… this is going to be a more personal post than i usually write… no recipe or recommendation… just reflection…
… this weekend my mom and grandma were in town to celebrate my grandmother’s 78th birthday… they’ve come to visit for grandma’s birthday every year since i’ve lived down here… but this year was particularly poignant because we had such a wonderful time and witnessed the peace and power of prayer… after they left, i cried, because i was so proud and so grateful that we had the chance to celebrate a 78th year of grandma…
…you see, this trip last year was painful and terrifying… grandma had just been diagnosed with bladder cancer and would be having a MASSIVELY INVASIVE surgery on November 13, 2008 to remove a golf-ball sized tumor… she was in a lot of pain, looked horrible, and moved slowly… when they left, i sobbed because i didn’t know what the next few months held or if this annual trip would happen in 2009…
…but by the grace of God it did… and what’s more… it not only happened- but this weekend was the best i’ve seen Grandma look in over a year… it’s the most i’ve seen her eat… it’s the most i’ve seen her laugh… and it’s by far the most relaxed i’ve seen my mom around my grandma since the diagnosis…
… this, was a weekend of praise and celebration… because it wasn’t just about the surgery- as the healing and the fight back from surgery were long and difficult… there was an infection that threatened her life more than the cancer and a few scary rides in an ambulance back to the hospital… it was a FIGHT…
…but God bless the woman- she FOUGHT… i tear as i write this because i am so proud of her for pushing through… it was so much to take in and take on at 77… she could have given up… but she pushed, she tried, she listened and she trusted… she trusted God to get her through this… to save her and to heal her… she trusted the Dr.’s to know exactly how to proceed… and she trusted my mom to walk her through every day of recovery…
… so here’s to you grandma… HAPPY BIRTHDAY… i had already learned so much from you over the years… but in the past year, you’ve taught me about faith, strength, and the will to live… i am grateful for every moment we get to keep you… and look forward to seeing what kind of trouble we can cause in the year to come…
… and here’s to God, who taught us a lesson or two as well… and got us through the last year… apparently, no worse for the wear…
really sweet post….love it. love you. love your grandma.
🙂 Thanks, t! back atcha from both of us.
Very sweet post!
Make me cry – but what a lovely message to share. Seeing your grandma brought back memories from Elementary School…and I am so glad that the Lord is blessing her and healing her. I could not imagine what life woud be like without my grandmother – she’s my best friend, and I am sure your grandmother is the same…we learn from them and we go to them for everything. Thanks Heather for sharing with us, and i will keep your grandmother in my prayers hun. What a wonderful birthday she must have had!
this is really sweet… your grandma mustve had a terrific birthday (ps she’s adorable!)
by the way, i hope you had a nice thanksgiving with your family!
I love this post 🙂
will you be continuing your blog posts? it’s been a while… would love to know what you’re up to for the holidays!!
hope all is well!