Life

Here are just a couple pictures of life around here lately. Morgan's. Class had a field trip to Bass Pro so Hudson and Brooklyn and I joined them. It has also been nice a sunny lately but pretty chilly with the wind so we had to get our beanies out the other day to play.

Celebrating Grandma

This past Monday we laid Grandma to rest. It was a great weekend of laughter, tears and catching up. All but 2 of 18 cousins were able to make an appearance to some or all of the events this weekend. I can't remember the last time that many of us were together. We enjoyed reminiscing about our times with Grandpa and Grandma and remembering how certain cousins were able to get us to do anything they wanted:) We had a good time, but it was exhausting and it is kinda nice to get back to normal.

The memorial service was  perfect. My Uncle Keith did a phenomenal job summing up Grandma and pointing us to Jesus and how he calls us to live. My cousin Zach did a reading for us cousins of all our memories of Grandma. The thing that struck me the most as we collected the memories was how Grandma made each of us feel like we were the most special grandchild. That is quite a gift!

Everyone minus 3. We missed you girls!

Nice to see Wil "Billy" hasn't lost his touch with the ladies. 

Morgan and Aunt Lin. My kids and Kara's kids loved getting spoiled by their great aunts. Morgan said to me on Monday,"I'm going to miss your Aunties mommy." Me too Morgan, me too!

Monday afternoon was a gorgeous day so after the service we all relaxed in my parent's back yard. Morgan and Aunt Lin even cooled their feet off in the pool.

It was so great to see so many family members and we look forward to a happier reason to get together in September!

Again, sister comes through with a fabulous post.

Grandma

My Grandma Bulthuis went to be with Jesus this past Sunday. She was 93  years old. She lived her life to the fullest and now it is finally time for her to rest. My sister wrote a very moving tribute over here. Since she and I obviously spent our entire childhood together we have the same memories of Grandma so I don't know that I will rewrite all that she wrote, but we will see where this goes. There are definitely memories of her I don't want to forget.

We were a couple of the few grand kids that lived around Grandpa and Grandma and we spent a lot of time with them at their farmhouse. It was definitely a home away from home for Kara and I, and I never felt like a guest. We spent countless hours playing in the orchards, "fishing" in the canal, "painting" the milk house, cleaning up the play house, swinging on the giant glider swing, decorating trees, collecting eggs, helping Grandpa snip beans, playing in the grape arbor and chasing around their dog Boots. (the dog that they bought because our parents wouldn't let us have one, at least that's the story we were told) Their farm will forever hold a special place in my heart.

We loved to sleep over at their house because Grandma would make us super comfy beds on the floor, peel us apples in the evening and make us delicious pancakes or oatmeal for breakfast. I loved if we stayed over on a school night because Grandma packed the best lunches, usually with a leftover pancake from breakfast! I remember loving her oatmeal (we still aren't really sure how hers tasted so much better than we can make, I think it was the fact that she used whole milk!), we would eat it out of a special bowl, one had a picture of a house and one had a picture of a flower on the bottom, we would make "rivers" in our oatmeal so Grandma could pour milk in to cool off the oatmeal.

My Grandma's legacy is one of fabulous food. You NEVER left her house hungry. She cooked amazing Sunday dinner to those of us who lived near her, rotisserie chicken, homemade rolls and her fresh oranges being 3 of the ones I remember the most. She was a fabulous baker. I remember her helping me with a baking contest one year and I won! I know my love of cooking and baking is something she passed on to me. If only I had the discipline to not eat what I bake like she did:) She baked the most amazing cream puffs, meringue shells, almond bars, angel food cake and homemade ice cream. Most people remember her for her pies, I was such a picky eater when I was little I never truly enjoyed those. I would now though! She knew every one's favorites and made sure to bake them when we were around.

My Grandma did not have an easy life. Her mom died when she was only 11 which left my Grandma and her sister to raise their 3 brothers. She only went to school to the 8th grade and then she went to work cleaning and cooking for other families. At 18 she left Iowa for California where she met my Grandpa. She continued working for other families. She and my Grandpa owned a dry goods store and ran their farm. Grandma loved flowers and always put together the most amazing bouquets. I wish I had inherited her green thumb! I am privileged to have an orange tree in my back yard that she bought for Ethan when he turned one. I always think of her when I look at it and this winter we are enjoying our biggest harvest of sweet, juicy oranges yet. Grandma did not sit still, she was always busy cleaning, cooking or baking. She tirelessly took care of others. Their home was always open to company for Sunday dinner or people from out of town who needed a place to stay.

I have many memories of Grandma from when I was younger, but I also treasure the moments we spent together in her later years. When Ethan was a baby I started cleaning for Grandma. Once a week Ethan and I would head over to her house and she would hold and rock Ethan when he was an infant and then as he got older she would get down on the floor and play with him. She was 87 when he was born, and she still had that magical touch with babies. He loved his time with Grandma! She didn't talk a lot about her past, but every once and a while I could get her to tell me stories about life when she was younger. After she moved out of her home to a nursing home I would still take my kids to see her. Even as she forgot who I was, her face always had the biggest smile when she saw my kids. She loved kids, they brought her so much joy. It was hard for me to visit her near the end, but I trust that my kids brightened her day. She lost 2 little boys before they were two and as a mom I can't imagine the pain she endured through their deaths. I am so excited that she is playing with them in heaven right now.

She and my Grandpa faithfully loved and served God. The Bible was read after every meal, no exception. They were involved in church and supported Christian Education. I am so thankful for the Christian legacy they passed on to their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Grandma, you will be missed by many but we know you are happy and resting....finally. I love you Grandma!

Grandma and Ethan

Grandma with some of her great grand kids at her 88th birthday party.

Grandma and Morgan.

Grandma and Brooklyn

Grandma and Hudson

Happy 92nd birthday Grandma!

Happy 93rd birthday Grandma!

I'm so glad that all my kids were able to meet their great grandma, they were always so tender with her. I hope I can keep her memories alive for them.