Family

     My family is extremely close to one another. Both sets of grandparents literally live the next neighborhood over from me. I'm used to seeing my grandparents every day or at least a couple days a week whenever I'm home. Every time I come home it's a big deal that we have a huge family dinner and every summer before I go back to school both my dad's parents and my mom's parents always cook me a final meal. 
     This past Sunday my dad's parents (Grandmommie and Gramps) cooked up a delicious home cooked spread of summer veggies complete with fried okra and made from scratch cornbread. This has become sort of a tradition each summer that we have an all veggie dinner and all the fried okra you can eat. I am not kidding when I tell you that we had 6 lbs. of okra and my mother finished every last bit of it. She loves the stuff and even got mad at my dad when he tried to take the plate away from her. I love when we get together at my grandparents house because we just talk and laugh for hours! 

6 lbs. of okra

 Our delicious spread!

 Mom finishing off the last bite of okra. She couldn't let any go to waste.

 Home-made peach cobbler for dessert

     Tonight was supposed to be my second to last meal at my mom's parents (Gramps and Nana) house. I put in my request last week for what I wanted for my final meals so it was spaghetti and apple dumplings and more peach cobbler for dinner. My father might be in denial about this but at Gramps and Nana's house every decision revolves around me, even what we eat. Lets face it they spoil me but after all I am their only grandchild so they're allowed to. 

     This week I was supposed to me going over there for dinner again Thursday night when my mom is off but tonight was a night of good and bad news and as a result of some things that happened today the kitchen will be closed Thursday. I'm sorry for whoever's reading this if it gets a little heavy right about now but there's just some news I need to get off my chest. 

     To start off my great-uncle Uncle Reid died today. It was something that my grandmother knew was gonna happen soon. Her and my grandfather were actually planning to go to Statesville tomorrow to visit him. Instead they will be going on Wednesday to attend his visitation and then the funeral on Thursday. I wish that he could have held on one more day so she could see him one last time but we know he is in a better place now. At dinner my parents and I were informed of some more bad news. My grandfather, my buddy, my partner in crime so to speak has an aortic aneurysm that will require surgery in the next couple of weeks. My grandmother and grandfather are extremely optimistic and she said "We have faith". That was exactly what I needed to hear because inside I was freaking out thinking about the fact that my grandfather who I am closer to than anybody is going to have heart surgery and could die. As long as they think everything is going to be fine then I'm not going to think about the worst possible scenario. It's going to be hard going back to school and not being there for my grandfather but both my grandparents have assured me that they will keep me informed about any news whether its good or bad and won't sugar coat it, which is all I can really ask for. 

Sorry for the super long post but thanks for sticking with me:)

Please just pray for my grandfather and that everything goes well and pray for my parents and grandmother and me that we stay encouraged and stay positive through this whole process. 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" John 14:1