Grandma Gilbert

"Big" Grandma Gilbert passed away August 16th at the age of 89, and we will miss her so much! Grandma was always such a big part of my life, that it doesn't seem quite right for her to be gone. She and I had a very close relationship, and shared some common passions - clothes shopping being one.

At her funeral I related a story about a time 10 years ago when we were in a department store looking at clothes. I had strayed a few racks away from her and found something that I wanted her to look at. I called "Grandma....come here" to which she responded, "Don't call me Grandma - call me mom!" She didn't want anyone to think she was old enough to be my grandmother. I then sarcastically told her, "Oh, right, so you had me at what.....52?" She promptly told me to "Shut-up," and there in a nutshell you can catch a glimpse our relationship!

Grandma loved the great-grandchildren and all of them called her "big grandma". After she passed away, Hoyt said to me "Mom, big grandma died."

I said "Yes she did."

He then said, "She went to live with Heavenly Father and we will see her again someday!"

How thankful I am for the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ where even a four-year-old understands that death is certainly not the end of things and that we will live with our families forever. When we were in California for the funeral, Hoyt had the same type of conversation with my mom and told her that grandma was in heaven. After a little pause he then said, "He died for us." And when my mom asked him who died for us, Hoyt said "Jesus!" He is beginning to understand that it is because of Jesus that we will live together again someday.


We have had the opportunity to have quite a few Family Home Evenings since big-grandma died about death and the resurrection, and I have loved witnessing the simple faith of a child when it comes to these matters.


Giving Big Grandma a kiss


We were able to visit California in March and introduce Jett to his great grandma. I'm glad she had the opportunity to meet him. She was, of course, smitten!!