Yesterday morning my Grandmother died. My dad's mom. She was 101!
She lived in Mexico the past 50 years. I did not know her. I saw her under 10 times in my life. I had a wonderful relationship with my maternal grandmother.
My sister drove down from Oregon Monday to visit with my dad. I drove to my dad's on Tuesday to visit with both and also my stepmother. My dad lives in a beautiful home in a gated community. He is in his eighty's and still active.
He drives and golfs occasionally, cooks and shops. Considering he has had two major heart surgeries, he is doing well, especially compared to a lot of his friends. I'm happy to see my dad. We don't talk much on the phone because he is quiet and doesn't like to show his emotions that much. His wife is a very kind and thoughtful person. She asks questions and wants to know about your life. She engages in conversation with my sister and I when we visit. My sister and I talked quite a lot about the power of the Holy Spirit, about how God fills us up and our relationship with Him. We spent time by the pool sharing and delighting in His word and His truths. His great love for us. How God made our separate trips in the car such a powerful and wonderful drive with His presence. Oh how we love our Faithful God! I love that God gave me a sister to share with these joys of Him! Thank You God!
On Wednesday morning, we woke up early to walk together. It was dark outside and quiet. And we talked and prayed bold prayers for many things and people. Including our grandmother. We could not have guessed that later that day, we would get the news that she had died that morning. When we returned from our walk, my dad had made us a wonderful breakfast. Eggs, flamed tortilla, sausage, avocado and fruit. My dad indeed spoiled us with such good food. My dad had planned a trip to Sacramento to see the Capitol building and then to Old Town Sacramento. I had not been there in awhile. It was a day of in and out sun. A clean city, full of trees and tall buildings. Old Town Sacramento had not changed. We just walked around and did not go in the stores which I thought was strange. We ended up at a restaurant by the river and bridge. My dad and sister and I had a blue crab melt sandwich. We love seafood and it was good. We then walked toward the parking garage and spent some time trying to find their car. We drove back to their house and my dad dropped us off saying he needed to get gas. I glanced at his fuel gauge and saw it half full and I thought something didn't seem right. Maybe my dad just likes a full tank? We came inside and my stepmother saw she had some missed calls from Mexico. She tried to call back a couple of times and then finally someone told her the news of my grandmother passing away early that day. We then discovered that my dad knew. He was gone for a long time. One of his cousins had left a voicemail on his phone sending condolences. My poor dad. I don't know how long he knew. My sister and I and my stepmother sat at the kitchen table waiting for my dad to get back. Maybe he stopped at his church to pray. Maybe he was in his car. I don't know. I was feeling bad for my dad. How could he hide his emotions now? When he came back, my stepmother met him in the garage. They were in there for 5 minutes. She came in first and she told us he knew. He followed after and I could tell he had been crying.
My stepmother told us to go hug him, but I didn't think he wanted that. My sister walked over and held him, and I came over to him too. I had never seen him cry. My sister and I were both crying and my dad went upstairs to pray his rosary. He came down later and said he was okay, she lived a long life. He wanted us to smile and that made us laugh. It was fine for me to accommodate his wishes. It was what he wanted. We ate another fabulous dinner together and toasted my grandmother. My dad hoped she went to heaven. Earlier that day before he knew, he was telling me how she would beat his brothers and himself with wood hangers. He said it did not hurt but he would cry anyway, I guess so she would stop. She said she mellowed out as she got older. I would like to say she was a loving woman, but I do not know. I only know that my dad was a good son to her. He helped pay for things and would visit her twice a year. I know she treasured his visits. They will leave for Mexico tomorrow early and bring back her ashes. She will have a niche next to my dad's just like she wanted. In a beautiful part of Northern California. I no longer have living grandparents and she was the last of her 6 siblings to leave this earth, she was the first to enter. I don't believe it was a coincidence my sister and I were there with my dad when he found out his mother had died. We were there together when my dad came out of his last surgery. We both got to see our dad in a new way, a humbling way. And I am believing God that my dad will see that even though his daughters aren't Catholic, that he sees the love of Christ in us, that more and more he will grow in truth of the gospel, and have a truly loving relationship with God. That it is not by works we are saved but by His grace through Faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You Father for allowing Christine and I to share in my dad's sufferings. To love our dad and pray for him and his wife. Thank You for Your perfect ways and plans for us. You are so good. Amen
He drives and golfs occasionally, cooks and shops. Considering he has had two major heart surgeries, he is doing well, especially compared to a lot of his friends. I'm happy to see my dad. We don't talk much on the phone because he is quiet and doesn't like to show his emotions that much. His wife is a very kind and thoughtful person. She asks questions and wants to know about your life. She engages in conversation with my sister and I when we visit. My sister and I talked quite a lot about the power of the Holy Spirit, about how God fills us up and our relationship with Him. We spent time by the pool sharing and delighting in His word and His truths. His great love for us. How God made our separate trips in the car such a powerful and wonderful drive with His presence. Oh how we love our Faithful God! I love that God gave me a sister to share with these joys of Him! Thank You God!
On Wednesday morning, we woke up early to walk together. It was dark outside and quiet. And we talked and prayed bold prayers for many things and people. Including our grandmother. We could not have guessed that later that day, we would get the news that she had died that morning. When we returned from our walk, my dad had made us a wonderful breakfast. Eggs, flamed tortilla, sausage, avocado and fruit. My dad indeed spoiled us with such good food. My dad had planned a trip to Sacramento to see the Capitol building and then to Old Town Sacramento. I had not been there in awhile. It was a day of in and out sun. A clean city, full of trees and tall buildings. Old Town Sacramento had not changed. We just walked around and did not go in the stores which I thought was strange. We ended up at a restaurant by the river and bridge. My dad and sister and I had a blue crab melt sandwich. We love seafood and it was good. We then walked toward the parking garage and spent some time trying to find their car. We drove back to their house and my dad dropped us off saying he needed to get gas. I glanced at his fuel gauge and saw it half full and I thought something didn't seem right. Maybe my dad just likes a full tank? We came inside and my stepmother saw she had some missed calls from Mexico. She tried to call back a couple of times and then finally someone told her the news of my grandmother passing away early that day. We then discovered that my dad knew. He was gone for a long time. One of his cousins had left a voicemail on his phone sending condolences. My poor dad. I don't know how long he knew. My sister and I and my stepmother sat at the kitchen table waiting for my dad to get back. Maybe he stopped at his church to pray. Maybe he was in his car. I don't know. I was feeling bad for my dad. How could he hide his emotions now? When he came back, my stepmother met him in the garage. They were in there for 5 minutes. She came in first and she told us he knew. He followed after and I could tell he had been crying.
My stepmother told us to go hug him, but I didn't think he wanted that. My sister walked over and held him, and I came over to him too. I had never seen him cry. My sister and I were both crying and my dad went upstairs to pray his rosary. He came down later and said he was okay, she lived a long life. He wanted us to smile and that made us laugh. It was fine for me to accommodate his wishes. It was what he wanted. We ate another fabulous dinner together and toasted my grandmother. My dad hoped she went to heaven. Earlier that day before he knew, he was telling me how she would beat his brothers and himself with wood hangers. He said it did not hurt but he would cry anyway, I guess so she would stop. She said she mellowed out as she got older. I would like to say she was a loving woman, but I do not know. I only know that my dad was a good son to her. He helped pay for things and would visit her twice a year. I know she treasured his visits. They will leave for Mexico tomorrow early and bring back her ashes. She will have a niche next to my dad's just like she wanted. In a beautiful part of Northern California. I no longer have living grandparents and she was the last of her 6 siblings to leave this earth, she was the first to enter. I don't believe it was a coincidence my sister and I were there with my dad when he found out his mother had died. We were there together when my dad came out of his last surgery. We both got to see our dad in a new way, a humbling way. And I am believing God that my dad will see that even though his daughters aren't Catholic, that he sees the love of Christ in us, that more and more he will grow in truth of the gospel, and have a truly loving relationship with God. That it is not by works we are saved but by His grace through Faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You Father for allowing Christine and I to share in my dad's sufferings. To love our dad and pray for him and his wife. Thank You for Your perfect ways and plans for us. You are so good. Amen
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