This was probably the hardest day for me during our trip. My Grandma died 8 years ago and I haven’t been back since she has been gone. I had never been back to the place where her presence was so real. It was the strangest feeling walking into my Grandpa’s place and not seeing my Grandma over the stove cooking and singing hymns. I felt the lump welling up in my throat the moment I walked in the door. And after we sang the Doxology before eating, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I went to the bathroom and had a good sob. I didn’t think that being here without my Grandma would be this hard. But I also didn’t know the joy I would feel to see my Grandpa so happy again. Nonetheless, my Grandpa and Alice had us over for a lovely brunch and I got to sit by Alice. More like I got to sit by Alice as she got up and down serving everyone the whole meal. Like I said earlier, she was the hostess with the mostest! It was fun to see their new home and get a glimpse into their everyday life. Thanks Grandpa and Alice for a great morning!!
Day 4 Canada – Remembering Grandma
Everyone snug around the tables!
All the little kids always crowded around cousin Jared. He will be a great Daddy someday!
The kids and their tinker toys
Cousin buddies for life!
Happiness
Lots of smiles from the little ones!
My precious family. I am so thankful for them
My Grandpa with Nora
Grandpa with another trend setting outfit – Hawaiian shirt, plaid pants and black knee high stockings
After brunch we headed out to Remple’s Meat Market – home of the world’s best farmer sausage and beef jerkey
The boys patiently waiting our turn to order
So many varieties of perogies – another look at what heaven would taste like if it were food
The nice meat man brought out a whole hog and explained the different cuts of meat to us in his German accent
Outside the meat market
After we hit up Remple’s, we went out to visit my Grandma’s grave. I have to admit, I was slightly dreading this part of the trip. Somehow I knew that standing over her grave would make things real for me. Yet, I knew that it would finally give me the closure I needed, even though it was closure 8 years after her death from a very painful battle with lymphoma.
I can honestly say that I have never been to a more beautiful cemetery. The grounds are beautifully kept and it is surrounded by gorgeous mountains and huge weeping willows. We walked around for a while, stopping at uncles and other great grandparents graves and finally came upon my sweet Grandmas. It was so surreal and I can not even begin to describe the emotions that flooded over my soul at that moment.
Mom trying to figure out where all of our family was buried
My Grandma was a wonderful woman. Even though we only saw each other once or twice a year, I always looked forward to our time together. My Grandma loved my Grandpa with everything in her, and it was obvious to everyone they met. There was always room and the dinner table for guests and she invited anyone into her home with a smile and a heaping spoon of homemade jam with warm bread. She loved her children with her whole heart and desired to teach them about Jesus. And she was always the first person to tell about her love for the Lord. I miss her terribly, and our trip home rubbed salt in an open wound for me, but I know that visiting her grave was what I needed to do. I am so proud to have named after her and hope that I can carry on her legacy as a woman who whole heartedly loved and served the Lord.