Grandma Stoddard

My Grandma passed away on Sept. 1, 2008. She was an amazing lady!

She was an incredible piano player. I remember her giving me piano lessons when I would go visit her and Grandpa. My mom was attempting to teach me at home too but I didn't stick with it. I wish that I would have! Maybe some day when I have a piano I will start taking lessons again. I only wish that I would have had the desire back then when I could have learned so much from her.

Some of my best memories of Grandma was when I stayed at their house one summer for a couple of weeks. Grandma would go walking in the mornings and she would try to get me to go with her. She would go SO early but there were some mornings when I did drag myself out of bed to go with her. I remember just walking with her and chatting when it was just the two of us. I ended up really loving those walks with her.

On that same visit, Grandma taught me how to sew. Very simple sewing. We went to the store and bought a plain T-shirt. She let me pick what color I wanted - I chose light pink. We then went over and picked out buttons, I chose dark pink apple buttons. After getting thread, the shirt and buttons we drove back to their house. She then taught me how to sew these buttons on to my new shirt. I wanted to put the buttons in the shape of an "M" on the front of the shirt. It wasn't the most attractive shirt and I didn't wear it much but every time I went through my clothes I could never bear to throw it out because I did it with Grandma. I still have the shirt, I keep it in my cedar chest. I still can't bear to get rid of it because it reminds me of that visit with Grandma.

I know that she is in a better place now and am grateful for the gospel. I am so glad to know that her and Grandpa will be reunited together some day and they can be together forever. I'm going to miss her but know that I can see her again one day. I only hope that I can be half the woman she was and remember her example and strive to follow it.

I love you Grandma.