Remembering Grandma

I am awake here at almost 1am while everyone at home is at Grandma's memorial service. It has been a hard month and especially this week has been difficult. It isn't easy to be away from my family as they mourn the loss of Grandma.

It has been hard for me to grieve on my own here since I can't talk face to face with family and be there in these emotional times. I desperately wish I could be there and I hope that they all understand my heart.

Today as I have been thinking and reflecting a lot I came across a letter that was stuck in my cookbook written by Grandma. It was exactly what I needed today and I love that I have it. I always loved her hand written letters. She was so faithful at writing me all through college and beyond. I love all the things she included in her letter. From telling me she had pictures scattered all over my room to a favorite memory and picture of her and I. She ended the letter by telling me she loves this picture of her and I in the kitchen. I am standing on a step stool so I can reach the counter and I am mixing cookie dough with Grandma at my side. As I read the description I knew exactly what picture she was talking about. She had also told me that she and my grandpa had several memories she cherished of the time I spent with them. I really don't think I could have found a more fitting letter than this one.

As I have been journaling things I loved about Grandma it was as if this letter, written 4 years ago was doing the same thing.

My Grandma was a very special lady and I am going to miss her terribly. The comfort I have is that she is not suffering any longer and that she is with Jesus now.

I could go on about how much I will miss my Grandma and all the things I did with her and do like her. I know that the grieving process takes time and I know it is going to look different for me.

The picture is from our trip to America to see her about a year and a half ago. We were celebrating my 30th birthday.

Pictures

America Update

So on day 7 of being here the unbelievable happened... Ev finally slept until 7:30am!!!!! Until today both she and Elijah have remained on the time at home. We (actually just Todd) got to get a full nights sleep. The first time in over a week. YEAH for sleep. Just as Ev looks like she is getting adjusted to the 14 hour time difference we will leave and go back home.

Ev's English has really been improving since being here. She is using a lot more words and phrases and short sentences and she isn't speaking as much Chinese as she usually does.

Yesterday it got up to almost 60 degrees so we played outside in the leaves. My mom had bought bubbles so Ev enjoyed bubbles and the outdoors. One of the first days we were here it was also 60 degrees and my mom, Todd and Ev played outside in my grandparents backyard. But Ev wouldn't walk in the grass until Todd showed her it was okay. Back home there is not much grass and what little grass there is it is off limits to walk on. It was really funny to see Ev walk around the grass until she was told it was okay. We didn't realize she hadn't walked in grass before nor that she had picked up on the cultural thing from home. Too funny.

An Early Christmas

We decided our Sunday afternoon that we will be making a short trip back to America to see my grandma. We talked about it and then started looking for flights and by the evening we had purchased our tickets. We had tried to leave our early Tuesday morning but when we went to buy the tickets the site we were on wouldn't let you purchase tickets less than 3 days in advance. So we are now leaving Wednesday morning our time. So yesterday I was scrambling trying to pack us up and get the house ready for us being gone. We decided to have Christmas early. So we read our story and opened our stockings. That took longer than expected, then we ate dinner, and then we spent the rest of the night opening our presents. So we are having a different Christmas for sure. We'll be flying for 24 hours plus to get to the States of Christmas Eve. We may be in for major culture shock with coming home during the holidays. Oh well! I am curious how Ev is going to respond to America. Actually I am hoping she does well on our long 14 hour flight. Hopefully the plane won't be very full so she won't bother people. A friend of mine offered her home for us to stay in and some people are looking for car seats. Here they don't use them. I am actually use to this so it is going to be weird for all 4 of us to strap both kids in seats. Actually I guess we will have to wear seat belts too. I am hoping Ev thinks it is cool and won't scream the whole time we are in the car.
The middle of next month was the start of our traveling until the end of February... so I guess we are just getting an early start on it. We will fly to America on Christmas Eve and stay there until January 6th. We'll return home until we leave again for Thailand on January 14th. We will be in 5 different cities until the middle of February where we will visit some friends in another city on our way back home. So busy times and lots of airports, planes, buses, subways, and all kinds of transportation. I know by the end of our travels we will be wanting our beds and home.