This is Great Grandma H.

This photo was taken for her eighth-grade graduation. Her mother made the dress. Out of all the pictures I have seen of her, I think this is my favorite one. My husband and I received this as a gift at the memorial service. I am grateful to have it.

I really do not know much about her because she was a very quiet woman. What I do know amazes me. She raised two sons after her husband died, in an era when it wasn't normal to be a single mom. She did lots of handwork and traveled a lot before getting married in her 30's, also not normal for the time.

She will be greatly missed. The other Grandma H (GH or MIL) in the family, my MIL, has given us a few of the items we have given great-grandma (GGH) over the years. I am now wearing a ring that I gave to GGH. I am wearing it next to the ring my husband gave me for our tenth anniversary.
My MIL has also given us a free-form temari ball I made for GGH and the wood stand with metal hook my husband made to hold the temari ball.

We also received back a wood plaque that my husband purchased for GGH when he lived in Brazil for a few years. I have never kept one of my own Temari balls, so this has extra meaning in that not only is it one I gave to GGH, it is also one of my favorite free-form ones. When my husband lived in Brazil he only purchased gifts for his family; I didn't know him then, so we didn't have any of the wood plaques from Brazil. Now not only does this symbolizes his grandmother, but his two years of missionary work in Brazil.