Grandma Bradley

Thursday I flew to Las Vegas to enjoy a weekend in St. George, Utah with Mark's grandparents, aunts and cousins. As Mark's aunt picked me up, she told me the we were moving on the plan B, because grandma had unexpectedly died that morning. She had packed their bags and was ready to go to St. George, but, as Grandpa said, she had packed her bags, but didn't tell us where she was really going.

I drove that night to Salt Lake with aunt Barb. I had an amazing weekend staying in Grandpa's home. I saw so many relatives, and many times was moved to tears not so much because I desperately missed Grandma, but more so because of the outpouring of love that I both saw and felt from everyone. Grandma had 14 children, 86 grandchildren and 144 great-grandchildren. Although she is gone, she lives in each of us, and I have always wanted to be just like her. She taught me so much, and I admired everything about her. She was hard-working, honest, constant, bold, beautiful, spunky, well-read, generous, loving, practical, efficent and devoted. Maybe the thing I liked the most about her is that she was not afraid to say what she thought--good or bad. You always knew where you stood with her. She did so much for so many, and she couldn't sit still and just chill. She had to be reading or knitting or busy with something. She was amazing.

I have so many great memories of her, but one I am forever grateful for is the time she and Grandpa stayed with us for a week when Mark's brother got married. It was so fun to be with them, one on one, for so many days. Grandma whipped my house into shape, and she and I catered the wedding breakfast in my home. I got her hooked on my sugar cookies that trip. The day after the wedding, we were unaware that one of Mark's other brothers had invited everyone over TO MY HOUSE for dinner. We had about a 30 minute window to pull dinner for what we thought was going to be 25 people together. And then 10 more showed up, and he said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you I invited them." Grandma asked, "Is there anyone else you have invited that we should know about?" He answered, "No." Just then, the doorbell rang, and Mark's dad walked in, another surprise guest. You should have seen the look on her face as she threw her hands up in the air. I wasn't happy about 11 unexpected guests who thought they were invited, but Grandma really couldn't believe it. But we pulled it off, and she joked that night about the loaves and fishes we had served. It was a very random meal. We had one whole salmon that we cooked, and then tater tots, macaroni and cheese, and 7-layer dip. There were 2 apple pies and 1/2 gallon of ice cream left from the wedding breakfast, and Grandma did an excellent job of rationing the ice cream. Nobody dared to ask for a bigger scoop.

I love you, Grandma. I always have, and I always will.