In loving memory

To the woman who brought three beautiful baby girls into this world and raised them to believe in themselves as strong, good-hearted women

To the woman who loved my husband -- her grandson -- and all of her grandchildren with all her heart

To the woman who flew thousands of miles across the Atlantic to dance at our wedding with a laugh and a smile in her beautiful blue dress

To the woman who held her great-grandchildren close and shared gentle smiles of understanding with them, and who filled their drawers with handmade sweaters and socks

To the woman who always impressed me with her honesty and her ability to tell it like it was, but never with an ounce of criticism in her voice

To the woman who shared stories of her life with those of us who were lucky enough to be around her

To the woman who fourteen years ago accepted me, a stranger, into her family as if I'd never been outside of it

You may have left this world, but you will never leave our hearts.

Mormor, we miss you so much.