granny

one of my greatest fears in life is having someone close to me pass away, and that fear came true for me last week as my granny hill left this earth and went on to be with her kids and husband again. we knew it was coming. she was going downhill fast and was in so much pain during the last few weeks/months. it was so incredibly hard being so far away and not being there to hold her hand and try to give her some comfort and love.


she's been there my whole life - if not right across the street then just a few blocks away. she's been there every birthday which means every july 1st, every christmas morning, every new years day, every thanksgiving dinner, etc. i remember listening to her stories and playing hide n seek in her basement and helping her pick raspberries and shell peas. i remember playing in her trailer out back and having sleepovers with my cousins and playing connect 4. i remember watching old movies with her and watching her quilt and bake, and i remember countless winters full of chocolate making and song singing :) so many amazing memories with one of the most amazing women i know.

 

we were blessed to live right across the street from granny the last 10 or so years, and it was so fun. we spent lots of time visiting her, and we all had our assigned seats at her house (i was on the far corner of her couch). i drove her into lethbridge for pineapples and doc appts and peaches. we went on shopping trips to kalispel and always had fun on girls nights out to the movies or for dinner. we were her official hair appt chauffeurs, and she always called when she needed help getting something down off the top shelf. we always looked forward to dinners with gram cuz she always came with something home baked and to die for delicious. some of my favs were orange rolls, butter horns, caramel popcorn, tarts, and macadamia nut cookies - mmmmmmmm!

 

my boys knew her as grandma GG, and i'm so thankful that they got to know her a little bit. they loved her stories and her fruit snacks and her songs, and it was always a special moment for me to see my boys snuggled up with their great grandma riveted on her song or story. she was the best storyteller. she was also so super duper hip that she left her grand girls wishing they would have the style of granny one day :)

 

not only am i full of memories with this cute gal, but i'm also a better person because of her. she was the perfect example of perseverance and happiness and determination and kindness and love and support and friendship. she was someone i looked to for advice, and no matter what she said, i always left our conversations feeling supported, cared about, and loved. i loved her dedication to walking 3 miles every day, rain or shine, until she couldn't walk anymore, and i compared her to dory in my talk at her funeral because i can just see her encouraging those she loves to "just keep swimming" no matter what comes our way just like she did. she was our bestest friend and one of the most inspiring women i've ever known.




thankfully, i made it home for some family time and to attend her funeral. i got to say good-bye as i was blessed enough to be part of dressing her, and i was also blessed enough to spend some time reflecting on my memories with her as i prepared a little tribute for the funeral. my favorite moment of my happy/sad trip home was going to her house with kris, cars, and kait. we walked in and were immediately hit with her smell, and wow......smell is a powerful sense. it brought back every memory in that spic n span house of hers, and we all took our assigned seats and took an hour or so to just remember......remember her and our special relationships with her and how much we'd miss her but also how happy we were thinking of her up with her little keith and marlene and her sweetheart. we talked about what we'd miss most and what we learned from her, and we just sat there......saying good bye in a way but just etching our memories in stone so that we'd never forget and so that we can pass her legacy on to the next generation.



it was the most amazing weekend full of family, tears, laughs, hugs, reminiscing, and love. i'm going to miss my granny so much i can't even put it into words, but i'm just so thankful for the huge part she played in my life, and i'm so proud to be part of her family. i'm so proud to be her son's daughter and so thankful for the way she raised her kids and her faith and testimony that have strengthened and will continue to strengthen me throughout the rest of my life. love you granny, more than i was ever able to express, and every time i watch these beautiful waves rolling in, i'll think of you sitting beside me smiling that beautiful smile smelling all "blue" and know that you'll be there with me every step of the way til we meet again!
love you eleventy four!!!