Incredible loss

Recently we had to say goodbye to Brian's Grandma M.  To say that she was an amazing woman, is an understatement.  She lived to be 95 and was married to Grandpa M for 73 years.  I can't even imagine such a long life or the companionship they experienced after being married for so many years.

Brian said some of his favorite memories with Grandma were playing card games and other games at the kitchen table with her and going to their church.  He said she was always so kind and interested in everything about them and "we could do no wrong" in her eyes.

Nathan, "She was a really nice Grandma."
Emma, "She was really sweet and she loved me."
Samuel, "I really wanted her to be 100 one day and she was close!  And I loved her"
Lucas, "She was cute!"

Grandma M meant a lot to me as well.  When Brian and I got married I was thrilled to have Grandparents again since all of mine had been gone for many years.  She and Grandpa totally took me in as one of their own.  I did not take this for granted.  It can be hard to enter a family after divorce.  There are some dynamics that people may not realize unless you are "the one" that is new.  Grandma M always made sure I knew how loved and accepted I was.  Her encouragement meant so much to me, especially when she praised our decision to home school, and pointed out the positive changes in Brian and Nathan's lives after we became a family.

I'm sure most people who knew Grandma would say that she was a positive person... an encourager... But it's important to know that she didn't just say nice things to make others feel good... she was sincere and it was easy to know that she truly meant what she said.

We will miss her hugs, her support, her handwritten letters, and  her love, but we will always feel so blessed to have had her in our lives as long as we did.

Emma wrote Grandpa a letter the day we found out Grandma died.  Her sweet heart just melts me.