My grandma passed away last week. I feel super blessed I got to see her one more time before she passed. I also got to go to her funeral, which was a sacred experience for me.
I would frequently visit my grandparents when I was living in Provo, as they lived right behind Kiwanis park. I loved visiting them. There would either be one wooden chair in the middle of the living room, facing the two big comfy chairs, or two chairs (depending on if I had a bf at the time). The lamps would be on, one illuminating Grandma's old hands as she crocheted booties for her great-grandchildren. The other chair would be complete with Grandpa's two slippers in front of it - holes in each of the big toes.
We would eat dinner, which would always always consist of: bread with butter and sugar-free jelly, soup from a can, a cold salad consisting of green beans, cauliflower, raisins, carrots, cheddar cheese and Catalina dressing, and occasionally canned pears or peaches on the side. The meal would begin with a short concise Gpa Hatch prayer. I would take great measures to eat slowly, but it never worked. The meal always ended with a piece of European dark chocolate, which Grandma would back up with, "You know, there are studies that prove that this is good for your heart!"
The rest of the evening would be spent following up on my life and theirs. How school was going, what I was up to, if there were any boys I was interested in. I would ask them what projects they were working on and how they were feeling. Grandpa would always respond, "We're getting older, you know."
One particular experience stands out to me when I think of Grandma. I came to their house one night in a particular fluster, virtually on the point of tears. I was very interested in a this one boy. We had spent almost every day together for a month and he seemed noncommittal and confusing. I sat there and word-vomitted all of my concerns (like I do) to them. Usually Grandpa was the one with the classic advice. I always love his advice.
But this time, Grandma piped in. She shared with me how recently she and Grandpa were on a road trip back from Canada. At one point on the trip, she thought to herself, "I really want a yogurt." She thought about saying something, but instead decided, "Ephraim [my grandpa] is the head of our family, so I'm going to wait until he wants one." A few moments later, Grandpa randomly said, "I want a yogurt!" and they stopped at a gas station and ate some yogurt.
Weird story? Maybe. Grandma had Alzheimers in her later years, and sometimes the stories she would share would be completely unrelated and random. Maybe this story was one of them, but I got meaning out of it for some reason. Although it may seem a little extreme (dude if I want a yogurt, I'm going to say it!), I think there is some truth to it. I learned that day that it is very important to let the guy lead, especially in dating and marriage. I learned from G&G's continued example what it means to work as a team in marriage, and the importance of the roles of men/women. A lot to learn.
(Oh and btdub, the guy totally called a few hours after my visit. I totally wanted to be like, "So now you want your yogurt huh!? HUH!? but I didnt)...
I have countless other memories of Grandma, including playing her huge homemade pipe organ, in the accoustically-sound music room, or sleeping in that same room on the pull-out mattress, staring up at that vaulted ceiling the night before entering the MTC, or listening to her prayers about "the wicked leaders of this nation that are leading us down to destruction." (Haha! Should I say amen to that?)
I will always remember Grandma as a woman of faith, sacrifice and fire.
The Resurrection, Spirit world, and Atonement are more of a reality now. I know that we will all rise again with perfect bodies. I know that this life is not the end, but rather a testing period to "prove ourselves" obedient to our covenants and all that God asks us to do.
