Remembering Grandma Jones--1 year anniversary

 

On September 23rd, all of the Jones family got together at Ann's gravesite.  It was an amazing experience.  Steve wanted everyone to come prepared with a memory to share.  It was a beautiful day!

 

 

 

Steve asked Aaron to be in charge of the "program."  So Aaron welcomed everyone and then Steve took a little bit of time talking about his own memories of Ann.  Steve gave us all a copy of what he talked about, and I'm going to type it here, so we can always remember what he said that day.

GRANDMA'S TREASURES

 

Grandma is a very rich person.  She has seventeen treasures.  I remember how she loved to talk with each of them and snuggle them, especially when they were first born.  One day she told me this story.

 

She was talking to one of the grandchildren.  It could have been anyone of you.  She said, "Oh __________, (put your own name in the blank), do you know how much Grandma loves you?"  And the grandchild answered, "Oh yes Grandma, we know.  We're your treasures."  Grandma loved that idea.



So Grandma got an idea one day:  why not get pictures of all the "treasures" and put them up on a wall.  If you have noticed in our house, most of the pictures on the wall at our house are pictures of those Grandma loved best:  pictures of Jesus and pictures of family.

 



 



 

About once a week Grandma would ask a question:  "How did we get to be so lucky?  What have we ever done to deserve such wonderful children and their spouses and the grandchildren?"  And then she would almost cry and say, "Every one of them is a treasure. (actually that means that Grandma and I have 27 treasures.  Very few pirates or even kings and queens ever had so many riches).

Grandma sometimes said that when she got to the Spirit World she had lots of questions she was going to ask.  Maybe now that she is there Grandma has an answer to her question:  "How did we get to be so lucky?"  (and that's what Grandpa said...)

 

Most of us were in tears by this time.  Aaron then invited the family to share their own memories of Ann/Grandma.  It was very sweet.and tender, something she would have absolutely loved and enjoyed.  But I think she was there that day, listening.  We could definitely feel her close to us. 

 



After the visit to the cemetery, we all drove to Grandma and Grandpa's house to have dinner together.  I think it was the first time we were all together in that house again since Grandma passed away.  We've had family socials, but not at Grandpa's.  It was the perfect place to gather.  We did see all of our pictures on the walls, and the pictures of Jesus, and we felt her love for us and for Him.

 



 

It really was such a nice day and it was awesome to all be together.  (I had a headache later that night from all the crying I did....but it was worth it).  :)

 

 



We miss you Grandma!  We miss your hugs, your laughter, your smile, and even your advice!  :)  We think of you everyday and even though we know you are ok and in a better place, we still miss you tons!  We love you!