Best Grandma Ever

These last few weeks have been an up and down roller coaster. I went to visit Chrissy in Charlotte over Veteran's Day weekend since I had Thurs and Fri off. I hadn't visited her in almost 2 years so I was totally due. I got there late Thurs and she and Jo cooked me dinner - roasted chicken and mashed potatoes! It was great! Then we just hung out and talked the rest of the night. Fri we went shopping during the day and picked up Missy from the airport. Fri night was a blast. I have no idea where we went but we danced alot and it was so fun! Saturday I woke up to very sad news about Grandma Great so I decided to go home.

I got to the hospital Sunday around 9:30. It was the hardest thing I've ever done to sit with her knowing she would be dying that day. I was given time alone with her and it was like I wanted to say so much, but it wouldn't come out. I just rubbed her arm, told her Robbie and I loved her, and thanked her for being such a wonderful Grandma. After my short visit, I went into the waiting room with my Grandma T's siblings, my mom, and Aunt Susie. My great uncle had taken the time to capture GG's life story from the beginning and brought it to the hospital. We were reading it (5 pages typed, single spaced!) as she passed away. Her children were in the room with her and they said it was very peaceful. It was about an hour after I said good-bye to her. Shortly after, we all went into her room and my uncle played three of her favorite songs on his violin - Danny Boy, Greensleeves, and one other. It was the saddest but most peaceful moment I've ever experienced. We just cried and hugged one another. I still can't believe she's gone...

I stayed the rest of the week to be with family. It was just so weird being back at my grandma's and not having GG in her apartment. We slowly began going through some of her things and revisiting memories. It was a very tough week but I realized just how many people she has touched in their life. On Tuesday, a big group of my family went to the mall and had breakfast at Big Boy. It was her weekly routine. She went into the hospital on a Tuesday and was at the mall the previous Saturday (3 days before!). Everyone at Big Boy was devastated, especially Grandma's waitress. We all ordered her specialty breakfast - one piece of french toast, two pieces of crispy bacon, a cup of coffee, and a small water with no ice. The owner preceeded to tell us that they had her breakfast entered into the computer system as Alyce's breakfast. How cute is that? Before we had left the mall, the news had traveled to other mall workers and walkers. It was amazing actually!!!

Friday night we had a family memorial at my aunt's house. Grandma's church pastor came to say a few words and read some scripture that Grandma loved. Then a few family members shared stories. We also read her story again. My uncle also made a geneology tree of her ancestors. It was amazing. I never knew much about her ancestors. Her great grandfather was a soldier in the Union army in the Civil War! How cool is that?!

Her proper buriel is going to be this summer in Iowa in a small church that her ancestors built in the 1800's. It isn't an active church anymore, but my grandma's sister holds a key to the church and they allow special ceremonies to take place. The only time I've been to Iowa is when Jodi and I drove through it on our trip home. I'm excited to see where GG and my grandma grew up!