August 4th

Hey Sister of Mine,
I started this blog because of you.  For so long, you were so sick and I just needed someplace to say it once and if folks who loved you wanted to know about you, they could find it here.
It's been awhile since I've talked about you in this space.  But today, on your birthday, I want you to know you are ever on my mind and written on my heart.
It's been a hard summer.  Glenda is with you now and trying to figure out how best to care for Mom in her absence has been fraught with one stumbling block after another for the siblings still here.  I'm afraid the loss of two girls and maybe her home and what she holds dear might be too much, and when I try to go to sleep, I wonder if I'll wake up to find she's gone from here too.  Only God knows.
It's been hard and sweet and hard to go through all these years with her.



I've found you in so many places, pictures, cards and letters you sent Mom, postcards that chronicle your honeymoon trip to California, so many gifts you gave her.  I've relived your life through the memorabilia Mom has kept.
I remember your 60th Birthday Tea.  It was beautiful, so many came, you were so happy, all your people down to the babies in their fancy hats and those cutest  teapot cookies. It was the last birthday party before the big bad events that changed everything.
I miss you.
Your grandkids are getting so big and doing so very good.  That girl of yours works hard every day to make that happen.  I claim them as my own grands, but  I know and they know you were THE grandma.

I have new gramerlings that didn't get to meet you.  You would love them so, just as you did the first five.

Of course, I'm trusting you know joy on this birthday that I'm just left here to imagine.

I love you!