Grandma

(last March for grandma's 94th birthday with all her grandkids.)

My grandma lived a wonderful 94 years and 10 months before she passed away and went to be with Jesus for all eternity on February 3, 2011. Some of her last words were, "Tell my family I love them all" and "Amen." Isn't that beautiful? Our lives come down to living out the great commandment as believers in Christ. My grandma's last words honored Christ command in telling her family she loved them and loving God with a last and final prayer before leaving this earth.

I think Jacob summed things up best when he said, "Oh good. Now she will never be old again and she will live that way forever." Oh, good is right. God is good and basking in his eternal love without the curse of sin is too wonderful for words. I am thankful...

691. God's promise of heaven is true. Really, really true!

692. My grandma loved her family well.

693. She was one of the first to teach me that Jesus loves me.

694. Her German passion

695. Her laugh. Remembering the time we played Catch Phrase and she kept playing it like Charades.

696. How she loved to cheat at cards and never admitted it.

697. Playing that game with pennies at her house. Learning about grace.

698. Picking peas in grandma's garden.

699. The first time she met each of my kids. Hallie was her first great-grandchild.

700. Her hard-working hands, still smooth skin, kneading dough for Runzas, cinnamon rolls or pie crust with cinnamon sugar.

701. Trimming her nails, massaging her hands this last year.

702. Singing to her over the phone the night before she went to Jesus.

703. Her prayers for our family, our marriage and our lives.

704. Passing from this life to the next in peace. The mercy of the Father.

My thanks is truly endless. She was such a wonderful grandma. She wasn't a perfect person, but she loved a perfect God and trusted in His mercy, forgiveness and love. She taught me to do the same. She was everything a grandma should be and I will really miss her. It is comforting to know she has gone before me into heaven and I hope, will welcome me when I come someday. I will love you forever, grandma.