Grogery was one of those people who just made everyone's life so much happier just by knowing her. She was so loving, kind, patient (Oh my, was she patient!), caring, funny, and a million more wonderful adjectives! She gave the most comforting hugs. She had the most contagious laugh. (Oh, how I miss that laugh!) She had such a beautiful bedtime story voice and knew how to tuck us into bed just perfectly. She was a pretty good referee when we had the occasional sibling or cousin squabble. She was an EXCELLENT cook! I could go on and on...
Many of my BEST childhood memories are memories with her. Teaching at Gold City Elementary School (the play school that she and our grandpa let us have in their basement) with my cousins, Orange Crush (with crushed ice) and popcorn while watching TV at night when we spent the night, my cousins and I having our pretend Olympics in the front yard while she judged and gasped because she was so afraid that we might get hurt while doing a cartwheel :0) are only a few of the wonderful memories that I have with her. There are so so many more... way too numerous to name! My life has been so beyond blessed because she was my Grogery!
I was 16 when she passed away and I will be 32 in June. It has been weighing heavily on me lately that soon I will have spent just as much of my life without her as I had with her and it breaks my heart. :0( I know it may sound a little selfish to be sad when my life has been so blessed, but I can't help it. I am so thankful for the 16 years that God gave me with such an amazing Grogery! I am incredibly thankful that He has blessed me beyond measure with all of the wonderful grandparents that He has! There is no question that I am blessed!
I see more and more of Grogery's precious spirit in my Mama and Aunt Debbie every day as I watch them interact with their own grandkids. Although it makes me sad that my niece, nephew, cousins' children, and my own child(ren) won't know Grogery, it does make my heart smile to know that her memory lives on and that they will always know the love that she shared with us as it is passed on to them.
Here's a picture of my Grogery. Wasn't she beautiful? :0)
