On Thursday the 12th, my grandmother passed away. She was an amazing woman, when she was born she weighed about 3lbs and 92 years ago it is a miracle that she lived. She had 8 children and 54 grandchildren, and some great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. One of the things I always knew about my grandma was how much she loved my Grandpa and of course her children and grandchildren.
My grandparents influenced my life so much and not just like most grandparents. For those of you who don't know, I was adopted. I was born in Guatemala and my biological mother died less than 24 hours after I was born. My grandparents were serving an LDS service mission in Guatemala and knew my biological father, he asked them to help get my biological mother's body back to the village they were from to bury her the next day. After arriving my grandparents asked one of the Elders who spoke the Indian dialect to go and tell the family that they would help in any way they could. The Elder did and came back with me. I hadn't been cleaned from being born, was wrapped in rags, and probably not a pleasant baby. But they took me for the night and cared for me the best they could and making diapers for me from a t-shirt. The next day my biological father came to them and asked them to keep me as their own. Telling them I would die with out a mother to take care of me. After a lot of discussion they decided they would take me for 2 weeks for the family to adjust and decide what to do with me.
After 2 weeks they took me back and it was decided that I would be adopted. After that this amazing couple called their daughter and her husband in Idaho to tell them they had a daughter for them waiting to be adopted. It took 2 months for the adoption to be completed. My grandparents could have told my biological father that they couldn't do it, to find another family, or to put me in an orphanage. But instead after raising their 8 children, being in a 3rd world country, not having disposable diapers, any baby supplies, and not having clean water they decided to take care of me. They had no idea if I would have health issues and they had many other responsibilities to continue to take care of. I didn't even have a name. But they lovingly and happily took care of a new born and they hand picked who my parents would be. And as all of you who known me, know that I have been raised by amazing parents and I have always felt I had a special relationship with my grandparents.
My grandpa died over 20 years ago, my grandmother has missed him so much. A few years after my grandpa died, my grandma moved across the street from my parents so she has been very close to our family for many years. I have been very blessed to have my life turn out the way it did all because of the decisions and sacrifices of some amazing people.
My Grandma's funeral was yesterday and so many people came to the viewing and funeral to honor such an amazing woman. It was hard to say goodbye for now and it is such a huge loss to our family. The only thing that makes it easier for me is to know that she is once again with my Grandpa. I love and miss them both terribly but I am and will forever be grateful for all they did for me.
