An End And A Begining

Originally posted June 27, 2016

This past Sunday my family received a call telling us that my great-grandmother had passed away in her sleep. This Friday I graduated. While the events are completely unrelated, the combination of them means that my emotions have been a rollercoaster this week. But through pain, celebration, nostalgia, and sadness, the emotion I find myself returning to is gratitude.

My great grandmother lived to see her oldest great granddaughter turn eighteen and finish her senior year of high school. While I know she would've wanted to see me graduate, I believe that she was watching from heaven. I am extremely grateful that she was a part of my life for eighteen years. How many people can say that? Most of my friends are losing grandparents, while I have been blessed with knowing three great grandmothers, and one great grandfather in addition to all of my grandparents. Gram, as we called her, was one of the strongest and kindest souls I've ever met. I don't think I ever saw her without a smile, even when she was in the hospital after fracturing her spine she was cracking jokes and complimenting everyone she saw. Even into her eighties in her eighties, she was sharp as a tack and her jokes could make anyone smile after a bad day. She always offered to help those around her. She lived on her own for my whole life and was incredibly independent. Gram was never afraid to speak her mind, but she was so kind and welcoming that at the calling hours people most of the family had never met showed up telling stories of her love, grace, and sense of humor.

Alice Blackmer was an amazing role model in my life and as I prepared to walk that stage Gram was never far from my mind. I’m so glad that she was a part of my life for so long and that she got to enjoy so many years of a joyous life. Her beautiful life came to an end at the same time that a new chapter of my life was beginning, and now that I am a high school graduate, I am so excited to explore the adventure that God has in store for me. I’m looking forward to the many lessons I’ll learn and meeting everyone that will cross my path. As I chase my dreams and grow into the woman I was created to be, I pray with all my heart that I live a life as inspiring as hers and that I become someone that my Gram would be as proud of as I am proud to have known her.