Grandma

We said goodbye to Brad's grandma this week. 

A genuine sweet heart of a woman. 

She cherished her family above any thing on this earth.

She was a wonderful Grandma. 

 With our little Califlower.

At the funeral Brad's uncles shared beautiful memories. 

I learned a thing or two about her. 

For one thing, during WWII she worked at the Air force base in the propeller shop . 

I later said to Brad, "Your Grandma was Rosie the Riveter - that.is.awesome."

His uncles shared a few things I loved (and I am so happy I thought to write it down)

His Uncle Jeff said, "My mother wasn't just surviving 6 children but thriving". 

As a young mom this hit me quite hard. 

I don't want to just survive I want to thrive as a mother. 

Something his Uncle Jody shared was her motto at Christmas time. 

"Christmas: a time to be grateful and a time to give"

I will be adopting this. 

Uncle Jody said when you went to visit her she always had a diet coke in her hand and another one for you.

This made me smile because my fondest memory I have of her was a visit 

while sipping on a diet coke. 

Every spring the family did a spring clean up at their house. Well, Grandma did not like throwing things away. This particular year I happened to be 3 days overdue with Broccoli. Obviously, I was useless but Uncle Jody gave me the job to distract Grandma so she wouldn't see what was being thrown away. So we spent the morning in her kitchen baking cookies, discussing babies, and sipping diet coke ( I was 3 days over due - I was in the mindset this child was NEVER going to come, please don't judge me).

It was a peaceful quiet day, a sweet memory. 

I am grateful for this magnificent woman, for welcoming me with open arms, loving my children, but mainly for the role she played in my husband's life.

For contributing to his soft side.

For loving him so deeply, that he never doubted her love. 

He is a better man, husband, father because of her.

And she will be missed.