Grandma Carie

Today we laid to rest my sweet Grandma Carie. Here is what I shared at her funeral:

"My Grandma was a wonderful lady. We made so many special memories together over the years. From childhood, I remember her and Grandpa coming to watch me play basketball. I remember visiting them in Arizona many times. Grandma told me one time I asked her if she was a midget because she was so short. She always got a kick out of that. I remember picking strawberries together and just visiting. She loved to visit. 

After Grandpa died I feel like that's when she and I got extra close. She taught me how to make her yummy strawberry rhubarb jelly. We took many trips to her doctors and shared many meals together with some of our favorite being in Kalona to see the amish. She loved to hand out candy on Halloween with our family. Oh and I can't forget our sister, Mom and Grandma weekends together. I think they began around her 95th birthday and continued every year since. We usually rented a house either in Galena or Lake Geneva and then spent the weekend eating, playing games and visiting. One year we even had a dance party and Mom tried to do a somersault. We laughed so hard! Our girls weekends together were extra special. 

The most recent memory was this past summer when she came to Florida and stayed with us for a week while my mom took a much needed vacation. Stacie and I took turns taking care of her and our week together was so special. She was full of gratitude and was always saying what good care we were giving her and that Mom always gives her. She thought the world of our mom.

In her later years, Grandma tended to repeat herself, whether it be asking "How do you like living in Florida" or "Do you consider Florida home". I would answer her questions in depth, only to have her repeat the question right after I finished. Naturally my answers got shorter and shorter. Grandma loved to visit.

While in Florida, she and I drove across the state to meet up with Mom and John. On the way, she kept commenting on how the clouds in Florida look so different than in Iowa. Over and over and over again. When I found out she passed, I looked up at the clouds and smiled thinking of her and our road trip.

I'm so thankful for all of the time we spent together. I have so many things around my house that remind me of her. Whether it be the Christmas stockings she knitted for each of us or the reindeer she painted. She was the best Grandma to me and I'm so thankful that she got to be Grandma GG to my kids. They too were blessed to know her and make their own memories. She was one special lady and will be missed dearly. I love you Grandma!!!"