OK All my dear friends...here it is....my grandma, God bless her, passed away this evening. She had a stroke this morning. My uncle, her son, had taken her to the bathroom and then, after placing her back in bed, he heard her scream. When he ran into the room she was yelling "Paul! My head is exploding!" She had a blood vessel brake in her brain, she went into a coma and passed this evening.

Some of you may remember that my mom, her daughter, passed away in October. It has been a tough few months for our family.

I, being a christian, KNOW for a fact where my mom and grandma are right now. I am grateful to have had my mom for 71 years and my grandma for 92 years. They were wonderful women. I am blessed that my Lord gave them many years of life and that I was able to enjoy a lot of time with them.

I have to face the facts, though, this CHRISTmas will be the first one that I, at 53 years of age, will not have the presence of a mom, a dad, or a grandparent at our home. It could be a tough one.

I will have my wife, son and dil, daughter and sil, step-d, nephew, brother and family, sister and family, friends and neighbors....and an ex-wife and family, joining us for CHRISTmas...

I am, although in sorrow, so BLESSED!

Gary, I'm so sorry for your loss This will be a very difficult Christmas without those dear to you. But you are so right that you are still very blessed to have a wonderful family around you, and you have a world of friends as well!


Your family will be in my prayers

Gary, I'm saying a prayer for you and your family. Like you said, Grandma is in a better place and with her loving daughter and the rest of the family that went before her. You had some remarkble women in your life (and still do), that helped shape the man you are. My condolences on your loss.

Blessings in Christ,

Hey Gary, It's all part of this life--and you are truly blessed. It will be a holiday with many emotions, and I hope you can welcome them all.

Jay

My prayers are with you.

Gary, so sorry for your loss! It is extra hard that this came during Advent. Allow your family to experience the joy and the sadness of the season. Encourage everyone to share memories, pictures, stories of those loved ones that are now celebrating Christmas in the presence of Christ himself. We will keep your family in our prayers!

I am so sorry for your loss(es). Yes, it will be difficult. But I think they would want you to enjoy your time together as a family. You can do that in honor of them. Sending prayers for you and your family. So glad you can have the comfort of knowing they are with Christ.

I am so sorry for your loss. It is comforting to know that both your mother and your grandma are in a better place together. I wish your family well and hope you can all get past this terrible pain of losing a loved one!

So sorry, Gary!!!

THANK-YOU all so much!

It has been an emotional...yet good year for me. From almost putting my eye out with that beer bottle ~ my daughter getting married to that kidnapper guy ~ my mom and now grandma passing.

Along the way I have strenghtend some of my friendships here on 3FC and found many new friends! oh, and knowing me I probably made a few more enemies here too

I have a large support group from family ~ friends ~ church .....people that are there whenever I need them....however, I will say knowing that I can come here any time of the day with anything I want to say about anything is such a great comfort. Somehow the "pain" I have felt this year, with my losses, have eased simply by posting here.

I am so blessed

YOU! Are awesome!!

I'm sorry for your loss, Gary. But you're a very strong person and will get through this trial just as you have others. God Bless.

I know at these times, people struggle to find words to express their sympathy. Profound words that comfort and ease suffering. I don't know if those words truly exist, but my prayers and sympathy are with you and your family.