Thanks for all your kind words. It really means alot to me, and Mr Lilly as well. She was an awesome lady. Was so neat when I met her for the first time. I remember it like it was yesterday. November 1983 Thanksgiving. I came with Mr Lilly and his family down here to spend the holiday with her and Pa. (we weren't married yet) She was a lil spunkier than my own grandma, but loved alot of the same thangs. Even shared the same Birthday as my grandma. I knew right then, she'd be a very special part of my life. (LOL and he hadn't even asked me to marry him yet) but I just "knew".
It wasn't long until I was hooked on family history. I started way back when you actually had to go to the libray LOL and have continued...with my family and his as well. I wrote down stories all along. Still some I'm sure I haven't written down, but plan on sittin down and makin a point to go thru her huge box of pictures and write a few more down. Pictures are a wonderful way of getting them to talk/tell stories and I sat with her many an evenin goin thru them with her, putting names and dates on the back of them. Along with gettin to hear the stories. They'll be a reminder and help me remember things I should write.
I sat with her, thru many winter weeks, piecin quilts. Some of the same things I did with my own grandma growin up.
She taught me how to make jelly, and can vegetables. Somethin I'll treasure from now on.
My Mother In Law works at the funeral home that's taking care of the arrangements. Today she called me and asked if I'd write a paragraph to be included in her Obituary, about all her hobbies. At first I was kinda at a loss.....but just sittin down and thinkin about all the things she done while I had the privilage to know her, it quickly became easy. Then I had to put it all into such a short paragraph. And I was honored to have been asked to do that.
WOW!!!!! What a lady!
Ya know....even tho we'll miss her terribly, you can't be sad at the passing of someone that lived as long as she has. She's done her duties here on earth. And done em WELL!!!!! Her work was done. The way I see it, it just gives us another reason to celebrate life. And to live by her examples. I'm so glad that both our kids had the chance to know her, and love her, and be loved by her. ......................