A Legacy

Dicia Ann Holden Steele: Mother of 6, Grandmother of 22, and Great Grandmother of 7. What an amazing Legacy. I feel sorry that there were many of her grandchildren that live far away that she had few opportunities to get to know. I feel fortunate to always have been close by. I remember when I first lived on my own as a college student and had to call Grandma to ask her how to make spagetti. I know pretty pathetic but I have never claimed to be a good cook. I can still hear her giggle but then patiently explained to me the process. I also have many memories of Grandma and Mom dragging Aunt Beth, my sister and myself from store to store to store most saturdays when we were small. I am still pretty sure that both my mom and grandma looked at every single thing on every single rack in the whole store. I know that us kids were just there for the McDonalds. Although it was so painfully boring at the time it made a lot of memories that I wouldn't trade for anything today.
Every couple weeks for a few years I would go to clean my grandparents house once grandma could no longer handle it. What a great opportunity. I got to spend time with them and not to mention Grandpa paid really well. Once her disease started effecting her where she could not remember peoples names I was so proud that I saw her enough that she still remembered mine for a long time.
Alheimers has been hard for all of us that new my grandma Dicia. To watch her deteriate has been hard but I feel so fortunate that she has had her children supporting her along the way. Wiping her tears when she was so scared or reasurring her when she had that look of fear on her face. I am so thankful that Aunt Beth took her to her church for so many years so she could be a part of her own congergation. To praise God in a familiar setting I'm sure was a great comfort to her. I am also thankful that my grandpa took care of the love of his life until the very end. Although I know it was a constant challenge what a great sign of love and devotion. Thanks to my mom (Diana) also for taking care of her almost daily so grandpa could get a much deserved break. I know that all her children have busy lives but I am so thankful to all of them that helped take care of my Grandma.
There were also many cute thing that my Grandma has done since being sick that I will always cherish. Like when she would have her smile beaming as her great grandbabies played at her feet and would say "Awww look at the puppies". It still makes me giggle just thinking about it. Or the singing and dancing around that Grandma would do. It was always nice to see her in such a happy mood.
I miss her crafts, her strawberry jam, and her giggle but I am so glad that God put us together.
My Grandma was such an amazing mother and grandmother and I can not praise God enough for sending me to be a part of this family.

Grandma Dicia

Today is a sad but joyous day. Early this morning my Grandma Dicia pasted away. After many year of lossing herself to alzheimers disease she finally subcumbed to this terrible disease. What makes this day joyous is she is with our heavenly father. I am so glad that she is no longed scared and confused but able to be in Heaven. Can you imagine Christmas in Heaven. WOW!!!! I'm sure it is such an amazing thing that we being fragile human beings could not even handle the magnitude and excitement of it. I picture my Grandma Dicia in Heaven (being a farm girl) leaning with her mother against a split rail fence watching some beautiful horses run across the field.
 I have so many wonderful memories of my Grandma. I feel so fortunate to be the oldest grandchild and always living close to her. My grandma was only 44 when I was born. She was so young that she was almost like a second mom to me when I was little. Since she still had young kids at home herself she was still in mom mode when I was a younf child. One of my first memories of her was when I was 3 or 4 and I was making funny faces at her. Like most Grandmas she said the my face was going to stick like that. I thought for the longest time that it would. But thankfully it never happened because I can make some pretty ugly faces. When I was little I also remember asking grandma to paint a seatshirt for me for my birthday. I treasured that sweatshirt and wore it all the time. What an amazing talent she had for painting the cutest things. I know that all the family has many things made by her that we all treasure. (My christmas tree is covered in them) It seems like it has been a long time since I lost my grandma. Before she was sick she would giggle at everything. What a sweet quality that I have already missed. She was a collector of antiques, anything with horses on it, she loved to read. I will miss her soooo much but I am so happy and joyous for her to be in Gods presence. I look forward to the day that the Lord also call me to him to spend eternity. Dear Heavenly Father thank you for sending me such an amazing person to be such an important part of my life. I know that her time here is now done and that you need her more. Thank you for the years you shared her with me and I look forward to the day that we will be reunited in your presence. Amen