A Better Place

Monday afternoon Roger and I got a call that we needed to head to Cooperstown immediately to see Grandma Rose because she would not make it through the night. We drove 2 hours to the hospital and when we walked into the room she was as witty as ever. We spent several hours with her not knowing what was to come. We left late at night and traveled an hour back to Roger's house. Once the family was all settled in for the night, Grandma Rose called and wanted someone to sit with her through the night. Mike and Beth, Roger's parents, went back to the hospital and sat with her.

Roger, his brothers, and myself stayed the night at his house only to head right back to Cooperstown in the morning. We did not know what the day would hold as we drove over there but nevertheless we went and visited some more with her. We stayed in her room for hours. We chatted with her and listened to her harass the nurses and her own grandchildren. We soon left to eat some dinner while Mike, Beth, and her husband were visiting her.

Once we arrived back to the hospital we were greeted by Grandma Rose's doctor and she told us that now was the time to spend some last laughs with her. She said that Joan always spoke so highly of her grandchildren and I would agree. She loved each one of those boys more than they will probably ever know. We quickly filed into her room and sat with her. We were chatting and enjoying some good company. The church where Roger's parents and grandparents attend is also an hour away but both pastors made it a point to come see us again. We sat with them and chatted and laughed once again with Grandma Rose. Pastor Brian said his goodbyes and asked Pastor Jim to say a prayer. Emotions started to fly. The prayer simply hit some of us hard and we were left in tears knowing that soon this would all come to an end. Shortly after both pastors left us, Joan decided she wanted to take a nap. She started to close her eyes and drift off, only to wake up yelling for Wendall, her husband. It was rough listening to her tell him that she couldn't carry this anymore as she called her name out each time. Each time she called, he answered. She was in pain. The nurses quickly came over and added more pain medicine to her so she would be calm. As did called for Wendall several more times, the pain of losing someone you love finally hit Roger. His mom was right there for him. She picked him up and held him in her arms. It was a beautiful moment.

Eventually, everything settled down and the clock was turning to 11:00PM. We were all exhausted. Grandma Rose was not in pain, she was just sleeping in her bed. Not sure of what the future would hold, Roger, Reid and I decided that we would go into the waiting room and make a bed and sleep for a couple of hours. I am not sure how but eventually we drifted off. We were side by side in each other's arms fast asleep. Around 12:45AM Beth came into the room to wake us. She said in a very calm voice, " It is over, Grandma passed away." We were still wiping the sleep from our eyes when she asked if we wanted to go and say our final goodbyes. Roger knowing that I am not comfortable with things like that left to say goodbye with Reid and I were chatting about what happened. Ryan was fast asleep on the couch above us. None of us reacted the way that I thought we would react. Roger came back into the waiting room, handed me my purse and we left to go back home.

It was a silent ride home. There was fog everywhere. It was very hard to see. It was a dark and dreary kind of night, perfect for what just happened. However, I could not think that dark, foggy, and rainy weather was the right weather for what just happened. If it was up to me, I would have planned for sun and beautiful weather. All I could think about was Grandma Rose meeting her Savior. The very God that created her, that knew her before He laid the foundations of this earth. I could see her meeting Him, she wasn't in a wheel chair, she wasn't walking, she was running arms wide open to her Savior. Oh the sun shone in my heart! It is such a beautiful thought knowing that someone is meeting the very God that I am worshipping today.

I am sure that at some point in the near future we will deal with sadness again. There will be crying and hurting families but for today while the world is calm around me, I am holding onto that image of Grandma Rose running to Christ. I know she is watching us. I know that she will be thrilled to see Roger and I get married from her heavenly view. I know that she is in a better place and that with time we will heal and will learn the new routine of our life without her. But she will never be forgotten. She will always be loved and always be missed.

Continue to pray for Roger and his family. The funeral, calling hours, and burial service is this Saturday. We would greatly appreciate your prayers.