Incredibly Average: Grandma Emily

On June 28^th at 8:10 PM I lost a very special person in my life and also in the life of many. My grandma Emily died after a long fight with many health issues. For about the last ten years she had had problem after problem. She had her nerve endings severed in her back to reduce pain and still she suffered. She never complained about a thing. She was always so positive! I have always admired what a classy and gracious woman she was.

Back in November (Thanksgiving) she told me that she wouldn't make it to meet Eli and that she wanted to be sure he knew how much his Grandma Emily loved him. Little did we know he would enter the world one week later. We made a trip home to Indiana at the very end of February/beginning of March because grandma was diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It was that weekend that she met Eli. He would have only been two weeks old if he had come on his original due date. It was a very special weekend.

My diamond from Grandma...so special.

Pictures from our wedding day.

I think she cried all day she was so happy. She loves Aaron and is so happy for us both.

First time meeting Eli.

We got to see grandma one more time in May when I went to Indiana for a former student's (Tristan and Katie) wedding. I surprised her and took Eli. She held him for about 30 minutes. It touched my heart to see grandma holding Eli in the midst of a lot of pain. I kept asking her is she was ok and of course she said yes but I knew better. She was stubborn as well get out. (I get that from her).

I still have lots of tears when I think of her not being here on earth anymore, but I am so glad she is no longer in pain. She joined her family and her best friend Ann Neff in Heaven and I am sure they are having the most amazing time together worshiping our Creator.

When I was little I would always cry when I left Grandma. She would too. It was so silly because we would do it even when we would see one another within an hour. I guess we just liked being together. When I went to see her in November and to say what I thought would be my last goodbye I told her that this goodbye would be like all the others. I would cry when she left, but I would see her again soon. It could not be more true. I am looking forward to a long life with my family, but I will love the day that she greets me at the pearly gates and gives a hug welcoming me home.

We were a lot alike. She was very stubborn, loved clothes, shoes, and hats, was energetic, loved a party, and loved being with people. In honor of her I wore one of her hats to her funeral. She was known for her hats. I had about 25 people approach me at the funeral and tell me that they loved her hat and that they should have worn one as well. It was a hard weekend with LOTS of emotions, but at the end of it all it was all about celebrating a wonderful woman. There is another angel in heaven and she is watching us all and making sure we are taken care of.

They decorated the viewing with all her hats.