Remembering Grandma Thompson

Being able to stay in Utah another two weeks longer than I had planned because of my grandma's declining health was such a blessing. It was a blessing because I got a chance to see her one more time and because I was able to watch the kids so my mom could go up almost everyday to stay with my grandma during her last days here. I am so glad she was able to have that time with her mom and her siblings. I am grateful I was able to go to the beautiful funeral and also help my mom go through my grandma's house and sort everything out. It brought back so many memories being in that small, perfectly clean and organized house. I loved going through her things and remembering times spent at her house and also learning so many new things I didn't know about her.
I remember going to her house as a child on holidays and seeing her sweet smile. We did puzzles and played greed. I wanted to be like the big girls who recieved make-up and make-up tips from her. I remember helping her with shopping a few times and her teaching me to paint on one ocassion at her house. I remember visiting her after I was married and recieving advice on where to live, close to her, and when to have kids, soon! She always wanted to best for me and she showed it through love and service. She would serve us grilled cheese and soup when we visited and brought out grandpa's cookies for dessert. I will miss her cooking, sweet smile and hugs!

 

This picture was on the back of the funeral program. My Aunt Kathy wrote this to go with it. I thought is was the sweetest thing.

 "Hi Great-grandma.  When I saw you at the hospital today, I couldn't help but giggle and coo (a first for me, mom says).  But, I'm so excited for you.  You see, I just left heaven 3 months ago, and I remember how beautiful and wonderful it is.  Great-grandpa is there, anxiously waiting for you and so are Heavenly Father and our big brother Jesus.  Oh, and your mom!  She can hardly wait!  They all love you so much and I'm so happy you get to go home and see them soon.  Thanks for paving the way for me for my earthly journey.  Check in on me now and again.  See you later!
Love, Juni"

Vance, Steven, Janessa, Scott, Becky, Mom--in front of the Thompson house. My mom grew up in this cute house and I have so many fond memories of visiting this house.

 

 This picture hung in their dining room. Beautiful bride and groom.

Stairs down to the basement. If you were tall like me you had to duck so you didn't hit your head on the ceiling going down the stairs. (no pun intended with the wall hanging above the stairs) 

 

 Two reasons for this picture. To remember where we gathered the whole extended family for Christmas and to remember the day I spent bagging and boxing up all the books she owned. This picture only shows a sliver of the amount of books she had in the house. As I helped go through the house we just kept finding more in every room and corner. Grandma sure loved to read.

CJ came along with me that week as I helped go through the house. He was sick with a horrible ear infection and was great to just sit in the chair in front of the TV. (As long as I kept medicine in him)

Lots of memories of this game. I love that she made her own box for the game. 

One of my favorite memories as a child was going to grandma's house and picking out movies to borrow from her collection. They were all VHS that she had recorded from TV and they were all sorted alphabetically and numerically. Just look in the directorty to find the video you wanted and then find the number it corresponded with. It was "legendary" as my cousin Ashli called it. I don't think I ever went home without a video each time we visited.

Here is Grandma and Grandpa Thompson at my wedding 8 years ago. I feel so blessed that they were such a wonderful part of my life and I am so happy they have been reunited.