Grandma

Jon and I had just gotten into bed, lights turned out, and said our goodnights, when I got a call from my Mom. It's a call I've been expecting, and I knew before she even said the words.

Grandma and me

A few hours ago, my grandma, LaRae Earl, passed away. She was the last living grandparent I had, and she's the only grandparent I really felt like I got to know. My grandpas from both sides of my family passed away while I was in elementary school, and my Mom's mom passed away while I was in middle school.

I had actually started this post a few hours before I heard from my Mom because I had my grandma on my mind and in my prayers a lot lately. About a week or two ago, she fell while she was walking back to her room from the dining hall at her assisted living center. She broke both her hip and leg. She had to have surgery. Before this, she hadn't been doing too well... She had started developing dementia. She was very forgetful of things and VERY fragile. She fell quite often, even though she had a walker (she didn't always use it). She's broken her arm before from her falls, but nothing this serious. She's had back pain for a long time and would always complain of it. She had been depressed for I don't know how many years. She told my Mom on numerous occasions that she was ready to go. Her love had passed away more than 15 years ago!! I know she missed him. Anyways, she had surgery early last week and then had to be transferred to a nursing home with rehab. My Mom said she was not the same anymore. She was incoherent, babbling, head drooping, etc. My Mom said it was very sad to see her that way.

Now she could have gone on like this for many more months, maybe even years. She could have gotten better (maybe not fully...) and lived longer. But I didn't pray that she would "survive." Instead, I prayed that she would pass quickly. I knew that's what she wanted, I knew she was in pain, and I knew she wanted to see her companion again. That was what was best for her. So I had been waiting for my Mom to call any day now...

I'm grateful that I was able to spend so much time with her this year. I have been able to spend about a month and a half in San Diego so far this year. I was able to see her a lot, and she was able to meet her great-granddaughter and spend a lot of time with her. It's been fairly unusual for me to be in San Diego that often since Jon and I got married. But I am glad that we were in a position that allowed Madeline and me [and Jon (once)] to travel there and see both my family and her. In fact, she was able to see all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren fairly recently. We have all been blessed to have a wonderful grandmother. I will miss her. But I know that there is a joyous reunion on the other side of the veil. I am grateful for my membership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for my testimony. I'm especially grateful for temples and the knowledge that families can be together forever.

 Scott, Grandpa and Grandma Earl, Mom, me, Jeanine, and Dad at my baby blessing

Grandpa and Grandma Earl, me, Jeanine, and Scott on "vacation" at Grandpa and Grandma's condo.

 Grandma and Grandpa Earl, Grandpa and Grandma Warmker, Dad, Mom, Scott, me, Jeanine, and Roger at Roger's baby blessing

Jon, me, and Grandma at our wedding in 2007

Grandma at my wedding

"GG" with Madeline in March 2012

"...[W]e can’t fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations now. The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life." -  Russell M. Nelson

I love you, Grandma!