the circle of life

Our baby was born on a Saturday (birth story coming soon) and her adoring daddy flew back to join his unit that Wednesday. We were happy he had been able to get paternity leave, which made his 6-day leave a 10-day leave. Within a week of him leaving again, my 90-year-old grandma died, D actually left the U.S., and I learned six or seven songs and played them on the piano at grandma's funeral. Meanwhile my body was healing from major surgery and I was sharing a room (at my mom's) with a toddler and a newborn. Needless to say it was a difficult week! It was good that my mom had us around when she wanted to talk and that I had her and my brother helping to take care of Shboogoo.

I wanted to call this post "the circle of life" and now it's kind of hard to turn my thoughts into sentences. (I did find this blog post about birth and death that is worth reading.) It was interesting that one person in my family began life on earth so soon before another's mortal life ended. One came and one left. We had planned to take L to meet her great-grandmother the day after she ended up passing away. It was sad that they just missed each other, with L being only five days old. But after the hospital told us about Grandma's death, at 10:30 pm, we (my mom, two of my siblings, my aunt, my cousin, my girls and I) went to see my grandma's body, talk and pray together. I believe my grandma's spirit has been able to see L.

After Grandma's funeral and the family lunch, my aunt talked to her daughter, my sister, and me. My grandma has only six grandchildren (not counting "steps"), and she had chosen a specific ring to give to each of us three granddaughters. She gave me her wedding ring from Grandpa Boyd. He's been my grandpa for 23 years (my biological grandfather died before I was born). I was so honored to receive this beautiful sentimental gift. I keep it in the ring box, but I have worn it a couple of times for a short while.

I love my Grandma and I will miss her. I already do. Certain streets and holidays will never be the same again. Shboogoo will miss the assisted living place with its fish and birds. I'm grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. I know Grandma's spirit is alive and will reunite with her body someday, to never be separated again. She had a testimony of the gospel, too. She and Grandpa were temple workers for ten years. Here are some pictures of her. (I absolutely love the one of her when she was my age; I think she sort of looked like me. But I don't have it here to scan it.)

2005, I think

December 2006, with her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter

At my cousin's wedding reception in 2007

Christmas Eve 2008