One Of The Good Ones Is Gone

So, this has been a bit of a rough week... Thanksgiving always gives me reason to stop and count my blessings. I have SO VERY MANY blessings to be thankful for:
** I am married to the most amazing man in the world. He treats me like a princess and has made every fairy tale that I ever read come true in so many ways!!! I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am a very "lucky" woman - the world may call it luck, I call it Grace! He is a TRUE blessing from God!
** I am a mommy to the two most wonderful little girls EVER!!! They are beautiful, strong, healthy and perfect!! Again, I am sooooo blessed - the world may have another word for it, but again ... grace!
** I have two strong, handsome stepsons that are blessings as well. I am so very proud of the men that they are - and I cannot claim any responsibility whatsoever... They were men when I got here!!! But, again ... grace placed us here together!
** I have an amazing fRamily who are there for me and whom I can be there for too. The list of loved ones is ever growing and yet, the love does not end.... GRACE!!
**I have THE awesome God - ever loving, ever knowing, ever lasting!! EVERYTHING!!! He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is the creator of this earth and the creator of everything and every ONE that I love and I am so very thankful for His provisions, His supply and His unending GRACE!!!!
So why, you may ask, has the week been rough? Well, I said that the list of loved ones is ever growing, but occasionally one of those loved ones must got away...

On Tuesday one of the most amazing, beautiful, wise, loving, fun, feisty and WONDERFUL women that I have ever been blessed to know went home to Jesus. My Grandma, Norma Dumm, passed away at the sweet age of 95. She lived an incredible life and was everything that a woman could and should be. She was everything that a grandmother should be as well. She was a knee to hear stories on, a hand to hold on a walk to the park, an encourager when I felt lost, helpless or alone, a friend when I needed one and an authority when I needed that, a Hawaiian cruise companion, an ear to listen, wisdom to advise and a heart to love me no matter what. She saw me through every part of my life and loved me without fail every day of my life. She made me laugh, made me cry and most importantly, made me think. She was one of the people who taught me how to love and made me into all that I am. She is PART of who I am. I have her eyes and I pray that I have her strength, courage and character. I love her immensely and my life will never be the same without her. I can still hear her sweet voice encouraging, admonishing and loving me with the words she would always say - "sweetie, now this is your grandmother talking..." I cannot wait to see her again in Heaven and hear those words again.... Makes me just that much more Homesick for Heaven ... One more treasure awaits me there!
I love you Grandma, see you soon!