I've debated for a while whether to do this post or not and I finally decided that it was the right thing to do. Today, if my Grandma Beckstead was alive, she would be turning 100 years old. Wow! That just seems so unreal! Sometimes I wish she was here to celebrate but I know that she is in a much better, happier place. I'm so grateful for this wonderful woman in my life and I wish everyone could have known this amazing person.

She was born on September 17, 1908. Just one short month later her mother passed away because of a careless doctor didn't take care of her after she gave birth. Her father married his widow's sister and that wonderful woman raised my grandma.

I think that I've had a special bond with Grandma B., as we lovingly referred to her as, since the day I was born. She had that special gift of making all of her grandkids feel like they were her favorite but, hey, let's face it, I really was the favorite!!!

I loved going to Nephi to spend time with her at her home. It was always an adventure. I loved having one on one time with her for about a week each summer. Grandma was a kindergarten teacher and I loved going to her school and helping her set up her classroom for the new school year. I remember once when I was very little that she was on the local PBS station doing a story time. I was so confused as to how my grandma got inside our TV!

My Grandpa Beckstead passed away when I was only a year old so Grandma was alone a long time but she was not one to sit and feel sorry for herself. No way! She took up genealogy and travelled all over the world working on her family history and gathering information. She met many wonderful people that way and had some amazing adventures and accomplished much good.

After she couldn't travel so much anymore she helped other people with their family history work by volunteering at the family history center. She learned all of the computer skills she needed to keep up with the times. That was impressive!!

Grandma was a wonderful Great Grandma to my children. They knew that Grandma B. loved them. Each summer Brad and I would take our kids and spend a weekend at her house and help her out with whatever she needed. Most of the time it was helping her with her flowers out in the yard that she absolutely loved. It was an honor for me and my family to serve her.

I loved spending time with her whenever I could. I was sure that when we left Utah to live in Texas in 2000 that I would never see her again but as it turned out I was able to spend a lot of time with her after that. She would get sick and we would all think that her time had come but then she would get better. We finally gave her the nickname of the "Energizer Bunny". She was not going to leave this world that easily!!!

For Mother's Day 2005 I surprised my mom and my grandma by showing up unexpectedly at Grandma's house. Both mom and grandma were very surprised to see me there but it's a memory I'm so grateful that I have. I treasure that time as I knew that I didn't have very many Mother's Days left with either of these great women.

In August of 2005, after returning from a trip to Hawaii with my parents and sister, we spent the day with my Grandma in her home. It was the last time that I saw her alive.She told me how much she loved me and how much my family meant to her. She bore her testimony about the gospel and then told me that as soon as she was better she was going back to church. She missed it so much. She passed away peacefully just a few days later on August 15, 2005. Her mission was over. She had truly been a good and faithful servant. I know that there was a huge crowd of people waiting to greet her home because of the family history work that she had done for them. What a reunion that must have been!

Grandma, I love you and miss you. I'm so grateful for your example and your love to me and my family. Happy birthday!!!

Sept. 17, 1908 - Aug. 15, 2005