Birthday love sent up to you!

As a kid Halloween and Nov. 1st were celebrated as birthdays in our house hold. As you may have read yesterday was my sister's birthday, but today would have been my grandpa's birthday. As a family we would all (mom, dad, Abby, grandma, and grandpa) go out trick or treating and then home for the birthday parties! I loved that Abby and grandpa always got to celebrate together. I'm not sure of as a kid she loved it but I always though it was so neat. You know to have a birthday partner with double the cakes and goodies. Well today grandpa we celebrate in your name! Happy birthday up there...and tell grandma we love y'all and miss you like crazy.

A welcomed surprise

This very long week has FiNaLlY ended!  Although it ended with many tears. yet happiness it has finally ended.  The trip to and from Kansas was as nice as could be (minus the fact that it was like 27 degrees there with sleet and snow!).  It is times like these that you get to revisit memories you may have forgotten.  Also you get to learn more about each other and the strength they hold.  Now it is time to enjoy the fact that grandma is enjoying her new place of peace and happiness.

On to the happy surprise....if you remember from last week I won a blog giveaway!  Well, my goodies have arrived.  When I got home there was this wonderful box waiting for me!  Christin from A Classy, Southern Wife had sent it to me!

 Then when I opened it there was a sweet note from Christin....and my goodies! 

Are these not the cutest wine accessories you have ever seen!  

I love them...actually I wanted to bust open a bottle of wine just to break them in!  

The goodies sure did make my very long week seem brighter.  

Thanks Christin for my winnings! LOVE THEM!!!

Heaven is a little sweeter

This morning at 8:00 am heaven got a little sweeter.  My dear sweet grandma walked into the pearly gates.  I am certain she was greeted by grandpa, as well as others dear to her heart.  These past few days have been a struggle for us all.  I know grandma held on so that we could all say our good byes.  I am just so grateful that I got to spend the past few days loving on her!  She too did the same to me...maybe not with words but with her peacefulness.

We are off to Kansas on for her funeral.  I know that will be hard to, but I think the hardest part has passed.  Telling grandma it was okay to step up to heaven. Thank you to all who have been thinking about me and my family.  Your thoughts have been a true blessing!

Sad but thankful

Today I left Amarillo with much sadness.  In order to have my classroom prepared for the next step in grandma's journey I had to leave her today.  I am so thankful I got to spend the last 3 days with her.  Although she was not always looking at me or talking to me, she was listening.  I hate that the final days have to be so long and worrisome.  We worry that she may be in pain and we wont know.  However, everyone assures us that she is not...you still worry.

I am also thankful that my sister is able to stay with grandma and mom.  No, it is not the same as being there yourself but at least I know she is in great hands with them by her side.  Now I just pray that grandma relaxes enough to move on.  Abby told me this afternoon she seemed to be close.  Thank you to all my friends and family who have said many prayers for us.  We are so grateful to you.

Love...oh sweet love

This week has been all about love for people around the world.  Well, as you remember I am not one for participating in the "love" that is requested on the specific day (Valentine's day).  However, I was brought to Amarillo this week! My dear sweet grandmother has taken a turn down the path to heaven.  You know we were just in this place a year ago with my grandpa.  Grandma had a stroke about 4 weeks ago.  She seems to have taken a step closer to being with grandpa.  My sister's family and I made the trek to Amarillo on Thursday.  We wanted to spend time with grandma and show her our love.  Since we both live so far away...any chance to come home we take.

This was grandma and I back in September 2010...her birthday weekend!

The time here has been nice in the fact that we (mom, Abby's family, and I) have just sat and relived all the  wonderful memories.  Grandma has gotten to listen to the great-grand babies play by her side, us laugh about the funny things we have done with her and grandpa, and so much more! Although this is a very sad depressing time, it is also a wonderful journey that grandma is about making.  As much as I love having grandma here to share life with...it is with a deeper love that we must let her know she can go!  I know she feels this as Abby and I both saw a sense of peace come over her once we arrived and were comforting her. She, much different than grandpa, has been very peaceful on her journey.  Thus allowing us to be more joyful for her.  Plus we know that her 2 favorite people are waiting for her arrival!