A Beautiful Life

Grandma Helen passed away on Sunday.  It's been a sad week for our family.  It's especially hard to see someone you love, like your husband, go through so much sadness after losing someone so special to him.  We all know she is in a better place.  A place where she won't have to carry that darn oxygen tank, a place where she won't have to take a zillion pills a day, and a place where she can finally be with her husband, who she lost in a car accident 18 years ago.  She is so much better off.  It's just us who suffer.

So as we suffer, we remember all the things we loved about Grandma Helen.  For 88 years old, she sure was a spitfire.  I'm sure the nurses don't get the response, "A rich man" very often when asking the question "So what else can I get you?"  But that was Helen.  And we love her for it.

We know she loved Jude very much and are so happy he got to spend 4 good months with her.  She even was at his baptism a few weeks ago!  What a special thing we'll be able to tell him.  The day before she died we went to visit her in the hospital.  She was in and out, not responding to much, but she knew we were there.  She was happy when we said Jude was there.  He leaned toward her and touched her face.  It's a picture we will always remember.

Helen, I know I already asked you this favor, but in case you were caught up in all the spledidness of heaven, I'm sending you a little reminder.  Have you found my Grandma and Grandpa Thompson yet?  They never got to meet Jude.  Will you tell them how cute he is?  I know that won't be too hard for you!  Remember when you got to hold him in your arms like this.......

........they never got to do that, but I bet they'll take your word for how lovely it was.

I know you got your hair done before you left us, and my grandma got her shoes and trays all ready, so there must be some sort of party going on up there.  Please know that your feisty-ness and sweetness will live on forever in our hearts.

We will miss you so very much!