Oct 30, 2008

Thankful Thursday


*Update: This afternoon Nonnie passed and is now with her heavenly father, the creator of the universe, the beginning and the end, our King, The Lord Almighty, The Great I Am!


"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."


Todays Thankful Thursday is all about a very special lady that will be entering heaven's gates within hours or even minutes from me writing this. Her name is Evelyn Hill and she is one of God's most beautiful creations. Though she is not my natural grandmother, I have been blessed to call her Nonnie for the last 16 years. She is 92 years old, has 3 children, 7 grandchildren and if I'm not mistaken 13 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.

I am thankful that yesterday I was able to stand with my husband's precious family and pray over this wonderful lady, and to sing to a hymn to God with full knowledge that she is a believer and will soon be in paradise. God is so good to have given my mother-in-law and father-in-law the last couple of years to care for Nonnie, and to allow my children to see all the wisdom and love that Nonnie holds. Over the last year, Nonnie has shared so many stories of her early years with me and the struggles and trials she faced as a young girl. There is not a tougher lady, and watching her cling to life yesterday made me truly break down. Thankfully, she is not suffering and will only have to endure her earthly body for a brief time.

The picture I keep imagining in my head is the welcoming party that will greet Nonnie as she enters heaven. Because of her age, so many loved ones are already waiting. From her parents she lost at a very early age, to her sisters and her brother, and finally her precious husband who left this world 22 years ago, what a reunion it will be! I'm sure he will be eager to call out the nickname he used for her, "Angel" as they finally see one another again.


Here is Nonie about a year ago with my Annie.


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14 comments:

Denise said...

Such a lovely tribute. Heaven will be getting a true treasure.

Jacky said...

You have truly left me speechless. I love the thought of a party of loved ones waiting for her as she enters the gate. How lucky she is to see them all again!

Susan said...

Such a lovely post. "I will fear no evil" a Christian just steps over into glory. Praise God for that eternal hope.
Susan

Unknown said...

Susie,

This is just an amazing tribute to Nonnie. I hope to meet her one day when I arrive home.

God bless you and thank you for stopping by my place.

Hugs!

Linda said...

What a dear, precious lady. Susie, have you read "Ninety Minutes in Heaven" ? I believe it is going to be for her just as you've described it, for the author of that book saw that very thing.
Pray His peace and comfort and great love will fill all your hearts.

Debbie said...

Even though I have only seen her a few times in my life, I was truly blessed by her. I am so thankful that your kids were able to spend so much time with her as they were growing up. Not my kids get to know their great grandparents as well as yours did. Just think when she gets to Heaven, she will get to tell her husband and her parents all about them! I am so thankful that she has a relationship with Christ and that you know that you will see her again one day. It makes her passing so much easier to bear. I am praying that the rest of her time on earth is peaceful and that all of Skip's family is forever changed by her example.

I love you,

Debbie

Grammy said...

How wonderful to have such a person in your life.
I am so glad you are there for her.
Grammy

Mayhem And Miracles said...

Tears. Just like your last couple of posts. It must be almost "that time of the month." What a wonderful tribute and a spectacular lady.

Susan said...

Oh what a special lady!! I'll look forward to meeting her in heaven one day.

Blessings my friend♥

MissyT said...

God bless Nonnie... She was a sweet lady. Much love to your family.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for your loss, but I'm sure she was so happy to have her family around her at that time.

Love to you all.

Shawna said...

God bless and comfort you and your family, I pray, Susie. What a gift your Nonnie left with you - the gift of being assured you will see her again, whole and healthy.

Barb said...

You and your family are in my prayers, Susie. Ninety-two is a long long life and it sounds like she lived hers well.

I had exactly the same images in my mind when my mother-in-law passed away five years ago. All I could feel was great joy for her, that her pain was finally going to end (cancer) and that she was going to be reunited with her husband, who died almost 25 years before her, and her mother, who she missed terribly.

She even asked us to bury her in her yellow dress because it was always her husband's favorite and that's what she wanted to be wearing when they were reunited. :-)

So on one level, it's very sad, but there's great joy in it too.

Still, I'm sorry for your family's loss.

Julie Gillies said...

Hi Susie,

Awww! My heart goes out to your family for your loss - but at the same time I rejoice with you over heaven's big welcome party for Nonnie (and her reunion with her husband).

Blessings and peace to you and the entire family.