Lori

Dear Grandma,

Proverbs 31:28 - "Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her..."

You have done well.  You have raised children who rise up and call you blessed, and you have twelve grandchildren, and at least 16 great-grandchildren who adore you.  That is truly an amazing thing.  Thank you for giving of yourself so readily over the years, for continually pouring out yourself into the lives of your children and grandchildren, for your unceasing prayers for us before the throne of our God.  What a legacy.

When I think of Grandma, I think of the numerous stories you told all of the cousins who were snuggled in their sleeping bags.  You took us to far away places and captivated our imaginations.  I think of sitting at the counter in your kitchen and talking.  We'd cut up fruit and cheese or we'd sit and watch you make a big pot of chili.  I remember dipping pretzels in white chocolate and letting them dry on wax paper.  I remember your gigantic meatballs and tons of spaghetti.  I remember your laugh when we'd tell you a story, and I remember listening as you would talk about your mom and days when you were small.  I remember stories of Grandmother Harsh and how thankful I was to be able to call you, "Grandma" and not worry about being proper.  I remember walking around the neighborhood chatting.

As a child, I hated vegetables, but you understood and worked on ways of getting me to eat vegetables...and it actually worked sometimes.  I remember days at the lake when we'd be waiting to eat Tom's donuts, and you would make perfect little eggs topped with cheese.  We could either have an egg or eat a bowl of cereal...to be sure we had something healthy before consuming our sugar.

As I grew up, my friends were welcomed at your house.  I remember picking apples with you and bringing along a buddy.  We had a ball with you in the orchard that day.  And how many performances of mine did you attend, not including the ones in the basement of the old house and the screened in porch at the lake?   When I turned 21, my friends and I came up to the lake.  You fixed us a big pot of chili. Grandpa took us out in the boat and let us all try to ski.  How many 21 year olds want to hang out with their grandparents?  That says a lot about who my Grandma and Grandpa are.

When Ryan's parents got divorced, you wanted to be sure Mandy had a fun/good place to come and celebrate Christmas, and so we brought her up to celebrate Christmas with all the cousins.  She still talks about that.

Then, I had kids, and you and Grandpa managed to make it down to meet each one.  You always had a cross stitch in hand specifically made for each grandbaby.  They still hang in their rooms...gifts of love from Grandma...cross stitches and applesauce.  One of Noah's favorite things about visiting is getting to taste Grandma's applesauce.  He knows when we see Grandma Clark we'll come home with a jar of applesauce.  

Grandma, thank you for creating an environment to foster memories, family and relationships.  Thank you for your unconditional love and prayers.  Thank you for being a wonderful Grandma to me.

I love you,
Lori