I Miss You Quite Terribly

I lost someone very dear to me in these past few weeks. My beautiful grandmother, Myrna, was called home to heaven a little over 2 weeks ago. I haven't really been able to write about it, though, until now. 

As you can tell, she loved her family so dearly, and she was so fun to talk to. She always had a story or compliment for every person she talked to, and I'm not sure anyone  could hate her. She had the greatest sense of style, and was so beautiful, and I love her so much. 

The relationship between her and grandpa was so incredible though. They were there for each other to the very end, and, as this picture attempts to show you, you could tell when they were together how much they loved each other. Her death really brings something home for me, though. As a teenager I'm used to hearing all about "happily ever after"s, and "forever and always", but that's not the case. Grandpa just lost his second half. It was forever for her, and he will always remember it. I'm nowhere near finding my second half (at least to my knowledge), so I cannot possibly know what he is going through, but I can dream. Dream of just how hard this must be for him. 

That's really all I can say right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if I end up writing more as the days go by, and it slowly sinks in that she really is gone. I will never forget her, and I am forever thankful for the most beautiful gift and memory I have of her; her name. I'm Eleonore Myrna, and I was named for my Grandma. And of that I am and always will be very proud. 

"We praise You and acknowledge You, O God to be the Lord,

The Father everlasting, by all the earth adored.

To You all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing,

The cherubim and seraphim their praises to you bring:

O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;

your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth!

The band of the apostles in glory sing Your praise;

the fellowship of prophets their deathless voices raise.

The martyrs of Your kingdom, a great and noble throng,

Sing with the holy Church throughout all the world this song;

O all-majestic Father, Your true and only  Son,

And Holy Spirit, Comforter-- forever Three in One!

You, Christ, are King of glory, the everlasting Son,

Yet You, with boundless love, sought to rescue ev'ryone:

You laid aside Your glory, were born of virgin's womb,

Were crucified for us and were placed into a ton;

Then by Your resurrection You won for us reprieve---

You opened heaven's kingdom to all who would believe.

You sit in splendid glory, enthroned at God's right hand,

Upholding earth and heaven by forces you command.

We know that you will come as our Judge that final day,

So help  Your servants You have redeemed by blood, we pray;

may we with saints be numbered where praises never end,

In glory everlasting. Amen, O Lord, amen!"

My favorite hymn in the hymnal is no doubt this. The beautiful simplicity of the praise it contains for our Lord speaks to me and comforts me in a way few others could. On that Thursday morning, Mom called me and told me that Grandma was now in heaven, this hymn began to play practically immediately on Lutheran Public Radio. That first moment, getting off the phone with her, I just sat and listened to the words. No one can bring me to believe it was coincidence that played the hymn I needed the most at exactly the right moment. My Lord and my God is ever watching me and comforting me as His child, and he never forsakes me. Although I sometimes sin and fall astray, He is always there to guide me back and to comfort me. He strengthens me and guards me against all evil. To God on High be all the Glory, for He is Lord of All. Alleluia.