This past weekend I traveled to Southeast Missouri to attend a memorial service for my great grandmother who had passed away in December (on my birthday). She was 106 (!!!) years old and she lived every year with purpose and gratitude. My whole life me and my family have been traveling to visit her. At first it was in her apartment at the nursing home and then it was the room at the assisted living wing. We used to take Namer out on the town for the day and go drive along the Mississippi River mural wall and go eat at Outback Steakhouse. Then it was too difficult for her to travel in a car and so we stayed and visited with her.

We spent so many Thanksgivings with Namer in Cape Girardeau and we could tell how much it meant to her for us to spend that special day with her. The food may not have been great but being able to spend those days with her is something we all will cherish forever.

Namer lived through two World Wars, she married her husband who she met in high school, had a college degree, and loved her family immensely. She is someone that I will always look up to and who I respect unwaveringly. It was such a blessing to have had her in my life and be able to hear her stories from her lifetime. We all miss her and will miss our trips to the Cape to see her but the memories we have with Namer will never be forgotten.

Sometimes we take these relatives for granted in our lives because death doesn't seem very close to our lives but being able to grow up with great grandparents and grandparents is such a blessing. I have been so fortunate to have both.

This is just a reminder that if you haven't spoken to your older relatives in a while, just let them know you are thinking of them and love them today.