Most of you already know, but for those of you that don't, my Grammy had a major stroke on Tuesday. She was unresponsive when the ambulance got her to the hospital and after the neurosurgeon said it was a 9.5 out of 10 in severity, my Grandpa opted not to do any heroic measures. Nearly the whole family gathered that day to say goodbye since they assured us once the breathing machine was taken off, Gram wouldn't be able to breathe on her own. Gram proved the doctors wrong and had been breathing just fine, resting comfortably until last night.
I have brought Macy nearly every day to spend time with Gram, Grandpa and everyone else that happened to be in the room. She seemed to bring levity and smiles. Our family is incredible. Not one argument or disagreement in how to move forward. Sharon and Mom took turns sleeping with Gram at night, Lisa and Ginnie shared staying with Grandpa.
Today hardly anyone was up for going to church, we wanted to spend more time with Gram. I dropped Bryce off with Grammy and Mom and went to put Macy down for her nap at Grandpa's house and got to the care center about 10:45 AM, in time to hear Lisa and Mom taking turns reading scripture. Mom had stayed the night with Gram and had been playing music through her phone all morning to her. Bryce had been reading the Bible to her this morning, too.
Sharon grabbed a hymnal and said we should sing some songs, and the 3rd one in was, "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand." Since we all knew that one, and had warmed up a little, we really sang it out...it was good. So good Macy was joining in, shrieking along when Mom stood up and I heard Lisa start to cry. While we were praising Jesus in harmony, my Grammy slipped away, so peacefully I didn't even know it.
I'll never sing that song again without crying.
My Grammy loved babies. Her famous quote was, "Sheas don't have ugly babies!" She hated polk-a-dots and made a comment anytime she saw them. She never could quite tell you why she hated them, just explained it's probably why she hated her freckles, or "angel kisses" too. She loved her friends and routines. "Foo-Foo Fridays" with her hairdresser, Mary, "The Game" with Nancy on Friday or Saturday, "The Prime Timers" at church, "Tulip Tour Trips," Dave Dunkin's Sunday School Class and Choir Practice. She LOVED to sing! Every year for Easter Grammy was in the cantata and every year she would ask all of us to go and after two services, she would race home, the last to arrive for the dinner she was throwing for 40+ people and on her way breezing through the house she would stop, ask if we liked the cantata and we would say it was wonderful, and she would say, "Yep, Grandpa said it was the best ever." Grammy never knew a stranger and would invite people to join our holiday meals all the time. She has more friends than anyone I know. During this week, I've realized that my friends consider her a friend. Mom and Sharon said the same thing. What an incredible women to stay relevant and remember her children's children's friends!
My best friend Heather and I stayed with Grammy and her best friend Leona during the state basketball tournament when we were 14. Right before bed Heather asked why Grammy and Leona had their heads wrapped in toilet paper...? Grammy said, "To keep the curl in!"
Gram grew raspberries and Katie and I would stay with her for about a month every summer during berry season. She drove a truck around Lynden dubbed the "Berry Bus" and picked up 10-12 kids every day for work. She would listen to Rush Limbaugh and all those other quacky radio guys that tell you to take Citrocal every day for your bones. We would always beg for music and she would say no! Not during 1-3 PM! Grammy was the best at waking you up. She would quietly "yell" down the stairs, "Girls....? Time to wake up...!" In the softest, nicest voice. I loved when we got to stay with Grammy.
Gram always had stale cereal and stale ice cream. She also always had BOTH creamy and crunchy peanut butter in those huge canisters, which was delicious! She always said, "Help yourself, take whatever you want" when you were hungry or asked for a cookie or candy. Grammy was a great cook. She collected cookbooks and always tried new recipes. She was obsessed with Jello. Some holidays we would have 10, and 8 of them were terrible!!!! She would laugh and say, "What's the diff?"
Grammy was proud of each one of us and told us that all the time. She was THRILLED when Macy was born, even though Macy was Gram's 10th Great-Grandchild. She had one grandson and 3 great-grandchildren born on Halloween and loved to tell people that followed with, "I should get a prize for that!" Macy has Grammy's exact dimple on the right side of her mouth. I would always point it out and Grammy would say, "I guess I do have that!" She got such a kick out the fact that Macy thought Grandpa was so funny. Every time she sees Grandpa Boyd, Macy smiles...she has since she was 2 months old. For some reason, he cracks her up! Grammy used to laugh and laugh at that.
Grammy loved my Grandpa. Her advice a couple weeks ago when Mom asked her what she would say to new couples was, "You have to be friends before you can be anything else." Last night, even though her movement was slowing and her breathing changing, when Grandpa kissed her, she kissed him back. Friends till the end.
Dear Grammy,
I'm going to miss you so much. It was a gift to be your Grand-daughter and learn all you taught me. You were honest, hard working and loved your husband deeply. You made friends easily and loved to have fun and do new things. I admire the way you made people feel welcome and would gather younger women to yourself and act as a Mom even though you weren't related. I think the way you could laugh at yourself made you so funny.
I feel like you're going to call me any minute and ask when we're having Mom's birthday lunch.
Christmas Eve will never be the same. I can't tease you about not cleaning out your laundry room this Friday like you promised me you would.
Grammy, I know you are in heaven right now singing with the angels, but life will never be the same without you. There have been a lot of tears today and more will come because of the difference you made in our lives.
All my love,
Molly
We celebrated Grammy today at Grace Baptist Church at 2:00 PM. Every single member of our 37 strong family was there, except Bryce, Ryan and Tara. 34/37 is pretty good for a Tuesday. :) It was a beautiful service, that lasted an hour and 5 minutes. Surprising it didn't go longer to capture all Grammy was to so many people. We had a welcome, prayer, sang songs (When we all get to heaven, I'll Fly Away), heard a Psalm, Katie sang, "How Great Thou Art," watched a WONDERFUL video of pictures of Grammy, Fred spoke, Sharon spoke, Heidi spoke, and Luke sang, "Freely." Dave Dunkin gave a short message and we all sang "Surely goodness and mercy" as we filed out. 
Heidi and Annie.
Heidi and Abbie.
Heidi and Ellie.
This one cracked me up. I think they are all at the same stage, don't you? 
Watch the way Abbie is always patting or touching Macy. It's SO SWEET! I love it!
Katie got home from London last night, as usual, bearing gifts. The latest addition to Macy's wardrobe collection is this hysterical hat, London style!!! :) Thanks, Kates, we love it. 
Heidi and Annie.
Heidi and Abbie.
Heidi and Ellie.
This one cracked me up. I think they are all at the same stage, don't you? 
Watch the way Abbie is always patting or touching Macy. It's SO SWEET! I love it!
Katie got home from London last night, as usual, bearing gifts. The latest addition to Macy's wardrobe collection is this hysterical hat, London style!!! :) Thanks, Kates, we love it. 
