Good-Bye Grandma xo

My mom had called me from Red Deer, Alberta on a Monday stating that my Grandma had taken a turn for the worst. It was not a total surprise as she has suffered greatly from congestive heart failure for the past 6 months and had been hospitalized numerous times as a result. Peyton and I jumped in the truck on a Tuesday morning and drove to Red Deer and went to the hospital to see Grandma that afternoon. Grandma never complained although I could tell that she was struggling with every breath and craved more oxygen. I held her hand and brought her ice water, Peyton kissed her and had quite the conversation with Grandma's room mate. I told Grandma that I loved her. Grandma kept saying over and over "Why won't he take me? I jsut want to go!" and I would say " He is not ready for you yet Grandma."

My Grandma is and always has been devoted to her church and Jesus. As a child I can remember her playing her organ to a hymn book. Her bible literally had wear and tear and was never far from her. I swear she could recite the entire bible! A few summers she had taken my cousin and I to "Convention" at the time I thought it was terribly boring and didn't really understand alot of what had been spoken but just the same enjoyed being with other children and learning new things. The relationship that she had with God I never really understood until now.

That Tuesday night My mother and I went down to the hospital to spend some time with her as she didn't want to be alone and was asking for me. The nurses must have known that the end was near because they had put her in a private room. Grandma looked tired and was slowly deteriorating before our eyes. I had asked the nurse if Grandma could have a sedative as she was anxious and scared. She had settled down just before 9 pm and so mom and I sat there a tried to sing. At first we tried to remember a few songs from bible school (ex- the B-i-b-l-e, that is the book for me...) I know- silly! Then we tried to recite the Lords prayer... We really tried to make Grandma proud! When we couldn't think of any more songs and gave up on remembering the Prayer we sang Christmas Caroles- I know- silly! Just when we were at a loss of what else to sing in comes this angel... Her name is Anne and she is one of Grandma's friends from church, she had the most calm voice and she really looked like an angel! We asked Anne if she could sing from Grandma's Hymn book and she did with the most angelic voice you had ever heard, Grandma stopped moaning (probably because she was sick of hearing mom and I!) and went to a calmer place while Anne was singing. With Grandma settled we washed her up and have her a big kiss and told her we would be back in the morning. We had told the nurses to call us if she needed anybody overnight. Grandma went to be with the Lord a half an hour after we left that night.

I am thankful that she waited until I had been there and been able to share such a beautiful evening with her. I know she is in a better place and that God had welcomed her with open arms.

The next morning the family was teary and Peyton being only 4 really didn't know what everyone was crying for. I had told her that God had taken Great Grandma to heaven. She pipes up and says "Is god a boy or a girl?" ps. this is totally embarrassing... I really do see bible school in our future! I said" He is a man" she looks up at me and says " He really knows the way to Heaven?" and I said "Yes, of course he does." We had many people come to visit after Grandma had passed and she told everyone that Grandma went to heaven and that God knew the way and that Grandma was in Heaven with our cat Blacky. My Grandma would be proud of her!

My Grandmother was born July6th 1921 in Rimbey, Alberta. She was a mother to two sons, Grandmother to 4 , Great Grandmother to 6 plus one on the way. She was a friend to many. I always had such a respect for her as I knew she had worked so very hard when my dad was young and her husband had passed at a young age in a farm accident leaving her to care for 2 young boys and a farm to run. She did it without complaining and I know that she did it with God's hands. Even on her death bed she was worried about the people around her not herself. For years we had made fun of her for keeping 12 turkey carcasses in her freezer and dozens of banana's and saving every bit of left over but when you understand how hard she had worked and what she went without just to raise her boys and keep her farm-- I get it- I finally get it!

I will think of her often and remember all the good times, I will remember her smile and her gentle soft hands! I love you Grandma and will miss you so very much... I know you are in Heaven watching over us all. Till we meet again~