My Beautiful Grandmother

she loved music....

was a wonderful pianist...

lived life to the fullest...

raised five children...

lost her husband way too young...

could strike up a conversation with just about anyone...

had the spirit of a survivor..

always smelled wonderful to me...

overcame many obstacles....

was comfortable in her own skin..

made friends easily...

held her head high, no matter what...

was one classy lady...and

my mother's best friend.

as the years go by, we hold our memories and the ones we love more dear,

I have come to realize how very special my grandmother was.

As a mother of three, I know the challenges raising five children can bring....the happiness AND the heartache.

She lived one of a mother's worst fears, watching her oldest daughter succumb to the ravages of cancer at a young age.

I thought of her and cherished my memory of her as I made this photo collage.

How perfect to put her image over a vintage page of sheet music -- something she had such passion for.

She loved to dance.

I love the way this turned out....beautiful and special,

just like her.

Here's to celebrating the ones we love and taking the time to honor them and remember....