...For if love blossoms and meadows and walking, I learned how to love them, dear Grandma, from you....

i have been friends with michel for what seems like forever. we were young marrieds in byu housing together. as long as i have known michel, i have known grandma(my whole family calls her "grandma"). i instantly loved grandma. sometimes she made me miss my own grandma. other times she filled the void left when my grandma passed away. michel's grandma always made me feel like i was part of the family. she was always so kind to me and interested in my family. i often thought that if my grandma lived nearby i would have a relationship with her that was similar to michel and her grandma's relationship. to put it simply, i loved "grandma." i will miss her.

i was shocked when i learned of grandma's passing. i learned a valuable lesson that day. i also don't believe it was by "chance" that grandma taught it to me. you see, earlier that week i had thought, "i should call michel." i clearly remember pushing the idea away twice! it wasn't even because i was lazy. i honestly thought that michel was busy getting ready for christmas and the last thing she needed was for me to bother her. when i talked to michel i told her that i had thought i should call. she replied, "you should have. i was dying and needed you." if only i had listened....

during the funeral i was honored when sharon said that grandma would want me in the family prayer. i was also so pleased when my older kids said that they wanted to attend.

the great grandchildren sang "i often go walking," at the service. i lost it when they sang the words, "For if I love blossoms and meadows and walking, i learned how to love them, dear grandma, from you."grandma did love all of those things. so did my grandma. i was reminded that my love for them came from a grandma i  looked up to and nurtured by another grandma.

grandma even touched my hazel.

the week before grandma passed away, michel and i were at grandma's doing something. hazel was screaming. i handed hazel to grandma (nervous that she would be too wiggly or ornery for grandma to handle. when michel and i came back into the room hazel was as happy and calm as could be. 

i am grateful to all the "grandma's" that have touched my life. i hope that one day (many years from now) i can follow in the footsteps of the many wonderful grandmas that i have been blessed to know.

i will miss you.....