The year 2018 ended with an emotional experience for my family and I, we buried Granny, my dad’s mother. She had been in bad health for quite some time, so it was not a total surprise when she passed. However, it is never easy to say goodbye to someone who had such an impact on your life. What brings the ultimate comfort is knowing where she will spend eternity, in the arms of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Still with loss, comes pain and sorrow. Family events that used to be the norm, will now only be memories. I’m grateful to have known my grandmother for 33.5 years, many can’t say the same. I’m grateful for all the lessons she taught and for the special times together with family.

It was her wishes I speak at her funeral. It was a heavy, emotional moment, but still an honor nonetheless. The following is what I wrote and read for her funeral service.

For Granny:

Today, Granny, we remember the things you said, the things you did
How much you loved us grandkids
It is easy to celebrate a live well lived.

It was always fun at Granny’s house
We would run and play; asked mom and dad if we could stay
There in the kitchen with your apron on
That chocolate and yellow cake was barely cooked before it was gone

The summer heat that would bring little league baseball games
In that long, white and black Cadillac you came
You would sip on Diet Coke, napkin wrapped around
Cheering for us to hit a homerun was the sound

The winter months would bring snow on the ground
Wrinkled one-dollar bills in box could be found
Every year, aged one to eighteen
A personalized ornament with our name and the date could be seen

You loved your church and the traditional music that would ring
We joined you on Mother’s Day as the choir in their robes would sing
It was a faith you passed down to Uncle Scott and Dad;
we are eternally grateful that you had

This past Christmas as we were all gathered
It was the sweet, sweet spirit of family that mattered
Hugs and kisses with Madelyn and Caleb on your lap
Those are the memories that bring a smile and a clap

Now you are back home in Jesus’ embrace
Where Scripture promises He saved a place
For now, we see you in picture frames
That won’t always be the case, one day the Savior will call our names

Today, Granny, we remember the things you said, the things you did
How much you loved us grandkids
It is easy to celebrate a live well lived.