Life's Changes

Life sure has a way of changing. Sometimes we are eased into these changes and have a little time to adjust. Other times, it's like you are socked in the gut, and your life has changed forever.

Our family has experienced both kinds of change recently.

As I posted earlier, Nate was laid off in May and that was a sock in the gut kinda change. Nate has been working hard at finding a new job and started working in California July 9th. He will be gone for 2 weeks.

On June 22nd my Grandma passed away. This was expected in many ways. It is a blessing she is no longer in pain. My Grandma Nielsen was an angel. She was a grandma in every wonderful sense of the word. I spent a huge chunk of my childhood with her and my Grandpa. They lived in an amazing big old house, with a huge yard and old fashioned ditch in the front we played in as little kids. Thier house was a block from town and she would give us money to go get a treat at the gas station or the corner market even though her house was full of candy and soda.

Holidays were always special times and we shared many lasting traditions; Easter Cook-Out at Utah Lake, always the Saturday before Easter. July 24th was our big summer celebration. The day was full of fun; Parade, diving for money at the pool when I was little, yummy BBQ, carnival, a little rest and then Grandma's famous Sloppy Joe's before the rodeo! This celebration was the highlight of summer! Christmas was always celebrated on July 23th, my Uncle Blake's birthday, with a super yummy dinner....and of coarse a gifts. And we always talked about the reason we were so blessed to be able to gather as family and make such great memories....Our Savior.

My Grandmas was an extremely good listener. You could talk to her about anything...and she listened and she heard what you were saying. She always had that little morsel of wisdom to share with you. Food for thought that helped you in some way. She lived her life like she believed. When I went home for her funeral I found out there was a neighbor who would stop by to talk to her when my Grandma was sitting out on her big front porch. There were many neighbors and friends who loved to sit and talk with my grandparents on their porch. This one particular gal was preparing to go through the Temple for the first time. She was having trouble paying for her Temple clothes so my Grandma offered to pay for them. She had worked in the Temple for many years and missed being able to attend since her health had declined.

Her Bishop shared a couple of wonderful experience's he had with her. She called the Bishop and asked him to come see her because she needed to have Tithing Settlement. She was perfect in paying her tithing. A few months later the Bishop went to visit her at the rehabilitation center she was staying in. He brought his young daughter with him. When he entered the room he could see how much pain my Grandma was in. But when my grandma saw his daughter she got a big smile on her face and asked her to come up to the bed and they talked and chatted. The Bishop was so touched that she would make his daughter feel so comfortable. She always made you feel comfortable.

Grandma Nielsen was an amazing lady and Grandma....I could talk about her for hours and share funny and spiritual stories. She sent me 50 dollars every month while I was on my mission. That was her way of making sure I had what I needed so I could concentrate on the work. As I entered the mission field I had an interview with my mission president. He gave me a small copy of the primary picture of 'Christ with the Children'. He asked me what I saw in the picture. As a nervous missionary I said "I see Christ with the children", he said look a little closer. I studied the picture more intently. What do you see? I see Our Savior with a child's face in his hands and he is looking at that child with the pure love he has for all of his children. My mission president wanted me to know that Christ loves me and to remember His love. I have kept that picture in my scriptures since that day.

Ever since I was a little girl and as long as I can remember, whenever I saw my Grandma she would take my face in her hands and give me a tender Grandma kiss. She loved me with the same unconditional love as our Savior does. That is the legacy she gave to me. That is the way she loved everyone she came in contact with. I love and miss you Grandma.

More to come...