80 years ago today, a magnificent human being was born.
That woman was my beautiful Grandma Turley.
She lost the battle to cancer when I was only seven, but I still feel such a connection to her. Perhaps it's because I know what an incredible person my own mother is, and I can only assume my grandma has much to do with that. My memory of her is pretty fuzzy, but I can say that every time she enters my head I feel nothing but extreme love and gratitude for such an amazing person. It's incredible how someone I hardly knew can be one of my biggest role models.
I remember a few things about her, and I've been thinking of these things all day. A lot of my memories involve the house in Bountiful, Grandpa Turley, and the huge red razorback stuffed animal my grandparents had in their house. A lot of memories are not even mine, but those of my mom and her brothers. They would tell stories of growing up with Grandma and laugh as they remembered their childhoods while I sat and listened, wishing I knew her better.
But I do know her.
I see her in my own mother every day. I see her in my uncles, all of whom I love dearly. All of them are incredible people that I look up to. Occasionally I get the opportunity to read through an old pair of her scriptures, and that's when I feel closest to her. Seeing her looping cursive in the margins of those pages give me insight into her heart and mind. So many times I've gotten answers to prayers by reading through her notes. She truly is an incredible woman.
As I sit here writing this, I have tears in my eyes. Tears of sadness because I miss her...tears because I wish I could have had more time with her down here...but most of all--tears of happiness knowing that I WILL get to see her again. I can sit down and a deep, meaningful talk with her. I can give her a big bear hug and thank her for raising my mom to be who she is. I can't wait for that reunion.
Really soon after she died, I recall being at a friend's house. My friend's mom had had a new baby a few months prior and I remember looking down at that baby as she grinned a huge, toothless grin right at me. I was young and didn't understand a lot of things I understand now, but I remember thinking that that smile was from my grandma. To me, it was her way of telling me that she was happy and that I should be happy too. Every so often I still feel the love from her that I know she gave me when I was little.
I only knew her for seven short years, but oh, how I miss her.
Happy Birthday, Grandma. I love you!
'Til we meet again.
