Strong Women

I find it only appropriate to recognize the strong women in my life before this month of giving gratitude passes.

I must preface this blog with a short statement recognizing that my paternal grandmother (Mona Rae Willand) passed away when I was very young. Her death was unexpected and very devastating to those close to her. From what I hear, she was a real gem. For a while, I remember feeling like I got robbed. I never even got to know her. I wasn't old enough to have real memories with her when she died and it didn't seem fair that my dad and his siblings had to lose their mom while they were still so young. And we're not even going to talk about how I felt for my grandpa. (Empathy is one of my greatest attributes; even as I sit here and think about it, my eyes well-up). This tangent is beside the point of my blog post. It is just to show you that although I will refer to the following ladies as the 'fab four', I recognize in my heart that there is still a piece missing and I look forward to reuniting with my grandma in heaven someday.

On to the blog....

Jordan and I have recognized the blessings we've been bestowed over and over again in the past two years of marriage. One of the greatest blessings that we think that we have is all of our grandparents still alive, healthy and married to their original partner. (My grandpa Willand was remarried when I was in elementary school and his wife has stepped in as our 'grandma' for all my youth and young adult years.) When we got married two years ago we talked about how unique it was in our day and age to have four sets of living (married) grandparents, and two sets of living (married) parents. We have had such great examples of faithful, loving relationships in our lives. We are grateful!

Of our four grandmothers, we have had a cancer scare with three of them. Cancer is ugly and stressful. We never like to know that there might be something wrong and we don't want to have to think about what life might be like without a particular loved one. Well... the 'fab four' are mighty strong indeed. As you can see, they are still alive and healthy as a whip! They have all fought cancer and won. We currently have no loved ones battling this ugly disease. What I think is even more beautiful than the fact that they have beat cancer, is the positive attitude that all of them have about their health. They are so positive and trusting to the people that help heal them. They are trusting in God that He is the ultimate healer and He will provide for them in their time of need. They are so loving.... they still manage to think of everyone else, even in their time of need.

I can not express how inspiring these women are to me. I am amazed at their strength, faith, perseverance and positive attitudes. I am beyond blessed to not only know these four women, but to call them my grandmas!

Today, I am thankful for the lives of Mary, Ilene, Sharon and Jocile. 

And Praise God for keeping them healthy!

One generation shall praise They works to another, And shall declare Thy mighty acts.
Psalm 145:4