About 2 1/2 weeks ago, I lost my Grandma Rupiper.  She lived a wonderful life and passed away at the age of 91.  While we are all so grateful she was with us as long as she was, her 91 years on earth still didn't make it easy to say good-bye. The way I see it, there were just that many more years to make memories...memories I am doing my best to hold on to in these days since her death.

I find myself thinking back to the home she shared with my Grandpa on the farm.  I remember how she was always very particular about decorating the home, and keeping things nice.  I can see her washing dishes in the sink, and making cookies.  I can even recall the unusual, sweet smell that always seemed to accompany the vacuum when she turned it on.

I've written about this before, but when I was little, my Grandma gave me irises for my birthday.  Each May, I would look forward to them blooming behind my house, because I always knew my birthday was right around the corner. I know I will always see my grandma when I see an iris blooming.

Grandma had a great love for music, and instilled it in all of her 8 children.  She could sit at the piano, with no sheet music in sight and play a boogie tune good enough for the radio.  We always loved when Grandma would play the piano or the organ and I remember often asking her to play for us when we were at their home.

It's funny how even the smallest memories mean so much when you've lost someone. Sometimes I'll be sitting at work, and a quick image of Grandma crosses my mind...her working in her flower beds...her teaching me how to embroider...her looking through gardening magazines. While these memories sometimes bring a tear to my eye, I am quick to embrace them, and hold on to them for all they are worth, knowing those memories will mean all the more on those days I am missing her most.