I Miss You

I miss you.

The one who let me fix your hair and paint your fingernails when I was a kid.

The one who watched "The Price is Right" with me (Bob Barker version) and "The Little Girls" show (otherwise known as Full House).

The one who would come and get me when I was sick in elementary school. Even though I sometimes would pretend just to be with you. And you'd make me eat chicken noodle soup, but it was worth it.

The one who gave me a dollar or two so I could walk up and get us hamburgers at that small town burger place. We sometimes got ice cream, too.

The one who would spend the night with us each Christmas Eve and wake up with us on Christmas morning. And each year I'd ask if you saw Santa, and each year you'd say, "Not this year! Maybe next year!"

The one who would talk with me at your kitchen table for hours. Even though I don't even remember what we talked about specifically, I loved talking with you. And I hope you loved talking with me.

The one who put together 5000-piece puzzles and tried to show me how...I still can't do it! :o)

The one who let me spend the night...and sometimes sleep in your room with you...even though you said I always stole the covers.

The one who let me bake in your kitchen, start to finish, even if I made a mess. You didn't mind.

I was practically a kid when you left us to be with Jesus...just 14...and in the almost 16 years that you've been gone, there really isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you. More so since I've been married and had children...I so badly wish you could have met Josh. You would have loved him. And I so badly wish you could have met Caleb, Sarah, and Gabriel. You would have told me how much Caleb looks like me (and his ornery side is probably like me, too). I'm guessing you would have told me how pretty Sarah is with her auburn hair (the color would remind you of Grandpa - your husband - in his younger days), and how adorable Gabriel is with his cheesy smile.

There are times when our family will get together, and every time I will tear up when someone (usually Leslie) will say, "I sure wish Grandma could have seen our kids. I wonder what she would say!"

I know what she would say. She would say how blessed she is to be a part of a family that is so genuine and real. A family that loves each other and doesn't ever talk poorly of one another. She would say that she loves us, and she would mean it. Because there was not a mean bone in that woman's body, and I strive to be just like her.

So Grandma...I have tears streaming down my face as I write this. I wish I had you here to tell you all that's going on in my life. The good and the bad. Because I know you'd tell me what to do when I just don't know what to do. Your calm and sweet spirit are so greatly missed.
















I miss you.

I love you still.