My Grandma Carol

I wanna to tell you a little about one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known.

My grandma Carol.

〰️ January 23rd, 2011

Tonight we went to visit Grandpa Ford and Grandma Carol. They talked us into bowling on their XBox 360. It was fun. It’s amazing to me that Grandpa is over 90 years young and he buys an Xbox for Christmas. He says that he and Grandma play it every night.

〰️ June 18th, 2014

We went to see Grandma Carol in the hospital. She is always optimistic. Such an amazing woman. She’s having a rough go of it health wise. (you would never know it from talking with her)

〰️ June 12 -2016

Just got off the phone with my grandma.

She told me she’s had a terrible earache from an infection for the last week or so and that she had a bit of cancer removed from her nose a few days ago.

Then she said, “Just a challenge or 2, everyone’s got em.”

I said, “boy grandma, you’ve got a good attitude.”

She said… “well, you better.”

She went on to tell me that you learn that on the farm.

In farming, a lot of stuff is gonna happen and if you don’t learn to have a good attitude, you’re done for.

Guess that’s a lot like life.

So grateful to have positive role models like my grandpa and grandma to look up to and remind me to smile, no matter what’s going on.

〰️ From recent weeks

I remember going to see Grandma in the hospital right after she had her first stroke.

I gave her a hug and the first thing she said was…

“I’m so sorry we missed your birthday, I have a card for you at the house.”

I said “Grandma, for heaven sakes, you just had a stroke, that’s the last thing you should be thinking about.

We went on to have a great visit.

I knelt down by her hospital bed and we talked and laughed together for a good chunk of time.

She made me smile and inspired me with her positive mental attitude and outlook on the situation, and I was fortunate give her a few laughs in return.

At one point she said to me “Well, I guess I won’t have to worry about church for a few weeks.”

And I said, “I guess it turns out there really is an upside to everything isn’t there grandma?” – and we both laughed together.

The last thing she said as I left her hospital room that day was…

“We’ll make sure and get you your card soon.”

And that’s how Grandma was.

Always so kind, considerate and caring for others even in times like that, when she deserved to be the one receiving all the kindness, consideration and caring from others.

I was able to spend some time with her in the hospital the 2 days before she made her transition.

We listened to some of the music she liked and amidst the music and the tears,

…I thanked her for being such an angel on Earth and for all of the uplifting words she’s shared with me both in person and through the constant stream of birthday cards and christmas cards I’ve received all throughout my life.

If only I could be half the man Grandma believed me to be. She always saw the greatness in me and others.

My sister Shana came to visit and while we were reflecting on our time with grandma she said

“Grandma is the best person I’ve ever known.”

I cry as I write that line as I realize just how true it really is.

Shana and I talked about how we’ve never, in all our lives ever heard Grandma Carol say a negative word about anyone.

Shana said “She taught us how to live.”

And she really did.

Grandma truly loved and showed love to everyone – all the time.

There are many who can preach a great sermon, but far less who can live one.

Grandma was one of those rare souls who’s very life was a sermon on how to live.

One day, while grandma was in the hospital, I was walking through my grandparents kitchen, on my way out from a visit to see my grandpa Ford.

I glanced down at the white candy bowl in the kitchen and noticed that, for the first time in all my 39 years of life, it was empty.

It was empty because Grandma Carol was not there to fill it up.

I cried as I thought about this one little example of the love she has shown me, my cousins, the grandkids and all the great grandkids all throughout our lives of always having a bowl full of love there for us when we’d come to visit.

I believe my Grandma was sent to my family and I, for a very special reason.

Grandma, thank you so much for always keeping the candy bowl and the M&M dispenser full for us over all these years and for teaching us what it looks like to love.

May we carry your legacy and example in our hearts as we strive to live up to the stunning example you’ve set for us.

– – – – – – – – – – – – –
Gone From My Sight
– – – – – – – – – – – – –

I am standing upon the seashore.

A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength.

I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says,

“There, she is gone.”

Gone where?

Gone from my sight.

That is all.

She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side.

And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me — not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

And that is what it is to transition from this life, to the next….

God be with you till we meet again.

I love you Grandma.