Grandma Gladys. Happy Birthday in Heaven!
You were all I wanted to talk about. My teammates intently listened as I explained your love, and selfless devotion. You taught us to celebrate our lives so well. You celebrated everything that we are and we will forever celebrate you.
In a season of life I spent some much needed time with my Grandma. It happened to be months before she passed away in 2014. Only God knew that.
I just wanted to be with her. So I did just that. Every Monday evening I would go over to her home and sit with her. I remember one night in our conversation I mentioned how much I loved her handwriting. She laughed and thought I was silly. I began to tell her I wish we would have worked on cursive more in elementary school. Maybe we did and I just decided not to stick with it.
At that time I was really interested in the new modern calligraphy craze. I fell in love with the creativity and the history of it. I thought that there would never be a chance I could do that. She told me, “just practice.” It was that simple. She wrote down nine men mining in the mine. “Practice this phrase for your curves since those are the most difficult.” After that conversation I pressed in and worked towards making my dream a reality. It took time but it was so worth it.
This past Wednesday my teammate, Ashley, shared with me that there was going to be a calligraphy class here in Penang. My heart lit up. I did a workshop this past spring back at home with brush pens, but this one was with the dip pens. I love them. Today, on my adventure day, I went to that modern calligraphy class and it was just what my soul was craving. I picked this phrase to be my first as she adored this song. I sat and practiced with these new pens and reflected on the beautiful life that you lived and the life that you made for us.
I couldn’t write this tonight without emotions overflowing. Where there once was a crack in my heart there is now incredible peace. How God could orchestrate something so lovely on this day. Only He could do that and I praise Him continually for giving me these precious celebrations.
I love you fiercely. We all do. Forever and ever, Amen.
