This week I am mourning the loss of Russ’ wonderful Grandma, Norma Jean Everingham. She is one of my very favorite people ever. I will catch up with you all soon.
Russ’ sister Jodi (another of my favorite people ever) and Grandma Norma
I Wish You Were Here
The only things you had in common with my own Grandma Amanda were that you were both beautiful and I always wanted to be where you were.
You walked me into your family as if it were my own. And indeed it is. You let me call you Grandma. You always said, “I sure love you.”
And then, years later, old and full of life, you walked from this life to the next as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it was. From my perspective, it was not. I am left holding the Valentine cards my children made for you, angry and sad you are gone.
Today I am not relieved you are no longer in pain. Today I am not in awe at the perfect heaven you are now a part of, that you have been longing for. I mean, I am. Of course I am. But today I miss you acutely. I need you here Grandma. Today I will mourn. Later I will rejoice. Later I will say, “Wow, how blessed I was to know this incredible, wise wonderful woman of God.”
Today I will spend with the people you and I love, drinking drinks (Is that ok?), eating pizza, remembering you and thinking of all of the things we loved best about you. It is going to be a long night Grandma. I wish you were here.
The Road Trip to Stromsburg Nebraska for Grandma Everingham’s Funeral
Russ said, “What are you thinking about?”
I said, “I was wondering if being in the presence of the Almighty was so incredible and overwhelming that one could only worship in amazement, or if people in heaven can still see us here, and the great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 11 and 12 is a reference to our loved ones who have gone before us interceding for us and cheering us on.”
“Oh,” Russ said.
“What are you thinking about?” I said.
“Rum,” Russ said.
“Oh,” I said. “Do you want to trade?”
Russ said, “Sure.”
So we did.
