Five Years Ago Today
Dear Grandma,
Wow. Five years ago today you left us. I sure have missed you. I still remember your address and phone number, and I look at your house every time I get on the 131 on-ramp to go to Grand Rapids from Cadillac. And everytime I enter Wexford county from 131, I pass the sign and say, “Thank you, Lord, for bringing us back to God’s country,” just like you did!
I found some great pictures of you. (Click on them to see the full size.)
I wasn’t sure at first if this was a picture of you, but then I covered up everything but your eyes, and I imagined glasses. It was you, all right.
This is you with Uncle Jim and Dad.
Here’s you with Uncle Jim and Grandpa.
And here’s you with Dad, me, and Grandpa Syers.
This was your picture for the church directory.
Here’s a picture of you at the Cadillac Museum. We had fun playing with that stuff!
Still at the museum, this time with the old switchboard.
This is a picture from your retirement party. Are you still looking down over us?
You laughing. You did that quite a bit.
I miss you and love you, Grandma!
Beth responds:
Posted: February 15th, 2007 at 7:44 am →
Dearest Wendy,
I miss her, too. It’s kind of easy, since I don’t live in Cadillac any more, to think she’s still there, even though it’s nicest of all to know she’s in Heaven waiting for all of us. I do pretty much the same thing you do–when I drive by what used to be the turn into Cecil Road I think of your family living there in those two houses.
She was purely wonderful. I can still see her smile and hear her voice, especially her laughter. I will always remember her catching her breath, her eyes filling with tears, when you walked out on Homecoming night, so beautiful in your slender purple dress.
I never realized how much you look like her until I saw these old pictures, but you do. She loved you every bit as much as you loved her, as much as you love her still. I remember so many conversations we had about you!
Remember, as long as you’re wearing Grandma’s rings, she’s holding your hand. And she is so proud of you, and with good reason.
deb responds:
Posted: February 15th, 2007 at 8:54 am →
Wendy, wonderful!! You look like your Grandma very much!! Your dad hasn’t changed a whole lot over the years!
Awesome tribute!! I cried.
Rachel responds:
Posted: February 15th, 2007 at 10:08 am →
You have no idea how much I regret that I never had a chance to meet your Grandma.
Andrea responds:
Posted: February 15th, 2007 at 6:41 pm →
Your grandma looks like she was a beautiful person. I think it’s great that you’re taking the time to remember her in life on the anniversary of her passing away. Sending a hug your way.
Woodsy Al responds:
Posted: February 16th, 2007 at 1:27 pm →
Wendy, greetings from Cadillac. I admired and enjoyed your Grandma. Heaven gained and we lost when she went home. I’ll bet she’s teaching Sunday School in Heaven. She had a gift. What a sweetheart. I read your blog and really enjoy it. I am proud of you, and no your mom and dad didn’t make me say that. I look forward to working with you on comedy night again, when ever that’s going to happen. I just wanted to say nice tribute to Frances. Be blessed, Alvis has left the internet.
Fran responds:
Posted: February 18th, 2007 at 7:12 pm →
Wendy, I loved Frances. (What a name…) Loved the pictures. Love your blog. Love you. Fran.
Playtah responds:
Posted: February 19th, 2007 at 1:33 pm →
Beth - Thank you for sharing those memories! You made me tear up at work! I know Grandma loved you. And thank you for what you said about her rings. I’m actually wearing her wedding ring right now!
Deb - Thank you! I love hearing that I look like Grandma. Did you ever get to meet her? (I forget when you first came to FBC.)
Rachel - Grandma would have loved you!
Andrea - Thank you for the hug. Grandma played such a big role in my life that I can’t help but remember her.
Woodsy Al - Grandma enjoyed you, too! And thank you for your kind words for me. I look forward to comedy night, too! People love the joke-off with you and I!
Fran - Grandma loved you, too! And what can I say…I don’t know of a single person named Frances that I don’t adore! I love you, too!
deb responds:
Posted: February 19th, 2007 at 8:22 pm →
Nope, I never got to meet her.
Megan Benson responds:
Posted: February 20th, 2007 at 2:14 pm →
Wendy,
Wow, what a great tribute to your grandma! She was a wonderful person. I wish I could go back to those days when I was little 3,4,5 and up, where she was Teaching Children’s church….. I absolutly loved it then….and even after I got old to be in children’s church she would still let me come down and help out with the kids!!! Then when I started teaching children’s worship, your parents gave me alot of the stuff that she used to use!!! I love getting it out and remembering those days and the songs that we would sing!
Wow, how things have changed since then!!
Again, awesome tribute. I really like the pictures!