Today my sweet grandma Clark departed this mortal life surrounded by her family. My thoughts and feelings this afternoon have made me smile from recalling the happy memories, and cry from visiting the sweet, tender ones. When I was young we lived right next to my grandparents, and even after we moved to Alaska, my grandparents followed, and lived next to us for a few years, once again! My childhood memories are filled with images of my grandma. As I look at my life now, I can see so vividly her influence. My grandma babysat me for a while when I was young--I remember her listening to country music for hours--is that why I am a Kenny Chesney freak?? My grandma loved to bake. She always had homeade chocolate chip cookies in the freezer!! Is that why I am a chocoholic and love to freeze my homeade chocolate chip cookies?? My grandma loved nature--so much that she would get upset when the grandchildren would shake the cherry blossoms from the cherry tree in the spring!! Is that why I love the trees in my yard so much I get upset when my boys throw footballs at them and break their limbs?? I found myself feeling sorry for myself as I realized I do not have a living grandma anymore--but then the comforting whispers of the Holy Ghost reminded me that yes I do have living grandma's-- they just are not living with me here on earth anymore. I am grateful for my faith, my heritage, for memories, and for being a grand-daughter of Donna May Clark.