Grandma

This morning, I was woken up with a phone call. It was the phone call that I knew was coming, but wasn't looking forward to hearing. At 4:53 this morning, my sweet grandma went to be with her Savior. While I am so glad that she isn't suffering with dementia, I am heartbroken at her passing.  Now that the day is winding down to a close, I am able to open up this box of emotions and sift through my memories of her.

Grandma had the softest pajamas. Every morning that we visited Grandma and Grandpa, my sister and I would race from the neighboring cabin to Grandma and Grandpa's cabin so we could snuggle up to them while they were enjoying their morning cup of coffee.

Grandma loved her coffee. I always think of her whenever I smell Folgers.
 
Really, I think of both of them when I smell Folgers because you really can't think of one without the other. Grandpa and Grandma were married for over 72 years and their commitment to each other has been breathtaking to watch especially in their later years.

I remember the excitement of seeing Grandpa and Grandma walk into my school for Grandparents day.
I remember being allowed to have chocolate milk when we ate at the conference center where they worked and lived.

I remember walking with Grandma to the bookkeeper's office at the conference center and seeing her neat handwriting throughout the account books on her desk.

One of my most treasured memories of Grandma was the day she took me on a surprise day trip to Seaside. My parents and sister were at a youth conference in Portland and my Grandpa was off running errands for the conference center, so it was just me and Grandma. Grandma looked at me and said, "Let's go to the beach today!" This is not typical Grandma behavior. But off we went down Highway 26 towards the coast. We stopped off for lunch at Camp 18, which is a great restaurant that displays old lumber mill equipment. From there we drove on to Seaside, where we enjoyed rambling around through the shops and sampling some saltwater taffy. Saltwater taffy has to be one of my favorite candies because of how much I enjoyed this trip.

I remember the low sound of her voice as I would play beauty shop and comb her hair.

 "Mmm. That feels good! If I were a cat I could just purr."  

She loved to have her hair played with.

I remember the way her eyebrow raised in such a way that you knew that you crossed the line. Usually, that eyebrow raise would be followed by a "Chuck!"  My Grandpa is an ornery man.


My Grandma was so full of wisdom and had a deep faith in Jesus Christ. I wish, I wish I could go back and record some of our conversations that I had with her while I was growing up.

Beniah and his Great Grandma - October 2009

Elijah and his Great Grandma - February 2012

Isaac and his Great Grandma - August 2014

I look forward to the day when I can see her once more.