NOTHING and I mean NOTHING in this world could ever prepare me for the phone call I received early this morning.
You see, I have a very close knit family extended family included. I have always been very close to all my grandparents in different ways at different points in my life.
When I was younger, I was very very close to my father's parents - they were my babysitters when my parents worked. They lived across the street from us - so I spent lots of time visiting them. We also did family breakfast every Sunday after Church. Its a rather large family and my grandparents have lots of us grandchildren and yet they always made us all feel special no matter what.
But, at that same point in my life - I very much looked forward to the time I got to spend with my mother's parents. My nana still worked full time when I was younger but, I remember stopping at her work to visit her! I remember always looking forward to when mom and dad would take trips so, my brother and I could spend the weekend there. I also remember that even though my Grandma worked full time I remember her never missing anything. She came to every grandparents day at my school, she came to all of our Christmas Programs, she would come to sporting events and important religious events. I remember thinking she was a super women.
As I got older, we moved away from my childhood home, I still spent lots of time with my dad's family but, like any family ours kept growing and my grandparents had even more people to share that special love with.
We moved in with my Nana and I'm sure we turned her life upside down. She loved having us around for company. She was such a busy lady, with friends and plans that could keep her busy almost every day of the week but, she choose to put some of those things on the back burner and spend as much time with us as she could while we lived there with her.
Lets fast forward a bit.. I could go on and on about how amazing all my grandparents are.
Ok, let skip even a bit farther.
She was always so very welcoming to Eric - treating him just as another grandchild.
When my Nana found out I was going to be a mommy she was amazing!
She immediately started working on her afghans (that all of her grandchildren and other great - grandchildren) already received.
When my special maternity time with Connor was up and I had to go back to work she offered to help me babysit Connor.
Something she continued for the next 7 years. She would drive down every Thursday and spend the day loving on my Connor and eventually Zennon as well. She would take them for walks, play games, watch elmo, read books, and most of all take care of them so, I could work. We would cook dinner and spend the evening together before she would go home. I know the boys will always remember the same as I do, how she made it a point to make it to every special event they had. Baptism, 1st Communion, Birthdays, sporting events, Programs at school - she was there for all of it. I knew at the time that - I was so very lucky and those were times I knew I would always treasure. and writing this today, that is exactly how I feel. Lucky to have had her in my life. Lucky to have spent so very much time with her! Lucky to have had her share such a special time in my boys life. I feel so lucky that she was able to meet my baby girl and even see my baby girl turn 1. I know Rylinn wont remember her like the boys do but, thru pictures and memories I swear none of my kids will ever forget who Gigi was and all she did for them.
I love this lady more than I can ever explain
and I will miss her more than I ever thought was possible.
Ahh, I could post pictures forever!
So many amazing memories with my Nana and for the last 8 years GiGi to all these amazing kiddos in the picture above.
