Granny P ~ My Angel

Granny P ~ My Angel, originally uploaded by L Studio.

December 24, 1920 - August 12, 2008

We will meet again... until then, guide me and walk with me through the rest of my journey!

Love,
Me

Last Dance...

Wednesday afternoon was a beautiful day at Granny's. I walked in the door and the room seemed brighter as the sun shined in through the front window. My uncle Tom had the bed tilted so Granny was sitting up. And to my suprise, she was wide awake... and had been all morning. She had eaten her applesauce, some pudding and drank some water. To our amazement she was a "new" person with hope and energy. I stood at the end of her bed with my hands on my hips and was talking to Denise (a caregiver) and my Uncle. When suddenly, I caught movement from Granny out of the corner of my eye. She was "mimiking" me by placing her arms on her hips. I smiled and asked her if she wanted to dance. She moved a wee bit back and forth and started singing! Uncle Tom, Denise and I were amazed once again at her jubilant character. I walked over to her and embraced in the most memorable and loving hug as she pecked at my cheek giving me numerous sweet kisses...

This will be my last visit with Granny. I'm at peace with her passing and I have shared my feelings with her. I will leave my Dad, Aunt and Uncles to be at her bedside from here on out. At first I was scared and unsure to get involved, frightened that my last visions of Granny will be of her in her weakest moments... and unsure she wanted me to be there. My heart, however, couldn't stay away. I needed that time with her. I am grateful, very thankful and have the most wonderful vision of her to carry with me forever.

I know she feels the same... she thanked me with her sweet kisses, warm hug... and our last dance!

Jane, I'm coming...

Last Thursday, Hopsice brought in the hospital bed, oxygen, morphine, etc. for my Granny. She has come to the end of her battle with cancer. She's been quite a fighter in her 87th year. She made it through the first bought of cancer with flying colors. Making sure she was dressed to the nines for each treatment... Sunday bests and high heels... none the less. I can remember the ladies coming out to get her and commenting on how beautiful she always looked. After treatment, we'd go to lunch and then head back home. She made it through... losing her hair, feeling sick and weak. She bounced back so well, but should I be surprised? She's always been a fighter, always been independent and is a Matriarch in all her glory!

Her and grandpa raised five wonderful children...
She lost grandpa at a young age...
Continued on in life, knowing only one "True Love"...
Watched her grandchildren be born and grow into wonderful adults...
And was fortunate enough to watch 13 great-grandchildren be born and start to blossom...

She was "famous" in my eyes... one I want to be like when I grow old...

It wasn't only a few years ago, I was sitting by her in church and she started to cry during one of the hymns. I reached over and held her hand... she squeezed back. Later I asked her if she was alright... she replied, "I've lost my best friend... and she was the last to go... " After Granny lost her best friend, Jane, she was "alone". Alone in her eyes, even though we were all here and the great grandkids were here.... her generation was gone. And looking back, that moment in church was the moment she realized it... a moment she began to "weaken."

She didn't seem to bounce back after holidays... or "big" events like she had before. She seemed a little depressed even with the visits from kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. They would brighten her day at the time. But as the visits came to an end, the sun seemed to go down with the door closing behind them.

She still has the strength inside her, she can still fight... but what is keeping her going? She's lived 87 wonderful years! She's been the fighter, the one holding us all together... but, we'll be okay, Granny! You will live within us for years to come... you have left us all the most wonderful gifts... your strength, your love, your desire to be...

This morning, I think Granny came to terms with death as she yelled out...

"Jane, I'm coming..."

A definite GNO...

Okay ladies... it's time to get friends, moms, sisters, daughters, aunts, etc. together for a girls night out. Mama Mia! The Movie is a must see summer flick. My sister and I went last night and laughed hysterically, danced in our seats, sang along with the strangers beside us and cried often throughout the entire movie. It was uplifting, funny, and made us want to get off our seats and start dancing. If you haven't seen it yet... get a group of your favorite ladies together... go out and grab a drink or two and then head to the theater. You won't want to miss this!

I love the early mornings...

This week I've seen the sunrise... and I'm loving it. Owen (my 6 year old) is attending a basketball camp at the YMCA. Our normal morning routine is usually rushing around all morning and getting out our door at the last possible minute and I'm usually getting the mail for work at 8:35am. But, not this week... it's been a pleasantly early past few mornings. Up by 6:00am, so I can get myself ready before tackling the two morning gremlins who absolutely LOVE sleeping in in the mornings (thanks to their love of staying up late.... grrrrr). Owen staggers into the bathroom asking to take a shower to wake him up and I spend the entire time I'm getting ready taking "pit stops" in Olivia's (my 2 year old) room trying to get her to budge... luckily, with her, we have still been out the door by 7:05am... Olivia is quite the grump in the mornings. I need a video camera to record her glares and grunts because although I completely understand her frustration due to my own self hating when my sister would come in the room saying, "Leeeeeleeeeee" in a high pitched and vary annoying (and might I say rude ) voice to wake me up in the mornings, I think it's absolutely hilarious how her "need" to stay up late is my fault in the mornings.... let's remember... she is only two... this will go on and on and on... I might as well laugh and get used to it, right?!

Anyway... I've been sitting here at my desk now... enjoying the blogging world and my awesomely fresh coffee from my awesomely new coffee machine... I forgot how great the early mornings are!

Happy Tuesday ~

My BFF

My BFF , originally uploaded by L Studio.

Good morning BFF! I just wanted to give you a "shout-out"... you are truley the most remarkable women. You have such a genuine spirit about yourself and can always find the perfect words to say or advice to give. We've said it over and over again, how the good Lord brought us together in college for a reason... to complete each other. We've both grown into great women, striving to be the best and do the best. We are great wives, mother/step mother, sisters, friends, employees, aunts, etc. We excel everyday at what we do....

Have a great day!

Deer love and mine ~ Le

My Husband Rocks Friday!

Well, let's see... what can I brag about this week? Troy is such a wonderful friend, husband, father... he is dedicated and puts his whole heart into everything he does...be it work, family, friends, etc. His love of life in general is so over the top. He takes the best care of everything around him... For family, he works hard to provide the very best, he is patient (god love him!) and kind and his love is unconditional; For work, he is a perfectionist and strives for the customers to always be satisfied; For friends, he is true and dear... there is nothing fake or phoney about him; All in all, my husband rocks because he is real and Genuine!

How does your husband rock? Go on over and visit Katy to share your story!!!!!