Wednesday, November 18, 2009

We've Got a Latte Love: seeing great grandma

Remember my tribute to my great grandmother?

About two weeks ago, she had a stroke. She's had very minor strokes before, so I didn't get too concerned from my mom's email. But her 4th stroke at the age of 101 had a pretty severe effect. She required almost round the clock care for a few days, but many of us assumed she would bounce back as she had dozens of times after hitting a rough patch.
But at 6:30 am last Thursday I received the phone call that she was taken home into the arms of her heavenly Father.

E and I were able to get on a standby flight that very afternoon and arrived back home in Chicago where we stayed until Sunday. My sister, who was planning to visit us this past weekend was able to transfer her flight to later this spring.

We had a wonderful and exhausting weekend reconnecting with many family members, sharing stories, laughs, memories and love. To know my grandma was to love her, and she knew many people!

So, in celebration of her life, I'm going to post, out of recap order, one of my last memories of my dear great grandmother.

After getting ready at what I considered "home" for the last time, all the girls and I piled into my family's 12 passenger van (it's all about the sports in my family!), and headed 3 miles down the road to the retirement home where my great grandmother has lived for about 8 of the past 11 years.
I say retirement home, not nursing home, just to clarify that she wasn't bedridden (at this point) wasn't hooked up to tubes, or [completely] confined to a wheelchair at almost 101. She lived in a room on her own with minimal help for daily tasks and scooted around every where she needed to go in her wheelchair when her legs couldn't support her any more.

On the morning of my wedding day, as we approached the entrance with a mason jar filled with a few of the extra flowers from our DIY flowers the day before.

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(photo by a friend)

She was waiting for us in the downstairs lobby, with an expression I'll treasure forever: pure excitement.

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Lots of kisses
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and hugs

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(baby sister)

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(photo by a friend)

and I love yous
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a little bit of chatting

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and a spin

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Then we posed

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(my mama, photo by little sis)

after one last kiss, we headed back to the van so we could get to our first look.

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I had created a blurb photo album for her with these photos as well as some family photos after my mom emailed me about her down turn. Unfortunately, she never got to enjoy the pictrues, as the album arrived at my parents on the day of her funeral.

But I'm so glad I have these moments captured on film as well as many memories in my heart!

*all photos, unless otherwise noted, were taken by the fabulous, Little Hands Photography*

15 comments:

Ali @ His Birdie's Nest said...

Your Grandmother's smile brought tears to my eyes!
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
xoxo,
Ali

Miss Pug said...

Those pictures are so priceless beyond words! How wonderful! I am so sorry to hear about your loss but glad you had this experience.

lisabrueck said...

That is beautiful!

Heidi said...

Wow! That made me cry! What a beautiful memory to have documented! My prayers are with you and your family!

kmattso2 said...

Your post was enough to bring tears to my eyes! It is so amazing that you have these wonderful pictures to cherish forever. I'm very sorry about your loss, but take comfort in knowing she's with the Lord. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

TheInspiredHousewife said...

I absolutely LOVE the photo of her expression when she first saw you! Absolutely priceless. What a precious memory to have of her.

Adrienne said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your great grandmother passing! I'm sure you will forever remember that moment with her on your wedding day! Those pictures are priceless!! :)

honey my heart said...

i am so sorry about your grandmother, and think it is so beautiful that you were able to visit her on your wedding day. the smile on her face is joy :)

LauraAnn said...

Oh my gosh! Your post has me in tears. I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like your great-grandmother was a wonderful person who lived a long, active life!

I am so glad that you were able to capture priceless moments with your great grandma on your wedding day! Very special! My prayers are with you and your family!

Marissa said...

Katie, your great-grandma seemed like a lovely woman. You can almost feel the joy that it brought her to see you on your wedding day. What a moment to treasure!

I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Linda said...

The joy in your grandmother's face is priceless! I'm so sorry for your loss, but I'm so glad you will always have these pictures to treasure and remember her!

PMerr said...

Those pictures are so beautiful! I'm still crying!! I'm so sorry for your loss & I'll be praying for you!

Sarah Brittany said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss... but these pictures are amazing. I think it probably meant the world to your grandmother to be able to see you and it made me so happy for both of you. These pictures made me cry, they're so sweet!
-cinemaparadiso from WB

Katie said...

This is such a beautiful post! What a wonderful collection of photos that you have to remember her by...you are so fortunate to have been able to share that moment with her!

Newlywed Next Door said...

Ok, this post made me tear up. You are such a sweetheart. I'm so sorry for your loss. Your great great-grandmother seems like and amazing lady!

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