*The first picture is of a frame I made for my Grandmother for a Christmas gift exchange. It would turn out to be our last Christmas with her.*


Last Mother’s Day we, as a family, lost a wonderful mother. She was an amazing wife, and mother as well as an instrumental grand and great-grandmother. Arlene Halsey, my grandmother. I’m sure her death was just as deeply rejoiced on the other side as it was grieved here. Actually, I’m sure it was more deeply rejoiced as she was welcomed back into the arms of those she had missed for far too long, mainly, her husband Loren. Grandpa had passed away the year before on Thanksgiving Day. What a heart wrenching loss it was. My heart broke. I could go on and on about the amazing people my grandparents were, as could many others, but I wish you all could have met them. (Remind me when we get to the other side, and I’ll introduce you.) My grandparents were instrumental to me. As a child they lived down the alley from us, in fact depending on how the bunk beds were arranged, I could see there house from my bed. There were many nights I would watch them walk around the house, I could even see their bedroom and knew when they went to sleep. I would just watch and wish I could be there with them. Not because my house was not a happy place, but because I loved them so much. I grew up seeing them on a daily basis, and spent the night often. Buttered white bread toast, and hot chocolate still remind me of those happy mornings waking up with them.

I fear I am straying from the point I want to make with this post. I just want to share with you my example of true love. They loved each other so much, and were so blessed because of it. They fell in love during a time when perhaps it was easier to stay true to each other. During a time when a good man held a door for a lady and a lady was just that… a lady. Promiscuity was there, I’m sure, but it was not flaunted around all day long. Women, for the most part, covered themselves up and did not walk around town tempting and taunting men. Maybe it was easier during their time, but the lesson they teach is worth learning. Love is powerful, and should stay pure and true and can bring forth a lifetime of happiness. Had either of my grandparents given in to a moment of promiscuous temptation, I might not be here now. When my Grandfather died, and left my Grandmother alone, it was the saddest thing I ever saw in my life. It is such a blessing to be loved like that. What a wonderful husband he must have been to her, for her to feel the way she did. I hope that Craig and I will be an example of love to our posterity as well.
I also learned that being a Grandparent is an amazing role. I was so blessed to have had them in my life. I still think of them often and cry. I miss them so terribly much. They are still in my list of contacts in my cell-phone and my email accounts. (Just can’t delete them.) I remember when they died everyone wanted something from them, anything, just something to hold on to, something to help feel close to them. I have learned that I feel the closest to them when I look at pictures, and letters, and remember what I have learned from them.
Keep your relationships pure, and love each other more each and everyday. No moment of temptation is worth throwing all hope away. I look at what my grandparents achieved, and I hope to someday achieve the same. My grandparents’ legacy will live forever in all of us who were blessed to have known them, and in those we teach what we have learned from them.

I loved the picture of my Grandmother looking in the mirror at herself while the other women prepare her for her wedding. I was able to zoom in and get a good look at her eyes, I wonder if she had any idea she would grow to be so happy and so blessed.

~Emily
P.S. In case you didn't know, our youngest daughter is named after them, Lauren Arlene.