My Grandma

I just finished dropping my grandma off at the airport. She gave me a great big hug and told me she was proud of the way I am raising my daughter. Cue the waterworks. 

She came in town this weekend to watch my mom walk in the Avon breast Cancer walk in her honor. She is a breast cancer survivor, but she is also so much more. 

My grandma and I have never lived in the same state, but she has been there for every big event in my life. Over the years I've taken this for granted, but as I get older and more mature and understand the demands of life, I have begun to realize just how incredible she is to always be here for me. 

My grandma is an incredible woman and I hope to be like her when I am her age. She raised five incredible kids, my mom being one of them, and made an effort to be close with all of her grandchildren. She fought and won the battle against breast and colon cancer and did it with such an incredible attitude. She took care of my grandpa while he battled lung cancer and lost. She was there when my dad and my cousin died. She possessed such strength and helped take care of everyone. And in everything that she's been through she has showed such strength and wisdom and faith. 

Now at 80 years old she spends her days helping other people. She is a part of two incredible ministries, as well as being very involved in her church. She helps feed and makes mats for the homeless. And to hear her passion for doing this is so inspiring and heart warming.

Last night we stayed up until almost midnight talking. We talked about things that matter and things that don't. Some things I knew and some things I didn't. We talked about how much mortgages cost 50 years ago and what it was like to raise a family. Some things I had heard 1000 times and some things I was just hearing for the first time. I found out she still stays in contact with some girls from grade school! (She's pretty awesome, huh?!) We also talked about some hard things and about how some things in life aren't fair, but that we have to give them to God and let Him take control. 

Grandma I love the woman that you are. I love your strength and I love your faith. Thank you for raising my mom to be the person she is so that she could raise me to be the person I am, and I pray and hope that I can raise Amelia to be as incredible as you and mom. And I really hope that when I'm 80 years old I am out mowing my own lawn and helping feed the homeless. 

I love you grandma!