Dear friends,
My heart is aching this morning, as Rich’s Dad called him yesterday afternoon to tell him that Grandma was not doing well. Rich immediately left (four hours away) to try and see her one last time, but she died before he got there. He continued on and spent the night at his Dad and step-Mom’s house. It’s doing him a world of good to be with the family right now, he was very close to his Grandma. Indeed, she was so loving and good to all of her family and friends. We couldn’t help but love her deeply.
What brings tears to my eyes more than anything is imagining Rich’s beloved Grandma being carried into Heaven in the arms of her loving King and Savior, Jesus, and imagining her reuniting with her loved ones who went before her to that place, including her dear husband. For her, now, there is no more feeble old age, no more deaf ears, no more pain or discomfort of any kind, no more cancer, only joy, joy, joy everlasting and eternally. She’s smiling, laughing, worshipping, and dancing in the bliss of life above. Isn’t the promise of eternal life something to be thankful for?
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4
“The comfort of life does not lie so much in the abundance of things, as in the art of enjoying a little. I have lost a dear friend, but my happiness was more wrapped up in that God to whom my beloved ones have gone: and God will bring them along with Him. That which beautified their character and made them so lovely was what could not be lost, but is perfected by the translation. I love them still, and take great pleasure in loving them, which helps relieve my sorrow for their absence.” ~a beautiful quote from John Willison
Thank you to all of you who have prayed for Grandma over the years. Rich will be coming home soon and then we will take the children back out to NY for the funeral when it takes place. We are from the same church family so I very much look forward to seeing all of our family and friends there.
Much love,
Shanda
Good to be Home 
Love and sympathy to your family.
We rejoice for her gain but grieve for your loss. Sending warm thoughts and prayers… xo
So sorry, Shanda and Rich. 😦 She sounds like such a blessing to have had in your life.
I am so very sorry.Hugs to you and yours.D xo
Hugs to all. Will be praying for your family.
so sorry, but praise God that you have hope in HIM!
heaven became even more precious today.hugs dear shanda.
Rich’s grandma always struck me as a beautiful, wise, loving soul. Which she continues to be in heaven!I will pray for your family through this time
So sorry for your loss! What a comfort to know she knows no pain now, though! When my Mema died I told my sister, that we cry only for ourselves now. Where Mema is, is far better than where we are.
So sorry for your loss and am sending prayers for the entire family.
I’m so sorry, Shanda!
{{{hugs}}}
hi shanda…….a heartfelt prayer going out to rich and you and the whole family. you always wrote so sweetly about her. i know she will be dearly missed but will always hold a special place in your hearts. sending a big hug, too!
Sorry and best wishes for the coming weeks.
oh, the joy and comfort of knowing that we will see our loved ones again! thoughts and prayers–karen
I’m sorry to hear of your family’s loss!!! I will be thinking of you all!
My sincerest condolences to all of you, Shanda.
So sorry for your loss! Rejoicing that she has received her heavenly reward!
“There’s no break, there’s no endI’ll be living onWide awake, with a smileGoing on and onGoing home Going homeI am going homeshadows gone break of dayreal life has begun.”Special lines from a favorite song “Going Home”. Blessings to you and your family as you celebrate your Grandma’s homegoing even though there is sadness at your “loss”. (((HUGS)))
Stopped by because I saw this on X’s main pageSorry for your loss, will speak of your family to God when I talk with Him
Sorry to hear that.. Condolences to you and to your family…
😦 it’s so hard when someone we have loved moves on into eternity, even when we know they are in a much better place! I am sorry for you all. And happy for her gain.
It’s clear that she was a sweet and loving soul and leaves a beautiful legacy behind her. I loved getting to know her through your blog. There is no more pain for her, no more struggling to breathe and she is experiencing peace and joy unspeakable right now with our Savior. It’s so hard for those of us who are left behind. I know you will miss her dearly, and I pray that the Lord will fill you with peace under the circumstances that only He can give. Much love and hugs to you, my friend. -Kara
Sympathies for you and yours as you say goodbye to a beloved grandmother.
Thank you for this post. Today I just found out a dear friend of mine lost her battle with cancer. I cry for my loss, and for the sadness of her family, but I rejoice that she is in the Presence of her Beloved Savior. May God comfort you all as you say your “see you laters” to grandma.
My heart aches with yours and your families,Shanda. So thankful to read the beautiful reminder of our life to come. Our dear ones, that were so good at loving us, are such an inspiration to me. Mae put this quote on FB this morning. “Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal- a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body.”Author: D.L. Moody
So sorry for your loss and yet so thankful you know where she is and will one sweet day be reunited! Praying for your precious family.
I am so sorry for your loss. I have enjoyed getting to know her in your posts and I know she will be missed. I know you all loved her so very much. Praying for comfort for your family during this time. Hugs! Lynn
hugs and prayers Shanda. your words brought tears to my eyes. so poignant.
Oh Shanda, I am so sorry to hear about her passing. I know how much you all love her and will miss her. -JO
Oh Shanda, praying for your sweet family during this time. ((HUGS))
May precious memories bring you comfort in the days ahead.((((hugs & prayers))))
So sorry to hear your loss. Such a bitter sweet time. May you all find the Lord faithful and his tender mercies abundant through this sorrowful time. My heart is heavy knowing what you are going through and so fresh in my mind as I lost my dearest friend this past November- Martha. A whole that is left there but that unmistakeable joy that comes knowing where your loved one is and experiencing. Learning how to live with out your loved one is the most difficult. I know God will comfort and strengthen all of you through this. much love,Bridgette