My sweet Grandma

Tonight we said goodbye to my sweet Grandma.

It's such a bittersweet feeling.  Mostly sweet, but I will miss her so much.

She couldn't have gone in a better way.  She was at home, in her own bed with my grandpa holding her hand.  It was sweet and so perfect.  I wish everyone could go like that.

I grew up only five minutes away from where my grandparents live and have always been really close to them.  I am so incredibly grateful to have had such a great relationship with them.  They are the cutest grandparents on the planet.

My Grandma lived 90 beautiful years.  She was a classy woman and a wonderful example to everyone around her.  She was constantly serving her family and everyone she knew. 

She was able to spend over 64 years on earth with her sweetheart.  They were complete opposites in several ways, but had such a strong marriage.  She waited for him for four years while he was serving in World War II and soon after his return, they were married for time and all eternity.

I know my grandpa will miss her like crazy, but he is grateful she's not suffering anymore and he knows he will be with her again someday.  We are so lucky to have that knowledge.  It makes difficult times like these a little easier.

I want to write down some of my favorite memories of my grandma.  They are all so fresh in my mind and I don't want to forget any of them.

• She always had Chicken in a Biscuit crackers in her cupboard.  They will always remind me of her.
• I loved having sleepovers at her house.  My cousin Julia and I would often sleep there when we didn't have school and we always wanted to put her shower caps on.  We were so weird!  Every time I slept there, a yummy breakfast would be ready on the table when I woke up.  The meal almost always included raspberries and cream.  To this day I still buy cream whenever I buy raspberries. It's the best.
• My grandma had so many fun toys for us to play with.  Her Fisher Price castle was the best!  It had a secret passage and a drawbridge.  They just don't make toys like they used to.
• I remember her taking me to see "The Wizard of Oz" in the theaters because she knew it was my favorite movie.
• She always got her hair done(shampoo set) each week.  She had a wind bonnet and a rain bonnet that she would always wear if she was worried about her hair getting messed up.
• I remember she always had some perfume powder in the bathroom and I always wanted to wear some because I thought it was so cool.
• She was really good at pampering anyone who was sick.  She always took such good care of my grandpa during his battles with cancer and pneumonia.
• She always had her camera with her.  I am glad she did because she has a lot of great pictures that we will cherish forever.
• She was really good at the piano and played all the time until she got too shaky to play.
• My grandpa is a huge sports fan and because of that, my grandma became a big sports fan.  She loved watching the Jazz and she also had a crush on Kyle Korver.  :)
• A few years ago I was dating someone on the U of U football team.  My grandma had a major crush on him. (Don't worry, she had an even bigger crush on Josh!)  He broke up with me right before football camp and not only broke my heart, but hers as well.  She was VERY mad at him for hurting me(and her) and during those few weeks of camp, she would always say, "I never see his name in the paper so he must not be doing that well at football."  haha.  She always spoke her mind and I love that about her.
• She would always tell me that every night she would pray that I would find the right person to marry.  I am so glad she was able to be there when I was sealed to Josh.  My wedding was the last wedding she ever attended.
• She loved Josh and always commented on what pretty eyes he had.
• My grandma loved pomeranians and I like to think I got my love for them from her.  Almost 7 years ago they got Maggie and she was her baby.  My grandma spoiled the heck out of her!  When they first got her, my grandma would say that she liked to sing the song "You Light Up My Life" to Maggie and that every night she would kiss Maggie on the forehead before bed.
• My grandpa doesn't believe in spaying or neutering, so they bred Maggie about four times and she produced the most beautiful puppies.  I spent lots of time at my grandparent's playing with each litter and because of that, I grew even closer to both my grandma and grandpa.  I am so glad some of those puppies have stayed in the family.  It's no secret how much I love my little Elle.

I know sweet little Maggie will be lonesome for my grandma, but I will visit her often and try to keep her happy.  I know my grandma will like that.

Per my grandma's request, I will be singing at the funeral on Friday.  I am scared out of my mind.  I love singing and performing, but singing at funerals is a whole different ball game.  Please pray for me that I can make it through my song without crying.  I want it to be beautiful for my grandma and I want to make her proud.  Hopefully I can get all these tears out before then.

One of the last things my Grandma said to me yesterday was, "Alli, are you still singing?" and I said, "Yes, Grandma, I still sing."

Grandma, I will sing for you forever.  

I love you so much, Grandma!  I will never forget the things you taught me and I will carry on your legacy as best as I can.  We will take good care of Grandpa and Maggie.  I know I will see you again!