Hello! I was so glad to hear that your hernia surgery went well! It’s hard to believe that a 91 year old man can be in such great shape as you are. I’m sure you impressed all your doctors and charmed all your nurses in the way that you always do!

Anyway, I know I don’t write you letters very often. It’s just that Grandma was the one who was my pen pal. She started writing me letters when I moved out of mom and dad’s house. She was so diligent with her check-ins, so constant with her support. She would tell me all about what was going on in Fredericksburg and what happened at her Circle meeting. She always told me about what you were up to – what you were fixing, or growing, or working on. Sometimes she signed off saying, “Well, I better finish up now because Grandpa wants to run this out to the mailbox,” and I could always imagine you sprinting down the driveway on the farm, shirt off, Duke on your heels, getting the letter out to the gravel road in no time. The she always wrote “God’s blessings always, Love, Grandma and Grandpa.” After I received a few of these letters, I started writing back and we didn’t stop our exchange until she died. It’s hard to believe it has been a year.

I looked through sympathy cards and searched for memorial trinkets. None of them seemed like something I could send to you. Those words don’t do justice to my grandma. My words are the only tribute I have and I wanted to share them with you.

I was pregnant when Grandma died. It was a lot to comprehend, being so excited for the new life inside me while being sad for the end of a life so important to me. It all ended up being such a blur. It wasn’t until three months later, when Giana was born, that I found myself grieving again. I wanted Grandma to meet Giana so badly. She loved holding babies so much. I can hear Grandma in my head, telling me about myself when I was a baby. “You were so pink…and ROUND! Just the prettiest pink baby!” Grandma was so patient and supportive of me through too many relationships…I wanted her to hold the best thing I have done with my life and tell me how wonderful little Giana is.

When I think about the things that made my childhood so wonderful, you and grandma are a part of so many of those beautiful memories. So even though Giana will not get to meet Grandma, I can make sure I share the things from Grandma with her. Mom and Beth reminded me of all the words to the Chocolate Ice Cream Cone song and “Playmates.” Every time I sing “Do dee do dee do” or “Good Night Ladies,” Giana’s face erupts into a huge smile and she claps. Those songs are the first thing Grandma taught me that I am able to pass on, and I’m sure they won’t be the last.

We had so many happy times. I loved all the shopping trips to Waterloo we took together. The games at your house. The trips in the back of the pick-up. Camping. Sitting on the stools, watching her cook. Working at the Methodist church. Christmases in you basement and chuckwagon races in the summer (she was always so nervous for the riders, I don’t think she actually watched much).

I know I was very young, but I remember when Grandma broke her hip, too. I remember the terror on everyone’s faces as she stepped back into that hole and crumpled on the ground. I’m told I was crying hard when they loaded her into the ambulance and I yelled, “Don’t take my Grandma!” I feel like that little girl again sometimes when I miss her. Don’t take her, why did You take her?

But I know in my heart it is only for a short time. Grandma loved the Lord and she is with Jesus now. She doesn’t get to meet Giana yet, but I smile at the thought of her taking care of my angel babies and all the other great-grandbabies that went to heaven before we got to meet them. God gave me a verse the other day – John 14:2-3, when Jesus tells his diciples not to be troubled. “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? 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.” I am so thankful that there are rooms for all of us there if we put our faith in Jesus Christ. I like to imagine Grandma helping to prepare a place for us. I’m sure it has tight hospital corners on every bed and hopefully cinnamon rolls with maple frosting every morning.

But I don’t know…I’m no Biblical scholar – just getting wrapped up in my imagination!

I hope you will be able to remember some of those happy memories yourself today. Please know how much you are loved, especially today. I love you so very much.

.

Well, after all that, I realized I can’t actually send this letter to him. He has enough with his own pain. I sent him a quick thinking-of-you note instead.

Please join me in praying for everyone whose hearts are aching today.