For Louise ...

I never called her Louise ... that, of course WAS her name. She was my mother-in-law. I never REALLY called her "Mom" to her face ... well, maybe I did call her that in the early days, trying to figure out married life and how our relationship was going to work. When the children came along, I called her "Grandma". It was easier. She understood ... she told me she did. She also had a mother-in-law ... a MIL. She had been in my shoes as well.

When I became close to her son ... became engaged to her son ... and eventually married her son ... I never imagined that I would gain another mother figure as close as I did ... but, it happened ... when I really needed one. I can never express how wonderful she was ... never ...

The cliche's of MIL's ... well, she NEVER resembled them at all ... she was not a meddler or a nagger ... she was one of the sweetest ladies that ever walked the earth. All who came to know her, were truly blessed ...

I was blessed to be her only daughter-in-law ... blessed to love a son, whose mother raised him to be a gentleman, and a loving man, and a man who loved his mother in return. I was welcomed into a loving, close family ... and given 16+ ... almost 17 years in her loving grace. My two daughters have grown in her loving embrace as well. To see them flourish in her love has been a true blessing.

We never had the blessing of being around "Grandpa Ryan" ... he passed away while their girls were expecting their first grand-kids ... so "Grandma Ryan" has, with her own loving spirit, been the glue that has bound the generations together. 

We were anticipating celebrating her 90th birthday on January 6th of 2013 ... but, we fell just a few months shy of that goal ...

Last night, after we had such a lovely Thanksgiving Day celebration with her ... she took her final bow ... quietly ... gracefully ... like a lady ... without fanfare ... away from the family crowd. She had dinner at our table, and later that night, sat at the table with family she'd been separated from for such a long time.

We were lucky that she was never really sick and was always so independent for so long. She lived on her own, and not in a living facility ... she didn't have to cope with disease ... and she was as spry as ever, until her last day. She didn't suffer one minute ... just as, I am sure she, and we all, would want it.

As sad as we all are right now ... and our hearts are broken ... we are finding out how very special a lady she was to so many of us ... she was such a woman of faith, and she was sure of where she was going to be at the moment of her last breath. We rejoice in that knowledge. We know we will see her again, one day.

We sat around the table, yesterday, after saying grace, saying what we were thankful for. I recall she said she was thankful for her family, and for all of the love she felt from them. She knew how much she was loved ... and wow ... was she!

I am so thankful that we took videos of her stories this past summer ... and I am thankful that we took pictures of her around our table last evening ... and again, before she left our house to go home ... and as always, before she left the house, she hugged and kissed us, made the sign of the cross on our foreheads, we told her we loved her, and she said, "I love you more", and she told me that she'd send my love to family the next time she chatted with them. 

... and with that ... she walked out of my house ... and into forever ... 

The ER docs said it was a heart attack ... but, I am sure that God called her to heaven because her work here was done ... and (almost) 90 years is a long time to be away from home ...

She once told me that she thought that she had the BEST MIL in HER "Grandma Ryan" ... but I think she and I will have to disagree on that, because I think that MY "Grandma Ryan" has to be the BEST MIL there ever could be ... 

... and though I knew this day would eventually come ... it just hurts so bad, for everybody that this day is here. 

We don't want to have to imagine days without you ... but we know that you are in such a better place. We are better people for having had you in our lives ... and our lives are enriched for what you have brought to us. You will always be in our hearts, minds, and souls ... eternally ... We love you ...

"Grandma Ryan"

Thanksgiving Evening

11/22/2012

Heaven's Newest Angel