She helped raise not only my Mom and aunt but my twin brother and I into who we are today. Before I was old enough for school, she would baby-sit my brother and I every day which later grew into us spending a few weeks in the summer and the afternoons after school until my parents made it off of work at her home. 

My Grandma is by far the sweetest lady I have ever met. She was polite and caring to everyone no matter what and hope that one day I can be half the woman she ever was. She taught me to sew, make quilts, bake pies and cookies from scratch, that if you put vinegar on it - it fixes everything, spam makes really good sandwiches, all about gardening, and so much more. I will always cherish our memories. Especially our postcards back and forth whether I was 10 years old at a week long horse back riding camp or 20-something in Florida describing the latest charter I had just completed.

Growing up she made it to every event from cheerleading and soccer to band and all my majorette performances, sea scout and school award ceremonies, to my WVU interior design senior presentations. She didn't always understand what I was into at the time but tried her hardest to always support me and give words of encouragement. 

While I was in college I would try to stop by at least once a week and pick her up to get lunch between my classes. She loved driving with the top down on my convertible and was so excited even it was to just get a Wendy's chilli before I had to rush back to class.  

I am so thankful that during my evacuation north due to Hurricane Irma I was able to visit with her in North Carolina for a while. She had been battling Alzheimers for the past few years and had a nasty fall a few weeks ago where she had broken her neck and was recovering from it. Even through the restricting neck brace we were able to hold hands and talk about her dancing with my Grandpa and how they met, what she wanted to do for her 90th birthday (deciding on the ice cream flavor was tough!), and what flowers she was going to plant this year - sunflowers of course. 

Between my Mom, Aunt, and I we just about have everything completed for her service this coming week. It will be a different type of coming home but am happy in the fact she will be reunited with Grandpa once again who she hasn't seen in over 30 years. I imagine they are back to swing dancing and having picnics at the lake dreaming up the next farm they wish to create.