Today started like a normal day.. woke up for my 8am class and proceeded to whine about the long hours of class time ahead of me. Worrying if I had all the powerpoints printed and the articles read for the lectures. However I had no clue what was coming. My mother messaged me information that broke my heart. Patti, my grandfather's girlfriend of many many years, had passed away the night before. My world stopped. I knew she had been sick but my beautiful grandfather is always so positive and I assumed she would recover just as she had done many times before. But she wasn't coming home this time. How could she be gone? It felt like yesterday that we all sat at the SRV house laughing about something or other. I felt like I had just picked her up from her house and it took many moments as she described every photo on her piano explaining each memory...and fed all the dogs but really what I remember most if how her smile lit up the room. Those memories will always be in my heart especially one Thanksgiving in San Fran when she wore her signature pink velor outfit.
I am blessed to have know her. My entire family is blessed to have had her as a part of our lives. We met her many years ago and every year we saw the life and spark she gave my papa. They were a pair, they were so connected. They were comfort and love and companionship to one another. Each bringing the child out of one another. And most of all they took care of one another with everything in their heart. My family is grateful and I am grateful for the woman she was.
I hope one day I find these types of bonds...to find someone who accepts you and loves you with everything they can. I will never forget you, Patti. You have always felt like another grandmother to me and I am so thankful to have been part of your life.
Love you Patti. Thank you for helping my papa and for loving him and for loving me. I am sure our Lord is holding you in his arms and finally you have no pain.
-amanda
To Every Thing There is a Season
Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes 3
To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.
a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
