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For Gigi ... A Letter to Heaven

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Today there is a happy celebration in Heaven as it would be my beautiful grandmother Gigi's birthday.  Gigi was definitely the most important influence on my life and it became crystal clear to me how deeply when I was asked to write the eulogy for her memorial service a few years back.  I decided to send a letter directly to God explaining what amazing treasure was on it's way.  It is a letter meant to bring smiles and giggles.  Thanks in advance for allowing me to share that special letter with you today as we honor her memory:)


Dear God,

On the day I was born, you bestowed upon me a truly precious gift...my grandmother.  Gigi, Mimi, Gram, Grandma...she had many names, but one heart overflowing with love for her family. There's not a day that goes by that Gigi doesn't influence me in some way. 
 
PhotobucketSometimes it’s the crocheted potholders I use when getting Catherine's pizza out of the oven.  Some days, it's watching Catherine put on her lip gloss and earrings to start her day because Gigi always told her that's what ladies do...(sorry, Gigi...I haven't been able to convince her about the bed making thing yet! I'll keep working on it!) Or it could be Connor wanting to take us all down in a game of Monopoly...Gigi turned Connor into a total Monopoly addict!  Not to mention, she turned the entire family into a bunch of card sharks!

Sometimes, it's playing "Riddly Riddly I Dee Dee" with the kids or finding pictures in the clouds...Steph and I have learned the value of a good Word Find puzzle or a game of Solitaire from Gigi...You could always count on Gigi to have a great Word Find book laying around!

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Every morning I see Gigi when I fold the pink and white blanket she made for Catherine as a gift on the day she was born. That is an heirloom that Catherine will treasure forever. And there hasn't been a single Christmas in my adult life that my Christmas tree hasn't been covered in crocheted snowflakes compliments of Gigi.  

Every time I drive my car, I have Gigi to thank.  She took me out for driving lessons in her green Maverick when I was 16.  We had some good times in that green machine even if she did pull a few Starsky and Hutch moves across route 23 on more than one occasion!  

And of course, there is the infamous Poptart incident....I can thank Gigi for making sure that I will never eat a piece of bologna EVER...I walked in the kitchen one sunny day to find Gigi enjoying a strawberry Poptart and bologna sandwich!  Gross!  But put a lima bean in her face or a glass of water with ice and you'd have thought you were trying to torture her!  

I can't count the times we dressed her up and she patiently donned whatever costume or hat was requested...she always did it with good humor...even if it required wearing fake boobs with tattoos!  Which leads me to a few things you need to know, God...

Although Gigi seemed to be very sweet and innocent, she could be quite ornery on occasion!  Like the time I spent the night with her and she woke up at 2 am giggling like crazy!  She fell asleep with her dentures in and they fell out into the bed.  After searching around the covers, we discovered the wayward dentures...attached to my leg!  She had a bad case of the giggles for the rest of the night and I slept on the couch after that!

Or how about that time when she paid a stripper to dance for me! What in the world!!! Hello! I'm the modest grand-daughter! Oh, and let's not forget, tossing back a few shots of Jack Daniels with Clay and Stephanie!  And I cannot even count the times she put "bunny ears" behind me when the kids were around.  There was also that game of late night Ring Around the Rosie out in my parent's front yard that still remains legendary to this day.  Good times are coming to Heaven, God!

PhotobucketBut the most important thing for you to know about Gigi is how much she loved children. When she worked at the hospital, she used to hold the newborns up to the windows so Steph and I could see them.  When Connor was born, I called her the Baby Whisperer because she could calm his marathon crying episodes in a matter of minutes. She had no problem playing GI Joe with the boys, dolls and dress up with the girls or board games with both.  She even ate a heart-shaped cookie made out of Playdoh because Catherine "baked" it for her!  No joke...took a bite and told her it was delicious!  She is truly the best grandmother in all of your creation.

        I can't imagine what my life will be without her...she has been my confidant and my sweet best friend...and I will miss her every day for the rest of my life.  I noticed recently that I can see the shape of her hands in my own...Thank you, God for giving me her hands...may they give the same deep love to my family that hers gave to me...I will honor her memory by using my hands to bring happiness to those I love just like Gigi did...Her hands were busy hands...holding those she loved, helping with chores, making good food, a healing touch when a loved one wasn't well, writing cards for all occasions, making beautiful things, and of course, putting on the lipstick and earrings.  She was a class act and you’re really lucky to be welcoming her home.   

Treasure her, God....she touched so many lives here on this Earth with her generous heart and her smile.  Make sure she has her "shows" up there...I know All My Children might be cancelled down here, but I'm sure you've got some pull on that side, right?  Give her some Poptarts and bologna, some baby angels to love on, and she'll spread the love up there as well. Thank you for loving me so much, Lord, that you gave Effie Eunice Lauerman to me as my grandmother.  I will wrap myself in her memories for the rest of my life...that is the blanket that she made for me....

Love,
Dawn  


Fun Facts about Gigi

She liked to shake her booty

 
She loved babies (she was a baby nurse!)



                                                                   (Gigi , Connor and Cat)
When Gigi was born, she was so tiny she could fit inside a teacup!
She made cool stuff like blankies, snowflakes and awesome noodles (that are illegal in many states!)


She liked to play with us, get her groove on to some funky music and dress up in fancy costumes

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Is this lady cool or what????
****WARM FUZZIES****

Gigi was always good for a fit of giggles!
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(my awesome nephew, gigi and pre-tween caveboy) (gigi and pre-tween caveboy)

She was always a snappy dresser!
(Check out her fabulous polka dots!)

If you asked her nicely, she'd wear all kinds of hats

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She LOVEd to be a goofball!


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She's a true Princess in my book


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(Gigi with Catherine on her 1st birthday)

We miss you so much, Gigi each and every day!

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday in Heaven, Gigi!  Love you!

Comments

Kristina P. said…
Your grandma is beautiful! And I completely understand about the Alzheimers. It's heartwrenching!
She is beautiful. I love the booty shakes and giggling. It doesn't get much better than that!
Cammie said…
awwwww, I love your GiGi!!
The Blonde Duck said…
I love the picture with the tiara! What a wonderful tribute. She sounds like an incredible woman.

Ben's grandmother has Alzheimer's. It's a bitch of a disease. I'm so sorry.
I am sorry about your grandmother having alzheimers.
But she looks adorable and a real treat to be around!
Jess said…
Woah! She's a rockstar!
Michelle-y said…
She's a beautiful woman with an amazing spirit. She seems so fiesty too (I love that quality in a woman ;)!!!)

Happy birthday GIGI!!!!
Claire said…
Okay, now I'm crying. What a beautiful tribute. I think we should all be so lucky to be so wonderful and to be so loved.
I'm lovin' me some Gigi, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADY! She seems like a fun gal...maybe we can get together and have a booty shakin' contest, tee hee!

Jamie :-)
theUngourmet said…
You're Grandma is such a lovely lady! This is a really nice post! :0)
Lesley said…
That is one Amazing Lady right there....bet that's how she's made it all the way to Ninety...look at her shakin her groove thing....A Happy Birthday to you Gigi....
Ally said…
She sounds like a wonderful, beautiful lady. :-)

I think grandmas are just awesome. I lost mine about 5 years ago, and I still miss her SO FREAKIN' MUCH. She was more like a mom to me than my own mom was.

Happy Birthday to your sweet Gigi!
Unknown said…
I had a "gigi" too...she also suffered the same...I lost her just this last November...I feel for you..and I think mine and yours could have been sisters....or cousins...She was the one person on all of this earth who loved me just the way I was...and I loved her just the same...
Happy Birthday to your sweet Gigi. I read with a smile on my face, and a tear in my eye.

I too wish you were able to be celebrating with her today! Have a good weekend sweetie.

xox
Randi Troxell said…
wonderfully perfect tribute! im sad for you for your grannys situation... i'll be thinking of you!
Anonymous said…
Now I love Gigi too! Happy 90th!
Both of my grandma's are in their nineties. What a wonderful tribute to a beautiful soul. Thanks for sharing.
Jazzy Jemz said…
Gigi sounds soo fun! I love the shaking of the booty and the denture story.
Aunt OOOOO said…
I love you Gigi!
How wonderful to have a grandma......what could be better. Gigi sounds very cool. Happy Birthday Gigi.
Have a wonderful weekend.
~Sue~
LadyStyx said…
What an AWESOME tribute! Looks like a great woman to hang with. Those snowflakes are so beautiful. Im gonna have to see if I can find a pattern for them so I can send it along to my "sister" in Georgia.
Jenny said…
She looks great! Reading this post made me miss my Memaw so much. However, I am so happy that there are other awesome grandmas out there.

Beautiful!
Jenners said…
I just loved this post! I loved the photos...especially the booty shaking one! I love your tribute to her. And my heart breaks that she has Alzheimers. .. it is a cruel, evil disease. Bless you Gigi! You seem like the coolest grandma ever!
Cygnus MacLlyr said…
Ok now I am SO JEALOUS!!!
WHERE do I get a cat-in-the HAT???

Huh HUh Huh ?????????????
Where tell me WhereWhereWhere...

TELL ME! I'll Take Over Your Planet! TELL ME NOW!!!!!!!!
Kelly said…
What a nice post about your granny! Sorry you have to be away from her at this hard time. She looks like an awesome lady. Hang tough!
Kelly said…
PS love the dentures story! LOL!!!!
Alexis AKA MOM said…
I'm so jealous I want a Rockstar Gigi of my own. She is a rockstar on own her own, and that is the coolest thing. You an your kids are so lucky!!!
Donnetta said…
Ain't nothin' better than a bologna sandwich! Gigi knows what's GOOD!

Happy Birthday, Gigi. My prayer for you is that we can find a way to reverse Alzheimers so you once again can know the family who loves you so dearly.
Night Owl Mama said…
Many Happy Birthdays to your granny GIGI. I miss my grandma so very much. Cherish her cherish her for as long as you have her and never let her forget how much you love her.
Isle Dance said…
LOVE you, Gigi!!!!!
Blog Stalker said…
What an awesome tribute! The only thing I fear in this world other than outliving my children is getting older. Not sure I'm ever ready for the "older" things in life.

sigh

Have a great day!
Mother Mayhem said…
Happy Birthday, Gigi! :o)

(I hope I'm still shaking my rump when I'm 90.)
The Mrs. said…
Love her!!! What a cute post.
Tracy said…
I heart Gigi! Hope she had a fantabulous birthday!!!
Anonymous said…
pretty nice blog, following :)
yonca said…
I have a magnet on refrigerator, says; sometimes angels might not be everywhere...that's why God created grandma! Haha..something like that.it is turkish, just translated...
My mom is almost 80 and my son loves her..they met just a couple of years ago since my son was born in NY.
I wasn't lucky to know my both grandmas.
Many many happy birthdays to your granny Gigi.Lovely pics! Beutiful family!

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