This was an incredibly hard week and also a week that I feel blessed to have had with my Dad and Georgia family. We said goodbye to my Grandma Alice on December 15th.

I took pictures of food off and on along the way and also pictures of Christmas trees. There were many beautiful ones with it being so close to Christmas and I thought the kids at home would like getting to see them.

For many years, I journaled about different things and the process has been therapeutic in being able to “say” something. Journaling makes me think of my Aunt Joyce and how she would list out 3 good things from each day. For me, journaling felt like it released the thoughts from my mind so I could find peace. I haven’t journaled in a while, but thought I could maybe use this blog as something of a journal for my heart. Feel free to read along or scan the pictures- there were some tasty bites and pretty trees along the way.

Monday – Flying out

I was able to get a flight out in the afternoon and had a connecting flight in Charlotte. For dinner I stopped in a fun looking whiskey river bar/restaurant near my connecting gate and I had 3 hours between flights.

I ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich that wasn’t great but okay. The french fries were really good and it was a nice surprise that they had one of my favorite trulys.

Sitting next to me was a women about my age with her laptop out working. When she paused and was looking around (we were nicely placed in a wonderful people watching location), I asked her if she travels for work a lot. We chatted for a while. Her name was Karen and she was also on a layover. I’ve thought a couple times since then about some of the comments she made as a working person without kids.

My Uncle Mike and his wife picked me up from the airport around midnight while my Dad stayed overnight at the hospital with Grandma.

Tuesday – Thursday

We were able to be with Grandma from 9am to 7pm while she was in the hospital. My Uncle picked me up in the morning to take me to her. Part of me was so very thankful that she waited until I could see her and be with her one more time and part of me wished that she didn’t have to continue along the path that we knew wouldn’t improve.

It felt weird to me how a day in the hospital can go so fast. These next couple days felt something like a blur. There was crying at times and also laughing at stories from the past.

I choose to believe that it’s true that she could hear us talking to her and praying with her. I forgot my rosary but used my fingers to count out the Hail Mary prayers. I think she would have liked that.

On Wednesday, Grandma was able to be moved back to her nursing home. It was good for our hearts to see how truly loved she was by the people that worked there.

That afternoon we brought in lunch from a near by restaurant called Zaxby’s. I ate a delicious chicken tender salad. There was no sacrifice with that salad. It was amazing. It was probably the best salad that I’ve had in a long time.

Grandma passed away early in the afternoon on Thursday. It was a beautiful blessing that she was able to leave the hospital to be taken back to the nursing home for her last day where she was loved by so many. It made my heart happy to see how much she was loved.

Friday – Flying Home

There were shenanigans with the 7am flight coming back and it got pushed several times. I got to board and head out around 2pm.

We coordinated two connecting flights because of the delays and still missed both of those. There was a long line at Delta customer service because most of my flight missed their connecting flights. I was on standby for the 8pm flight out of Atlanta and so thankful that I was able to get on it. I was fifth on the list and there were fifteen of us on standby.

My husband and son met me at the airport to pick me up on Friday night.

I love you Grandma. Until we meet again… please kiss and hug all those excited for your arrival.