We'll Miss Our Precious Grandma

Tuesday morning, May 22, Bethany's grandma passed away. That morning Richie asked Bethany what her plans were that day. Bethany's plan was to take Luke to visit Grandma after his midday nap, but apparently God wanted to see her too--and of course God always wins. No fair!

We are so very, very sad.

We know the excruciating back pain she endured for so long is now gone, and for that we are happy for her. But we cannot help but grieve for ourselves, because will miss her so much. We will miss visiting her at her apartment here in Davis, her cheerful "Come in! Have a seat! TELL me...", her popcorn balls, her hearty laugh ready at a moment's notice, the way she put a positive spin on everything (like calling her walker her "motorcycle"), the sparkle in her deep blue eyes, the tremendous delight she took in little Luke.

She frequently requested that Bethany's dad read Revelation 21:4 aloud to her. She held fast to this hope: God "will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death shall be no more, and never again shall there be sorrow or crying or pain. For all these former things are past and gone."

Pain free, tear free, we have a little feeling that Grandma is in heaven shouting the joyous "Whoopee!" she was so famous for. And we think she's probably surrounded by lots of single grandpas up there, her dream come true. ("What could be better?")

We've heard it said that if a woman is not beautiful at age 18, she can blame it on her genes (or jeans), but if she is not beautiful by 80, she has only herself to blame. Although she often felt "like a toolie," 79-year-old Grandma was one of the most beautiful people we know.

Here are pictures from the first time Grandma ever met little Luke, six days after his birth. Look at his Stanford sweatsuit--bought for him by his own dear Grandma--and look at the wonder and delight on her face!





We'll miss you, Grandma. But heaven sounds all the sweeter these days, now that you're there. Can't wait.