I miss her...

As we were cuddling Sadie down for bed just before we said her prayers we had a cute conversation that I don't want to forget.

"Where's Great Grandma?"

"She's in Heaven."

"Why?"

"Because her body got old so her spirit went to heaven. She is SO happy there. She gets to be with Jesus and her Mommy who she hasn't gotten to see in a really long time. So she is HAPPY!"

"(Whine) I miss her!"

"Me too!"

"Can we call her?"

"No, there are no phones in heaven; but you can talk to her any time you want to and she will hear you."

"Okay! Can I right now?"

"Sure!"

"Great Grandma Vilate, I miss you. I love you! All my Grandma's and Grandpa's be okay."

Then she leaned in and just hugged me, did some whimpers and said,

"I miss her!"

"Me too Sadie, Me too! We will get to see her again someday!"

That just melted my heart. She just kept hugging me and whimpering and talking about how she missed Great Grandma Vilate, and how she wanted to see her! Although we can't see her, I know she is here with us! I definitely know she was with us tonight! I love you Granny!

Sweet Little Granny

I LOVE this picture. This is of my Gramps with Shane, and my Granny with Sadie. It is just so descriptive of them! Gramps being silly and Granny so sweet and cute!A few weeks ago I got a call from my Granny so that we could say good bye to each other! I will never forget her sweet words of love, wisdom and encouragement! She is honestly the most Christ-like person I know! I am thankful for her example of love and kindness. She was the perfect combination of sweetness and spunk! (If you look at the top picture of all the different pics, my favorite picture of her is on the bottom right hand corner. It was when she and my Gramps were visiting the Amazon and she is holding a snake that is bigger than she is! Although you can't see it, her expression is too cute! I always thought she was so cool! This picture was back when I was in Middle School-ish and I was especially proud to have her as my Grannny after I saw that!) As a mom, I am more appreciative of her patience and love. I remember she always had such beautiful sculptures , candelabras, vases, paintings, dishes, everything around her house. Once all the grandkids were playing and one of us broke the head off of this statue of a little boy. She didn't even get upset! She just told us to be careful! I realize even more so now, how patient and loving she was.
My Mom and Dad married after a divorce from my biological father, when I was 3 and my Granny always talked about how I just ran up to her with a huge smile on my face and gave her a big bear hug and how she felt that I instantly loved her! I am sad I will never get to hear her tell that story again. It is kind of like a kid always wanting to hear about the day of their birth...it never gets old!

The morning I got the call from my Dad (who was up in Idaho with her), I was then crying after I got off the phone. Sadie was so sweet and asked me what was wrong. So I told her that MY Grandma Vilate died. (So she wouldn't get confused with one of HER Grandma's) She gave me a hug and did a few little whimpers with me. Then she said, "It's okay Mommy, we can see her again after we get baptized!" It was so sweet and really did help me feel better!

Then we went downstairs and went to have cereal and I had to smile again because somehow the fridge door didn't get shut completely tight the night before so the milk was warm with my cereal. Whenever we visited my Granny and Gramps they would go to bed HOURS before we did and would then get UP HOURS before we did. She always had such a beautiful table set for even cereal! I loved it! Since they would get up way before us, the milk was always a little warm from being out for a few hours! So having warm milk with my cereal on the morning she passed just made me smile and miss her! It was perfect! She also always had home made jam and I LOVED it! After making some this year, I think of her every time I have it! (which is a lot!)

So I went up to Idaho last week for a quick trip to go to her funeral. It was a fast trip, but it was SO NICE! It was great to see family that I haven't seen for so long! So fun to see their adorable kids too! It was fun to look through all of Granny's remembrance books and through old pictures...too funny! Bethany, yes you were ALWAYS cute!

My Grandma's $1000 chair, a medical one that lifts you ALL the way up! We were having fun! Once the LITTLE kids warmed up to it, we could not get them off! My Grandpa was sitting in it and said, "I think I paid $1000 for this chair!" My Aunt Jill told him he did so he said, "I better get some use out of it then!" and then put his nose in the air! Too funny!

My sweet Aunt Jill and two of her grandkids! I have to say that Avery is the cutest ever! Not that they all aren't, but I just wanted to take her home with me! She would do that and say cheese whenever she saw a camera! Why can't I have a child like that!?!It was a beautiful service! I was lucky to be able to sing at her funeral. She had asked me YEARS ago if I would sing. So I am glad I got to do that! It was so hard to do, but I know she was up there with me, helping me get through it! At the end of the song, there was a little piano part, so as I was standing up there, my sweet Grandpa blew me a kiss, and I blew him one back! I will never forget that! The hardest part about that day, was seeing my Silly Gramps SO emotional! He has always been the joker not one to show his emotions, so seeing them POUR out was very difficult! They had been married for over 63 years!! They had traveled a lot and done amazing things together! I will miss her cards and letters for EVERY occasion! She never failed to show you she was thinking of you! We love you forever Granny!

My Dad pouring sand from the Ventura beaches (where they lived while my Dad was growing up) and sand from St. George (where they lived after they retired) into her grave. It was really sweet.

My Mom kissed her casket and left her lipstick mark on it, so we all had to do the same, so our kisses are with her forever!

Proof that I ENJOYED the 2 pounds I gained! Yummy funeral potatoes and chocolate cake!

In Memory of Vilate Stewart

Vilate Bradbury Stewart, 84, of Boise ID, died May 19, 2008 of natural causes at home. She was born September 17, 1923, in Chesterfield ID, to Charles Theo Bradbury and Nathalie Higginson. She was married to Harry LeBaron Stewart on July 1, 1946.

She was a faithful life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She had a very giving heart. This led her to serve others throughout her lifetime. She held many positions in the church, including Relief Society President. Vilate also served many years as a church service missionary in the Member Locator Mission in St. George, Utah. She served in the hospital Guild for many years and she also volunteered as a Pink Lady and at the ER at the St George Hospital.

She was a master quilter, with first place ribbons at the Ventura County Fair in CA. She was creative in her cooking, sewing, art/painting, and interior design. She enjoyed Family history, gardening, traveling, she appreciated all the beauties of the world. She and her husband Harry traveled the world together, visiting Russia, China, Israel, the Amazon and many other countries, enjoying different cultures and each other’s company.

Vilate’s greatest JOY was being with her family. She made sure she was there for every special occasion in their lives. She created many family reunions for her Children and grand-children. These are cherished memories. Vilate’s family considers her to be a valiant leader. They have big footsteps to Follow. Her descendants will try to emulate her ways, as they carry forward her Example of a good and kind heart. She lived what she believed. She was a wonderful Mom, loving grandmother, and a beautiful and thoughtful wife. She will be greatly missed by those who loved her.

She is survived by her husband Harry LeBaron Stewart; three brothers, Wendell (Barbara), Keith (Erma), and Phillip (Garnet) Bradbury; her four children, Harry B. (Doris)Stewart of Angleton TX, Jill (Jerry) Lister of Boise ID, David (Claudia) Stewart of Ventura, CA, and Mark (Mari) Stewart of Allen, TX; and by 19 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Vilate was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Arliss Hunsaker and Donna Monzello, and one grandchild & one great grandchild.

Services will be held on Wednesday 21st of May at 1 pm at the LDS chapel at 3555 S Cole Rd Boise, ID Viewing will be from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm in the Relief Society room. Burial will follow at Morris Hills Cemetery 317 N Latah St, Boise ID. Services under the direction of Relya Funeral Home

Please post your loving memories of Vilate. Other details of her life will be posted later.