Remembering Grandma Payne

I can't believe how long this post has been avoided. It's hard to put down such raw, strong emotions into words on a blog, and so I've just let these pictures sit here.

(I'm now publishing this in April 2014)

My Grandma Payne passed away in October.

I miss her. And it hurts to look at these pictures and re-feel the emotions of that time.

I'd just been in Utah and had seen my grandma at the nursing home. I'd taken Sara to meet her. 

I'm so thankful for that. I'll never forget how fortunate I was to have that time with her before she passed away.

I'm also so thankful to my parents for flying the kids and I right back out to Utah after Grandma died (Rob would have come too if he hadn't had to work). I'm so glad we were able to be at the funeral. It provided peaceful closure and it was so wonderful to be with our Payne family to celebrate Grandma's amazing life.

When I think of Grandma Payne, I think of-

cinnamon toast

North Park school

Easter egg hunts

organ playing

cheesy scrambled eggs

Christmas carols

warmth

her smell

Indian plates

homemade jam

pulling taffy

her crashing into a shelf of breakable china in San Francisco

kisses on my cheek

root beer

Christmas morning

her dog Petey

her pen-pal letters when I was a child

trips to Kings

McDonalds

old musicals on VHS

cash secretly slipped into my hand

her sitting in the audience at dance reviews, piano recitals, etc.

Santa Claus

Twinkies in the cupboard

warm towels out of the dryer when I got out of her pink tub

and so much more....

Here are some pictures from her beautiful viewing and funeral...

VIEWING Friday night (10/11/13)

Aunt Becky & Uncle Dee put together the most beautiful video of pictures-

Every detail on Grandma's casket matched her perfectly

Part of our Payne Family

My dad and his siblings-

Children & spouses

FUNERAL on Saturday (10/12/13)-

Staci singing "Baby Mine" per the aunts request-

My wonderful Payne family-

Some of my favorites of Grandma...

Loving on Drake as a baby-

Christmas 2013-

Giving me advice on my wedding day-

My wedding day-

Now we have a wonderful guardian angel watching over us...

Love you dearly Grandma.