My Birthday

My birthday was last week, and in Glassford style it was celebrated with good food and great company. This birthday has been interesting to say the least. But despite all the stuff happening Dan and my wonderful parents gave me a great birthday. I was asked what I wanted for my birthday dinner and I said Dad's bbq chicken. So I got BBQ chicken and at least four different cuts of steak. No one can accuse my parents of not celebrating our births! Here is Dad out at the smoker while holding Derek. Little Derek is terrified of many people, but not Grandpa!
Here is what happens when I give Derek punch for dinner. Here I am getting prepped to blow out my candle while everyone sings to me. Richie and Dad pretended to blow out the candle right as I was about to blow. This made me laugh and I had to blow 5 times before the candle went out. Lame boys. Here is Jake and Great Grandma. I had planned on him simply having a small piece of cake. But the Grandma's had different plans. Grandma gave him a huge piece of cake and Great Grandma gave him several different ice-creams to try. Oh the sugar rush! Jake loves cake! he ate that entire piece.... yes he was wired.
Thanks to everyone who helped celebrate me and gave me birthday wishes! We had a lot of fun on my birthday which included badminton and a water fight, I will write about it soon.

Grandma

My Grandma passed away today. Two weeks ago I lost my Grandma Hawkins, which was sudden but oddly peaceful. Grandma Hawkins was truly loved by her family but felt lonely and I believe is much happier where she is now than she was for the majority of the past few years. Grandma Glassford’s passing has been different. She leaves behind a grieving husband, whose pain is so palpable it causes me pain to hear him cry. She died today in the hospital surrounded by her family. She lost her fight with the massive stroke that happened this past Thursday. I know that she is with her parents, and is happy. Though I know where she is, that Heavenly Father has a plan, I feel cheated. No one should have to lose two beloved family members so close together, especially since both deaths where unexpected. She leaves behind a true legacy of love, devotion and faith. She was my second Mom, as was she to many. I was blessed to have her live with us while I was growing up, and because of that we formed a bond closer than a Grandma and Granddaughter. We were friends bonded by memories and love. Her service will be held on Friday, July 15th at the church at 1051 E. 200 S. in Lindon, beginning with the viewing starting 9:30 and the funeral at 11:00.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to hold her shoulder and talk to her as she was passing. I told her that I loved her, and promised that we would remember her and every thing she taught us. It was then that she flat lined. Grandma was free of her crippling stroke and with Jesus. I will keep my promise. I will make sure my kids never forget their beloved Grandma and her wonderful legacy, us.

In loving Memory

Last Sunday I got one of the most devastating phone calls I have ever received. My Grandma, who I dearly loved, passed away unexpectedly. I thought that she was invincible and never thought she was going to die. I realize how childish this sounds, but she was so full of life and love that I didn’t think death would ever happen to her. After I got the call, I could barely speak. Dan didn’t know what was going on at first. After the shock and immediate pain wore off, I realized that I was devastated at my own loss, and not Grandma’s. In that moment I was so thankful for the church. I didn’t even have a moment that I thought I wouldn’t see her again or that she isn’t happy. Grandma might have died earlier than any of us wanted, but her life was full. She had super highs and big lows, but she was always there for her family no matter what. For the funeral we had all of us Grandkids stand up and say one of our favorite memories, which was the part where I cried the most. There were two things that really stood out to me. One - Grandma made everyone of us feel special and loved; two – it was hard for each of us to narrow all of our wonderful memories down to simply one.

I realize I was blessed to have her live so close and to be such a big part of my life. When a few of my cousin’s and I where trying to figure out what memory we where going to pick, it dawned on me – we ( her family) where the center of her world.

Here are a few of our fond memories –

*Easter egg hunts of legendary portions

*4^th of July with glowing necklaces and her ornate and decorative shirts

*feeding the goldfish in her backyard ponds

* going to her house and getting a twizzler or dove chocolate from her hand towel drawer

*playing with all her old metal wind-up toys

*Having her tell the stories about the plate from Napoleon to her spoon collection

* true love of birds. She even had an egg warmer in case she found eggs that where orphaned.

*Christmas – oh Grandma and her Christmas. This should have its own list . The pj’s, the balloons stuffed with hand rolled dollar bills, helping hand string cranberries and popcorn for the trees. Her house would magically turn into her own version of a winter wonderland. Every Christmas we would look forward to her extravagantly wrapped and thoughtful gifts. She truly loved this holiday.

*Grandma teaching me how to play slots

*Using heirloom tea sets to have teatime

*Her teaching us how to press flowers and how to shape and dry them in salt.

*Her taking us for walks around the cabin; looking for anything of beauty, be it an animal, sunset, drift wood, or fossils.

*Being willing to drop whatever she was doing, walk over to my apartment and dispose of a spider.

*Holding my children and softly stroking their cheeks as they all asleep.

She was an amazing woman and I am honored to call her my Grandma. I will miss her and look forward to seeing her in the next life.

I love you Grandma.