Dear My Beautiful Grandma,

Where do I start? I’m not really sure. There are so many things to say to you but time or paper will never be enough to express my love and gratitude towards you. Though this letter may be all over the place, know that it is because there are no sentences good enough to even possibly explain all you have done for me and every human you simply walk by. You have been here for me the moment my brother and I arrived from the other side of the world. You were there for me before I even was physically in your presence by helping through the adoption process. You and grandpa bought a limo for my brother and me so we could arrive at your house in style on Christmas Eve of 1996. You always said we were the best present that year, I would like to reverse that statement.

I wouldn’t be the same person I am today without your support, care, wisdom and love. You taught me how to play card games, our favorite was War. Playing with you reminds me that the cards life dealt me were the best cards that that could be dealt because I know you. You’ve taught me the recipe to your famous homemade cookies that nobody can match; but you have also taught me the recipe to life. You always tell me love is not 50/50, it’s 100/100. In order to make love last and feel new even when the letters are old and yellow, you have to make compromises. Selfishness cannot exist in true love.

I will never forget when you would come over early in the morning to make sure my brother and I got on the school bus because Dad had to be at work. The sun may have not have been up when you arrived but it never needs to be if you are awake. I remember my friend and I from the neighborhood would put on dance shows, you always were first in line to watch us as we danced in old big t-shirts and pretended they were designer dresses. When other kids from the neighborhood would come help us build forts in the basement, you always made sure we were stocked with ammunition for our stomachs. As I grew older, playing games and making forts turned into hanging with friends at the movies and introducing you to boys. Questions went from being “do you think I’ll make the middle school basketball team?” to “do you think we’ll know each other in Heaven?” You were there through every question, simple or complex. You are there through every type of weather.

I will always remember our laughter about shrimp on a treadmill and my "puff pants" I will forever smile thinking about all our show trips, going to church and breakfast on Sundays, our nice walks in the summer, our constant tea drinking in the winter, or just our late evening talks while you lay in bed and I stand at your door. Every line on your skin is wisdom, every word from your mouth is love and every kiss or touch from you is God reminding me a piece of Heaven does indeed exist in this life. You’re my angel, your wings on this Earth are your arms which are always spread so wide for everyone and your halo on this Earth is your heart, the brightness of it blinds me from any negativity I hold in my own heart and my mind. You can’t fool me, my angel in disguise. Thank you for showing me how to love like Jesus in a world that hates like Satan. I’ll never be able to repay you for that golden lesson but I will try to spread it to everyone I know. There is so much more to reflect on and say about you but for now I will leave off saying I love you in ways words will never able to say and ways you could never know.

Love,

Your ever so grateful granddaugter

P.S. When you get to Heaven, please tell Gramps and Aunt Sharon I love them so much. Oh, and could you send me a message explaining why Eve listened to that disgusting snake? I still want to know haha