A Grandmother's Love

"Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you

all day and now the day was complete."

Early that Saturday morning, my phone went off and woke me. It was a text from my mom, telling my that my grandmother had had a stroke and was in the hospital. Details to follow. My heart froze . . . immediately Chris and I began discussing options for me to go to Georgia to be with her. Sunday afternoon I was finally able to speak to her on the phone. Her speech was slurred, as is common with a stroke, but hearing it reaffirmed for me that I simply had to get out there to see her. The next morning I was on a plane, bound for Augusta.

I have a wonderful, amazing family. I love all of them beyond description. I think part of the reason why the folks on the Price side of my family are so great is that they were so heavily influenced by two of the best people I've ever known -- my grandparents. Grandpa died in 2000, and it was so hard on all of us to lose him. I know it was hard on my grandmother. Together they set a wonderful example of what love and marriage should be, and I'm grateful to be one of many beneficiaries of that example.

Booking my flight last minute meant a long day of flying, with 3 different flights and what seemed like endless rushing through airports. When I finally arrived in Augusta, I was so happy to see my mother waiting for me at the terminal, and we rushed to the hospital. When I walked in and saw my grandmother in the bed, my emotions overwhelmed me, and as I gave her a long hug, I couldn't help thinking about how much time I have missed with her. We moved to Utah 10 years ago, and during that time I've seen her once a year, if that. That's such a contrast to the first 28 years of my life, when she and all the rest of my family were inextricably wrapped up in my nearly-everyday existence.

She looked so weak and tired as she lay there in the hospital bed, but she was as beautiful as ever, and seeing her, embracing her, was wonderful to me. As the days went on, and she transitioned from hospital to home, I had the privilege of helping to care for her during the beginning of what will probably be a long recovery.

I spent most of the week there in her home, a place where I practically grew up. When we were younger, we all got together as an extended family on every occasion we could think of -- birthdays, Christmas and other holidays, or just because. There was good food and board games, laughter and memories. How I loved hearing the stories of the past told by my aunts, uncles, grandparents. How I miss hearing those stories now, living far away as I do.

"Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap."

I love these photos of me with my grandmother. Love, love, love knowing she has been there since my very inception and that she has loved me as much as she has.

All the grandchildren (to that point) with Granny and Grandpa back in the day. I hope they are as proud of us as we all are of them.

Old pictures are becoming some of my favorite things on earth. As I become more and more obsessed with the history of my family, I so love to look at old photos and try to read the faces of these people I love so dearly.



This is perhaps my favorite picture ever -- my grandmother is truly a beauty, inside and out. I could sit and look at this for hours, imagining what her life was like at this age, imagining how she felt and what she thought and who she was. I would so love to travel back in time and meet her then.



And of course she was a beautiful baby!

I'm thankful to a loving Heavenly Father that I am her granddaughter. I'm thankful I was blessed to spend the past week with her, helping to care for her, just being in her presence. I hope her recovery will continue and continue quickly. As I was leaving Tuesday morning, I said to her, "Hurry and get better, and when I come back we'll go to the mall." She smiled and said, with some enthusiasm, "Ok, I will!" I hope that can happen very soon. I hope I can get back out there to see her soon, under better circumstances and spend time with her while she's feeling good. There are so many things I want to say to her, and so many things I want to ask.

These two pictures are wonderful and represent for me so much of who she is -- above I'm looking on as she holds my baby brother Adam, and below she is cuddling my nephew Josh -- she loves her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with tenderness and affection that binds us to her despite the miles between us. When you know someone loves you that much, there is amazing comfort and security. I hope I can demonstrate this same love for my own children and grandchildren, and I am so thankful for the legacy of love that she has created in our family.

There is nothing like a grandmother's love.

Summer Stuff

Two blog posts in one week??? Almost unheard of for me, I know.

We've had a fun summer so far -- hard to believe it's half over already. We've had the pleasure of having lots of family members come to visit, and we always love that. Here are a few pretty random shots of what we've been up to lately.

Hanging out at cascade springs with the fam. Joseph pretty much loves any place with water and bridges.



A very handsome young man at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake. Such a cool place.



Same good-looking boy being grumpy -- we had a really nice visit to Temple Square when G.B. and the gang came to visit.



My kids are crazy about him.

I'm sad we didn't get more and better photos, but this is at Bradley's Pack Meeting last month. That boy is amazing -- love him so much. So proud to be his mama!

Mom, I don't want to hear any complaints -- this is an adorable photo of you, and it really shows off the budding photography skills of one Joseph Black -- I think he did a great job of capturing your cuteness.

On the fourth of July we went to the annual balloon launch here in Provo -- unfortunately the weather was bad, and there was no launch. But a few of the balloonists were good sports and inflated anyway so we could look at them, which was good. I would have had a major mutiny on my hands otherwise. Here's Joseph pretending to not even be interested, but trust me, he was excited!!!

Thank goodness for the much-anticipated Darth Vader balloon -- I think Joseph would've gone nuts if he hadn't gotten to see it.

Later that day we had a rockin' 28th birthday party for yours truly. Now that I'm getting younger every year instead of older, I don't mind this birthday thing so much. Nathaniel decorated this lovely cake for me -- it's the Emerald City and the Yellow Brick Road, and it says, "Not in Kansas." Very cute.

Lighting the candles.

A little nightswimming at Veterans Pool.

Mom and Mel bought me this adorable skirt for my birthday -- I LOVE IT! I'm finally starting to understand this whole issue with women and shoes. You need a different pair for each outfit, it seems. And there are so many cute ones to choose from. (This particular pair is KILLING my feet, however, but they look good, no?)

At a cool park up in the canyon. My kids love to swing -- I wish we had a swingset in the backyard!

Down by the river. (Yeah, it's a creek.)

They climbed out onto a fallen tree in the water. I was sure someone would fall in, but miraculously, no one did. Whew.

Three cuties on a log. No way was I letting Joseph out there, with his reputation for falling into rivers.

Picnic in the park -- what could be better???

There is a certain fascination with throwing rocks into a river -- I can't explain it, but it's one of the coolest things ever. We all enjoy it. Life's simple pleasures are the best.

. . . sat by the river and it made me complete . . . oh simple thing, where have you gone?

We're having a wonderful summer . . . hope you are too!

Let's Try This Again

My sincerest apoligies on not blogging since Halloween -- it is the result of a combination of factors: not having a fast enough internet connection, moving to a new house, and plain old laziness. I recommit to blogging here and now, and will try to at least post some photos on a regular basis.

Life is wonderful. While I don't want to try to go back and capture the last 8 months, I'll just say we've been having a lot of fun as a family. We bought and moved into a new house, we had a wonderful Christmas, finished another good school year, and are now enjoying a lovely summer. We've had several family members visit in the last few months, and it's always a joy to spend time with those we love.

Saturday we went for a drive in Hobble Creek Canyon and took some photos with the kids. We had so much fun, walking along the creek, throwing rocks, and just being together. These times are always among our best memories, and having some great photos sure helps us remember the fun!

It is not an easy task to get 4 kids on board at the same time for a photograph. Someone is always moving, looking away, making a funny face. But we got a few good ones. How can you not, with such gorgeous subjects? My kids astound me in every way.

And a good photographer can do pretty well with even the not-so-gorgeous subject.

My sweet lovie.

I LOVE these pictures on this bridge. We looked all over for it -- I couldn't remember its location, but I took photos of Nathaniel and Bradley here when they were really small, and I wanted to go back and get some of everyone. I think it's beautiful.

Joseph always has to do his own thing. Funny boy.

Chris said Nathaniel's white shirt was throwing everything off balance with the camera, so he made us trade shirts. Kinda funny to see him sporting Little Big Town.

I think these are so good, with the creek in the background. Chris did a really good job with them.

How I love spending time with these people. They bring me happiness beyond measure.