Grandma Stille & the Bultema gang
Hi Friends –
What a crazy whirlwind week it has been. My Facebook update from Saturday sums it up….
“Day 6 of feeling miserable. Mourning my sweet Grandma Stille. Can’t sleep due to new antibiotics and steroids – ugh. Planning a 6 hour trip (with four kids) to my Grandma’s funeral. Thankfully after the very persistent flower delivery guy called me and basically said, “I know you’re in there – open the door!”…. these beautiful flowers arrived and brought a smile to my day. ♥”
My Grandma Stille had cancer and was ready to go to heaven. My family had hoped to make the six hour trip to spend time with her over the kids’ spring break, but God had other plans. I’m super thankful I was able to talk with her on the phone a few weeks ago and say our official “until we meet again”, but my heart is still sad from her loss. As one friend said, “We never outgrow needing our grandma’s”.
As we spent time this weekend at the funeral home, I was intentional about looking for “treasures” in the hard, painful experience of saying goodbye. They were everywhere –
- The funeral home filled with beloved family members and friends
- The kind pastor who knew my Grandma well
- John, my wonderful husband, who knows funerals make me an emotional wreck, and kept an ever-present eye on “the situation”.
- My sweet kiddos who handled their first funeral with oodles of respect and maturity.
One of the most touching moments came when the pastor spoke powerful words to the pall bearers – including Benj and Jake – about their special, sacred responsibility. To see my boys help carry my grandma’s casket was moving and poignant, to say the least.
Thanks for all your love, support, private notes of encouragement, and prayers. You bless me more than you know.
May your week be filled with rich treasures of hope, even in the midst challenging circumstances. He is with you!
Sweet blessings,
My thoughts have been with you. We just lost the son of a friend of mine today, age 15. My heart is heavy as I am sure yours is, too. May God bless each memory, each tear, He keeps record of every one of them. Blessings to you my friend!
Cindy, praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing these moments with us and reminding us of the hope we have, even when we grieve. love and hugs to you!
I’ve lost both of my grandmothers, my father’s mother passing a little over a year ago. The statement “we never outgrow needing our grandma’s” is so true that as soon as I read it, I was wiping tears from my eyes. I still miss both of mine so much it hurts some days. Praying for you and your family during this time.
My heart breaks for you – may God’s peace bring comfort to all of you in your loss.
Gina Weeks