Grandma Karen

Grandma Karen passed away suddenly last Thursday, July 25. Karen was Kaden's Grandma and one of Leighton's three Great Grandmas. I always thought Leighton was such a lucky little girl to be able to grow up knowing three Great Grandmas. I can only remember one of mine and very vaguely. I think i remember her more just because we talk about her and i have seen so many pictures of her. It was very surprising to have Karen pass away. Although she was 76 she was very energetic and still loved to be very independent. Besides being independent she took care of everyone around her. She literally was the care taker for her sister Diane who needed full time supervision and needless to say is not very easy to be around but Karen loved and cared for her anyways. She had lots of grandchildren who all adored her and tons of great grandchildren. I remember when i first met Karen i couldn't believe how much she did. She was a snow bird and spent her winters in beaver dam and most of the year in Cedar. She golfed all of the time and still drove her trailer to family reunions. 

Last year when Kaden worked full time and i was in one of my last full time semesters at school Karen watched Leighton for us. At first i was a little skeptical only because i knew Leighton was a handful and i didnt want her to have to worry about Leighton screaming or anything. Some days were not as easy as others but Karen absolutely loved spending time with Leighton and was so funny with her. I would get there to pick her up and she would have her in her lap with a pile of interesting things to play with. Leighton really did love her and Kaden and I both love that they had that time together. The more i think about Karen being gone and what that really means the sadder i feel. I know she is at peace and that she is with her husband and that she is watching over everyone in her family and that we will see her again one day but my heart breaks just a little that she wont get to meet our new baby and that Leighton won't really remember her except for when we tell her how much her great grandma loved her. All three of us will miss her so much but we are so unbelievably grateful for the gospel and the peace it brings into our lives knowing where Karen is and that we will meet again. 

After her passing we found a journal entry that she had wrote just a few days before and it was such a sweet earthly reminder of why we are here and that there is a bigger plan for all of us. Karen wrote a simple and sweet testimony of her faith and that she knew she would be with her husband again. I don't think there is anything more special that can be left behind than a reminder to your family of what you believed in. We are so grateful for the simple birthday cards she never failed to give us, that she attended the temple with us on several occasions, including when we were married and that she so willingly watched Leighton and was so proud of her. We will think of her often and always keep her in our hearts, until we meet again.