Remembering Grandma Green

I am grateful for the time I had with grandma the last few months, especially for the last weekend our family shared together.  I am grateful for hospice who walked us through the process of death and learning that even when grandma was not awake she could hear us.  God even gave me the chance to tell grandma goodbye and to share most of what I'll share today.

I had the privilege of sharing nearly 38 years of my life with grandma in it.  My parents made it a priority that my sister and I had time and relationships with our grandparents and we spent countless weekends together and a few vacations as well.  Mostly though, I remember the little things...

I remember lots of regular days together just doing our nails, coloring, painting sun catchers, playing cards, playing in the yard, and enjoying grandma's chex mix.  We spent a lot of time shopping together and I always admired grandma's style.  She loved color and stripes and we always shared a similar taste in shoes, even wearing the same size.  I remember her being along when I picked out my first homecoming dress and my wedding dress.

I also remember annual outings with grandma. She often spent the week of Rochesterfest at our house and I spent the week of the Albert Lea fair with her.  We shared a love of country music and saw many concerts together at the fair and watched many hours of CMT together. I even remember grandma once got her hands on a VHS tape to teach us to line dance in the living room.

At grandma and grandpa's house, there was always room.  I think back on family gatherings and holidays, Christmas specifically, and I wonder how we all fit together at the table for a meal or game of cards or how we made space around the Christmas tree with the mountain of gifts that grandma bought for the family.  Many years, we added a new spouse or grandbaby and still found room.  Somehow, we all found a place to sleep at night too.  I always hated leaving our gatherings and weekends together and I remember negotiating with my parents to stay just one more night.

Above all else, I am grateful that grandma and I shared Jesus and I know that is why I'm at peace after losing her.  Our time on earth is fleeting, but we have a glorious eternity to share together.   I remember a few theological discussions with grandma through the years, but mostly I remember her heart for others and her love of Jesus.  She was an example of the two greatest commandments: to love God and love others.

Grandma loved and lived well.  You're here because you were touched by her love and life as well.  She lives on in her family as I see her traits in each of us.

• Bridget's nose
• My mom's body build
• Jeff and Larry's outgoing personalities
• Jamie's sense of adventure
• My laugh

But most of all, she lives on in the love she shared and the memories we have together. 

Jace ~ 13 Months

13 months!  It's crazy to think about where we were last year at this time...trying to adjust to a new baby and the kids back to school.  We've all learned and grown A LOT this past year! 


Since Jace turned one, he has mastered walking and waving.  Guess he's ready for a parade!:)  Jace knows which cabinets/drawers he's allowed into in each of the rooms upstairs and he loves to walk between the kitchen, master bathroom, mud room, and his bedroom to shuffle stuff around the house and leave a trail behind him :)  We joke that he thinks it's his job.  He especially likes to be in the laundry room when I'm doing laundry.  He peeks in the open doors and tries to close the doors on me often :)  He's also learned to stand up by himself without holding on to anything.  Brent was a little surprised that this skill came after walking. 


He loves all things basketball.  He has one small hoop he can shoot at while sitting, another that he can dunk on while standing, and another that hangs from the top of a door that he points at with his ball and attempts to shoot.  Jace also loves following us around the kitchen to close the cabinet/fridge doors we're using.  He's often trying to close us into the fridge and will get crabby with us for stopping his attempts :)


When he doesn't have his pacifier in his mouth, he's very chatty...baby chatty that is...we don't understand anything he's jabbering about :)  This month he did master the word "truck" and even uses it when he points to a garbage truck, etc.  He had lots of fun at the homecoming parade that had lots of trucks.  He will mimic us saying "uh-oh", but I don't think he understands when to use it.  We're also working on him saying "up" when he wants us to pick him up.  He really doesn't have any words for his family members yet.  He makes ma-ma and da-da sounds but not in reference to us. 


In September, he also pushed through 2 molars, one on top and one on the bottom.  He has large lumps in his gums on the other side, so I'm guessing the other one year molars are coming soon.  He's handled teething well with just some variation in eating and napping occasionally, but he's generally happiest with a pacifier to suck or chew on. 


I think Jace officially has a favorite stuffed animal for sleeping.  Brent's mom bought him a little stuffed lamb/blanket that he often brings out of his pack-n-play when he wakes up and reaches for when he goes to bed. 


We celebrated Jace's birthday with two gatherings on Labor Day weekend.  Pickers joined us for dinner and the first Michigan football game and the Beckmanns/Moyers joined us in Albert Lea to celebrate with my grandparents.  It was a nice, low key time to spend with family.  Jace and I also got to spend a day visiting my cousin, Steph, and her new bundle of joy, Otto.  It's pretty awesome to share the motherhood journey with a wonderful friend and cousin.<3 nbsp="" p="">

My babes

Two year old babysitting the one year old

Visiting the kittens at Petco

Sleeping babies are the sweetest! 
Note his lamb stuffy under his right arm

Looking grown up

Walking with Daddy

Bedhead after a nap

He LOVES baths and showers!

Visiting with the ducks

Playing in the shower

Homecoming parade with all the trucks