Happy Grandparent's Day: here's to my Grandma Elizabeth!

Here’s to Grandma Elizabeth!!! :)

I'm supposed to be at Aunt Patty's right now; Colin's Aunt, doing wedding stuff. I apologize to Patty for being a little late....But...

I just had to post about the lovely conversation I just had with my Grandma Elizabeth!

She & I have always been rather close, and we talk almost every day! She's really the one who gets the other half of the credit for raising me; she and mom pretty much raised me together from very early on in my life! Granted, my grandma and I have not always seen eye to eye on everything, and as a teenager, of course, she annoyed me at times. But, now as an older woman, looking at marriage and planning a wedding; I swear it seems I've come to love, respect and appreciate all of those special people in my life even more! Especially the ones who played a substantial role in getting me to this stage of my life and especially my grandma!

I've had other grandma's in my life and now I have another one, Bobbi, Colin's grandma, and she's absolutely the sweetest, kindnest, most lovely woman you'd ever hope to meet. I feel privilaged to be becoming a part of her family and her newest grandaughter! But, my grandma Elizabeth and I have always agreed on so much; she's a profile in courage and strength, and my spiritual mentor. I admire her greatly!

We just talked on the phone for about 40 mins about the wedding, politics, Colin, me, my mother and her and Henry (her husband.). It was a lovely conversevation; throughout which she mentioned the beauty shop about three times. And it made me think about this: she has become the preverbeal older woman who lives in a small town and gets all of her news and infomration at the little beauty shop! How cute is that?! I just love it! It's so quaint and nice.

She does live in a small town, Fernley, Nevada; about 40 mins East of Reno/Sparks (where I grew up). It's a town of about 3,000 people, very cowboy-ish and nice. News travels fast in that town and everyone is so friendly; neighbors know each other and locking your doors isn't necessary. I want to live in a place like that; although, I'll always, always lock my doors.

My point is; I love hearing about the happenings of Fernley and hearing about how my grandma sees things. It's important to know where your family stands on certain issues; even if your opinions differ. I get alot of my values and ideas from my grandma, but not everything.

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her talk about signing up for excerise classes at the local pool; about getting older and growing old gracefully (she and Grandma Bobbi are the epitomy of both); the joys and struggles of growing older; her outlook on modern marriage, (i.e. the one I'll have!) her unconditional support and encouragement with my impending marriage and her love (and approval) of the man I'm choosing to mary!

I enjoyed hearing her talk about politics and how she sees certain things, and why she's decided not to vote for either one of them. I loved hearing about her grandparents (always have though) and how old they lived to be. I've always tuned right in whenever she talks about her own grandparents; because they were so important in her life and helped shape her. So, perhaps that's why she herself is such a terrific grandma, she had great examples. And let's face it, I'll turn around and be a grandma myself someday, probably before I know it (yes, life DOES go that fast), and I hope I can be the kind of wonderful grandma to my grandchildren that I've been so fortunate to have in my life! I'll tell them about their great grandmother and their 4th & 5th great grandparents--I'll tell them a lot about them, as much as I know! That's how love and family legacy live on; not so much in names and dates; but in stories of strength, courage, grace, hard times and greatness!

It's so wonderful to just listen to my grandma. We may talk almost every day, but today was just special. I dropped what I was supposed to be doing and just listened. And I'm so glad I did.

I am so grateful to have my wonderful grandma in my life! She adds to and illuminates it in such a beautiful way!

And, whenever she does go; my world will never be the same again. I will feel much more alone in the world without her, than I do right now, with her. She just gets me, often times, more than I'd like her too! No pullin' crap of hiding stuff from this woman, absolutely not!

Yes, by the time grandma does go, I'll have a great husband and hopefully children of my own, but nothing and no one will ever replace grandma! I will miss her terribly and it will be right up there with losing my own mother; because my grandma has been my 2nd mother, and she has so clearly defined "GRAND-mother!" I hope that's not for a long, long time; she said today that she doesn't want to live to be 100, well, I want her too! I'll leave it up to the Lord, but I hope and pray every day, that he gives me many more days and conversations with her! If she does live to be 100, that gives me 22 more years with her and I hope not a single moment less!

I am so blessed to have her, know her and be her "precious" grandaughter. It is an honor I will always be proud of and an experience that will remain one of my greatest in life! So, here's to you, Grandma, I love you more than you know and appreciate you more & more every day!

Thank you Lord for grandma's everywhere, espcially mine! You did a fantastic job at matching me up with the perfect grandma for me! And thank you for the addition of Grandma Bobbi too, and all of my amazing family & friends. I'm truly humbled and honored to know them all!

Happy Grandparent's Day, everyone! (It's National Grandparent's Day on Sunday, the 7the 7th!) They may be older, but they are to be celebrated and reveered! We are to love them just as uncondtionally and exhuberantly as they love us!!!

God Bless Grandparent's everywhere!

In Light N' Love,

-Sarah Liz :)