Once I got home, I felt this sudden urge that I should write about her, and that some day I can read this post to my kids. My Dad had written an incredible note about my Grandma's legacy and how she changed our world with her love, and I was fortunate enough to be able to read it at her funeral. So this post, is going to be about Mummi and the legacy that she left with me.
Growing up, my Grandma was like a role model to me. She was always calling the house, picking me up from school, and watching me whenever she could. She worked extremely hard in everything that she did, and always taught me to do the same. I always looked up to her, she was such an inspirational woman. She grew up on a farm in Finland, and moved to America when she was 17 with her sisters to make a better life for herself; talk about bravery! She was such a goofball and whenever we would drive anywhere, she would turn on her Clay Aiken CD and we would sing along together. Who would've thought that a woman from Finland in her 70's would love Clay Aiken?!?! It cracks me up to this day.
I spent a lot of time with Mummi throughout my life and I cherish every memory we had. We never had a disagreement, she was so happy when we were together, and she always told me how much she loved me. I was able to live with her for 3 months, and I admired every day. She taught me how to cook, told me stories about Finland, and reminded me that family is everything and we should never let them go.
I will never forget the day when she told everyone that she had cancer. That news literally ripped my heart out and I was so angry. It seemed so selfish at the time to be mad at God, but I couldn't understand why she was the one who had to suffer, because she was so selfless. She was never angry; she looked me in the eye and told me "if God says that it is my time to go, then I am at peace with that". To witness her being still so selfless and in love with The Lord was eye opening. It showed me how incredible she truly was, and I pray to God that I am half the woman that she was. My family and I spent a lot of time with her in her last month of living. One day I was laying in bed with her singing songs and trying to make her laugh, and she just stroked my hair and said "you look so beautiful". That was the last thing that she said to me, and I love her so much for that. That was her legacy, and now I'm taking the pieces that she left with me and putting them in mine.
Whenever I pray, I talk to God and tell him to say hi to Mummi for me. I know she's there, I feel her every day. I am so thankful for my wonderful family, for loving me and showing me how to be a woman of faith. I love all of you to the moon and back, and I'm glad that we got to have Mummi in our lives.
