Grandma Bert

My grandmother lived an amazing 83 years and passed away on her favorite day of the year, Christmas Eve.  

Grandma Bert was an incredible woman.  The mother of twelve kids.  Twelve!!  9 boys and 3 girls.  They lived in a small house and the kids shared beds.  The boys had triple stacked bunk beds.  Even with 12 kids to feed, growing up - the kids always had friends dropping over for dinner at the Millers and Grandma always made sure there was enough food for everyone to eat.  

Grandma was spunky, opinionated and loving.  She'd burst into song at any moment.  If during conversation someone said something to remind her of a song, she'd sing a few lines.  It is something I always loved.  While sitting with her in the hospital, the nurse brought her some Milk of Magnesia and told her she needed to drink it to get her bowels rolling.  Grandma started singing... "Rollin, Rollin, Rollin, get those bowels Rollin."  LOL  The nurse and I just died laughing.  

I will miss her dearly, and just feel blessed to have been by her bedside for most of her final hours.  We held a sort of vigil, surrounding her with love during her final days.  I bathed her, and washed her hair.  It felt so good to be able to nurture her in that way, as she has done to so many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  

She leaves behind 10 living children, 26 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren.  With her passing, we've joked that my grandpa, Uncle Ron, and Uncle Darrell now have a fourth to play cards with.  <3 

Friendship

Friendship has never been easy for me. The friends I have are those that I've had for a long time - and making new ones often scares me. What if they won't like me? What if we don't have enough in common?

Two years ago, a new family moved in next door. They have a little girl just 11 months older than Alaina, and a 5-yr old boy. Cute adorable kids. We didn't see them much, and I soon learned that Anne, the mom, was very sick with Lyme Disease. It has been a hard two years on her and the family. Through this time, we'd occasionally chat outside and always talk about getting together. She offered for me to stop in any time - but I'm no good at just spontaneously knocking on someone's door.

I'm so thankful that on Sunday, I was sitting on the porch when the family came home from an outing. Anne and the kids came over to join me. Alaina and Abby hit it off so quickly and the kids were all in and out of my house and their house while Anne and I sat and talked. We spent over 2 hours together and it was wonderful. She is open and easy to talk to. Although I know we have some spiritual differences, it isn't anything that will get in the way of our friendship - this I can tell.

Tonight, Paige, Alaina and I all went over for a visit. We had a wonderful time and I found out that Anne also had her kids at the birth center where mine were born. We share the same beliefs about natural childbirth - and she mentioned wearing a baby sling with her kids. She is a very gentle parent and so good with her kids. It seems I have found an AP friend - and she is right next door to me!

When we came home, Paige said that Anne is the best person she has ever met - she said - she could be my best friend! That made my heart melt. I was so glad that we all have clicked so well, and I look forward to many years of chats on the porch, walks with the kids and dinners together.

Shortly after coming home, I was upstairs with Alaina getting her ready for bed and Anne came by. She brought me lunch to take to work tomorrow, a chicken pot pie to thaw and fix for dinner some night and a loaf of bread. How sweet is that?

I feel truly blessed to be living so close to this amazing woman and family.