To Honor Her

GRANDMA

/ˈɡran(d)ˌmä/

noun

1. a grandmother

2. a woman who loves unconditionally

3. one who teaches, motivates, and encourages

4. one who gives big warm hugs, tells great stories, and bakes cookies

- See Also: Saint

(borrowed from a picture online)

 This beautiful woman is my grandma.  

Today is the anniversary of her death on this day in 2012.

Today we honor and remember her, Darlene Bestgen.

Honor

verb

1. regard with great respect

synonyms: esteem, respect, admire, defer to, look up to, appreciate,

value, cherish, reverence, revere

On July 5th we came together as a family and honored Grandma.  It was a surprise for Papa, which was an amazing feat for my dad to accomplish.  We started the evening with a meal to celebrate Papa and Grandma's anniversary which was the following day.

Then we all walked out to the northeast corner of the Mark Park for the big surprise. 

 My dad has been working (with lots of help from others) on a grotto for Grandma for awhile now.

Papa seeing the grotto for the first time. 

Dad was telling us about the yellow rose bush that bloomed nine roses (one for each of the kids) one day.  That day both bushes had one rose each that were going to bloom the following day, on their sixty-third anniversary. One for Papa and one for Grandma.

Then Papa says, “Well, sixty-three years tomorrow, Mom and I started our love life.  And I don't know what else we passed along to you guys; that’s one thing that really can pass along, the most important thing we can ever have given is the love you all had for us and each other.  No other family in the world has had that that I know of. You just can’t believe the good feeling it gives to somebody to know that your family loves you that way.  Just like this (referencing the grotto) how many hours and planning it took to put this together. It sends chills up my back. (chuckles) I thank you so much for it.”  Then Dad gave him a hard time because he was in the grotto and the rest of us were out in the rain.  Then Papa says, “So, I'm just getting ready for my longer speech.”  We laughed and laughed.  Typical Papa.

 

 In Memory of John & Jessie Bestgen

(Papa's parents)

 In Memory of Earl & Rita Enright

(Grandma's parents)

 This statue of Mary was in Grandma's yard so Dad moved it to her grotto.

 The "E" was on Great-Grandpa Enright's land.

The fuel pump was also his from when he owned a gas station.

 The grotto from by the Mary statue facing north(ish).

 This window was made by Papa's sister, Pat, in memory of the Enright Grandparents (Grandma's parents) and was in the church I attended as a child.  It was moved to Papa and Grandma's house for awhile and now it is the focal point of the grotto's interior.

This stone block represents Papa's brand and Grandma's Irish roots. 

 This was Papa and all his sons.

 Papa and his daughters

 Notice Papa plugging his nose?  That's Papa for ya!  Picking on his kids!!

A nice picture of the kids and Papa. 

I miss you, Grandma.  You are a treasure in safekeeping waiting for us to join you.  Pray for me.