Tonight at around 7:15 my grandma entered into eternal life.  She was 95 years old.  She was preceded in death by my grandpa, and sadly her daughter (my mom) just three short weeks ago.  And although I am certain my mom’s death had nothing to do with tonight, it pains me to know that my grandmother had to deal with such things in her final days.  But my grandma was at peace with what had happened to my mom, and I am thankful for that.

But tonight we said goodbye to a remarkable woman.  I can only speak of her as my grandma, but clearly after they made her they broke the mold.  I have 50 years of fond memories with her, and in all honesty, there was not one bad day for me in any of it.

As we let her go tonight I have to say that I was much more thankful than hurting.  She was truly a blessing to me in my life.  God blessed me by allowing me to be her grandson, and could and can easily see her and my grandpa’s influence upon my life.  There are so many people in this world who do not have relationships with their grandparents, and for them I feel sorry.  That was never the case for me.  I spoke to my grandma a lot…..and all my life.  She always knew what was happening in my life….as she did about all her grandchildren.  She was always the epitome, the ideal, of what a grandparent should be…..and I am certain my idealistic view of life comes directly from seeing that ideals really do exist.  I believe in them, because I have seen them……first and foremost in my grandparents

Thanks so much grandma for being who you have been to me.  I love you very much…..and quite honestly, I miss you already.

Tommy+