For Gigi ... A Letter to Heaven

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. 

 

Sometimes 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!

 

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!

But 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

Is this lady cool or what????

****WARM FUZZIES****

Gigi was always good for a fit of giggles!

(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

She LOVEd to be a goofball!

She's a true Princess in my book

(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!