Memories . . .

This week we said a very loving goodbye to a very special woman.

My husband's Grandmother, Clara Jones, was one of the most remarkable people on the planet. She was filled with love for the Holy Spirit, she was loving to everyone, kind, giving, and wise. She never met someone that wasn't a friend immediately, and she made it a point ask often "are you going to church anywhere regular?"

Grandma Clara was someone that we can all strive to be like.

She spent a lot of time in her garden.

She spent a lot of time with her grandchildren and, later, great grandchildren.

She loved the Lord and witnessed whenever she got a chance, in her gentle way.

One of my favorite memories of her is the first time I ever met her. 

It was Christmas of 2005 - my first Christmas with my husband's family.

Ronnie and I had only been dating about a month, but we knew that we were meant for each other, but I was still so nervous meeting his family for the first time.

I was sitting on the couch, by myself, watching all the hub-bub and taking it all in. Grandma came and sat next to me and started talking to me. She asked me questions about myself and told me about her family. We must have sat there and talked for a whole hour. She made me feel so welcome - it was as though I was already a member of the family. 

I never forgot that. 

Every time I saw her since, she made me feel so loved and welcome. 

My daughter, who was not her blood grandchild, became her grandchild. Once Emily got older, she would sit and talk to Grandma for hours at a time if she could.

She will be truly missed, but I revel in the fact that she is Home with her Lord and Savior. 

Grandma got the best Christmas gift she could have ever gotten - she got to spend Jesus' birthday with Him in Heaven. 

Good bye Grandma, we love you.

We'll see you later.