Peppes...

Sunday, March 8th

After getting home from church my mom called with news that turned my little world upside down...

My grandmother, Peppes, had died unexpectedly.

After not feeling well over the weekend, she opted to stay home from church on Sunday morning, but insisted that Pop go on without her.

He always did what she wanted him to do so he went along.

When he got back home, she was gone.

He told us that it looked like she had just fallen asleep in her chair.

He said she looked so peaceful.

I am so glad she didn't linger and suffer. We all are comforted by that.

Chris & I immediately drove home...it was the longest drive home ever.

The last week and a half has been a whirlwind.

There have been moments where the reality of it hits me like a ton of bricks and other moments where I feel like she might call me at any minute.

Peppes meant the world to me.

She was the finest Christian lady.

In my eyes, she was a woman who could do no wrong.

She spoiled me and all of her grandchildren.

I had never once stopped to imagine life without her.

I knew how much she meant to me and to many others, but I had no idea just how many others.

At her visitation Monday night, nearly 600 people came to comfort us and share their memories of Peppes with us.

Many told stories of how she had touched their lives in ways that we did not even know.

Almost 300 people were with us on Tuesday for her funeral, or as we prefered to call it a celebration of her life.

Pop, my mom, aunt, and sisters stood to read words they had written about Peppes.

I was not composed enough to read, but mom read the words I had written for me:

My grandmother died on the most beautiful day in March.

I am certain it was the most beautiful day a March month has ever seen.

That's exactly how God planned it, and I know she would have approved.

Peppes is the name I gave her as a child, and it just seemed to stick.

She shared so much of herself with me.

Peppes taught me to love to read, she taught me how to make the best banana pudding, she set the most perfect example of how a husband should be loved, and most of all she taught me to love God.

Peppes was truly the finest example of a virtuous woman.

She walked right alongside God, and I am certain that is where she was when she left this world.

She was my lighthouse; always a shining source of light and constant encouragement to me.

Matthew 5:14says "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.".

I know that her light has touched so many of us.

It will continue to shine on.

I love you Peppes.

There are hardly 10 consecutive minutes that go by that she doesn't cross my mind.

I hope it's that way forever.

We all have so many happy memories of her.

I don't regret anything about the 25 years I shared with her in my life,

I just regret that I don't have any more time with her.

She was there for so many major events in my life--

my baptism, my high school graduation, my nursing school graduation, our wedding...

I will miss sharing the future events in my life with her.

I am so sorry that our children will never meet their great grandmother.

You can believe that they will hear all about her though.

She was the greatest of ladies in so many regards, too many to name.

Her memory will live on with us forever.