needed to live those beliefs and she did. She was and still is a wonderful example of how to live a Christ like life. I am grateful that she taught that love to her children and that my mom and dad in turn helped me to gain my own love for Him.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I will miss her so much and wish that she could be here with me always. I am so grateful for all of the many years that she was in my life and will treasure the 40 years of time and memories that I had with her. I hope that one day I can be half the woman that she is.

I love you, grandma!

New Year!

It has been way too long since I have been on here. This year I plan on writing on here much more.

So, I was running this morning with James and had the plan to run to a particular street out in the country. I was excited. I knew I could make it. As we were running and about 1/2 of a mile from said road a stupid German Sheppard came charging towards us. He sounded totally ready to defend his territory! I let out a blood curdling scream (big dogs make me extremely nervous since Chancho's two dog attacks). James shoved me behind him and we started back the way we came. Luckily there was a small lateral (water to flood the fields) that he did not want to get in. I personally think he could have jumped it, but James didn't seem worried about that. However, if we had gone a few more yards we would have been at the drive way crossing and he would have had no barrier between us to worry about. My poor heart was pounding and I had a lot more adrenaline coursing through my body. We headed back the way we came, just short of my goal. Stupid dog.