~Goodbye Aunt Ruthie~

My Great-Aunt Ruthie died earlier today in Pecos. Aunt Ruthie was my grandma's older sister and she lived in a trailer out at Big John and Memaw's farm until Memaw died two years ago. Big John was unable to take care of her by himself, (mainly 'cause she could be an ornery, stubborn little lady) so she was moved to the nursing home soon after Memaw's death. Before being moved to the home, she had been told numerous times that she couldn't go certain places alone and had fallen lots of times. She didn't take kindly to being told what to do. One time, she fell and broke something (ankle maybe) while outside and they didn't find her for about 8 hours if I'm not mistaken! So, needless to say, Big John couldn't be held responsible for the little booger.

She's had lots of troubles since being in the nursing home, but everytime, she surprises everyone by coming out on top. She's taken spills from her bed, breaking bones and been hospitalized for dehydration and probably other things I've forgotten, but her heart never showed any signs of slowing down. She had slowly dwindled in weight and her mind had begun to slip though. It was really hard to see her like that the few times I visited these last couple of years.

Aunt Ruthie never married or had kids, so nieces and nephews are all the family she had. She was like a second grandmother to all of us grandkids. We would mosey on over to her trailer when we were out at the farm to see if she'd feed us something. One of Laura, Linsey and my favorite things to do over there was go through her boxes of old family photos. She'd tell us all about who was in them and when they were taken.

Both she and Memaw were very soft spoken. They didn't really talk just for the sake of talking. They were also both very sweet and never really raised there voices or spoke a mean word about anyone that I can remember. But boy could the two of them get into some arguements. They were too cute. Inevitably they'd get into a little disagreement on the way to church when some of the grandkids had spent the night before and so we'd be in the backseat cracking up at the two of them "fighting". I don't even remember what they'd argue about, but it was hilarious to hear them, neither one of them raising their voices in the slightest. They would be soooo frustrated with each other, though. Nice little old lady sisters fighting. Good times.

Two of her nieces, my mom and Myrt Myrt, have been so selfless these past two years. Both of them have made an effort to visit her every single day. They would take her for walks before she got real bad and they brought her food and treats. In the end they helped feed her meals and have been her advocate while in the home. They've been a very real example of what it means to give of oneself, not only in Aunt Ruthie's instance, but in other things and I'm so glad that now all of their grandkids have these two amazing models of servanthood.

Aunt Ruthie was hospitalized this weekend with pneumonia and they released her back to the nursing home so she could be in a more familiar place thinking she probably wouldn't pull through. She's finally home. I'm so thankful that God finally took her from this awful place. I'm thankful that she's no longer in pain and no longer lonely and restless. She's at peace now and is exactly where she wants to be. Home.

And I couldn't be happier for her.