52 Weeks of Blessings- week 51 -- peace and comfort

For me this blessing project has been an opportunity to look beyond the everyday blessings of food and shelter.  I have tried to dig a little deeper for the blessings I post.  Yes there have been the basics of a warm home when it is -20 without the wind chill, family and friends but also I have mentioned my testimony, youth programs that help me to teach my children to choose the right and be accountable for their choices and my Saviour.  

This week I would like to highlight Nana, Troy's grandmother.  

I have known her a mere 16 years and what a blessing it has been to have her be a part of my life. She is so talented.  These hands were tools of creation. Countless cards, {She made these when Shantel was born.}
ornaments,

{Nana made ornaments for each grandchild and great grandchild until this year.  These are just a very small sampling.}
cakes 

{see the bear off to the side?  She made two of them for our open house.}

crafts,

and paintings

they have made.  

When we all lived in Vegas, I made a point of going over to visit with her and Papa.  The kids enjoyed playing with the toys their dad played with as a kid and hanging out {as much as little kids and 'hang out'} with their great grandparents. She took me to her ward's SuperSaturday Craft days.   I never got the opportunity to really know my grandma Grace because she didn't drive. I feel it is very important to know your family and extended family.  I urge you to visit with your family members and get to know them.  I want my children to be able to say that they knew their family.  We have been so fortunate to have her near us again.  She is 81 and she chooses to no longer take her medications for various health issues, one of which is diabetes.  This has caused her body to weaken, her eye sight is starting to fail and she is often confused.  It is hard to watch someone you love go through this.  It is hard to watch her daughter and son-in-law deal with the stress of this.  It is hard to watch my own children learn these lessons and to watch them watch their Nana become old and frail.

How does this story mesh with the title of peace and comfort?  I feel peace and comfort in the knowledge that when she is ready to pass on, she will be with her husband, her parents, family and friends who have already traveled this path.  Yes, it is hard to see, but to have lived your life the best you knew how, to have loved and been loved, that is peace and comfort for you and your family.  Will she be missed when her time comes?  Yes!  But it is peace and comfort to have fought the good fight and won.  

Today she asked me when Christmas was.  After I told her, she just said, "Thursday. I was just wondering."  Will she be here for Christmas? New Years?  Easter?  4th of July?  Her next birthday?  Thanksgiving?  No one knows, but we hold to that peace and comfort given to us by our Saviour!