Over the past few years I lost all three of the grandparents I had the tremendous fortune of knowing. Although I miss them all dearly, I am grateful for the memories and lessons I have from them.

For Grandma Helen:

1. One of your favorite quotes was, "The song of the sparrow is just as pleasing to the Lord as that of the song bird." I have found this saying to be a comfort in more trying of times. It is a nice thought to imagine being embraced for my own efforts without being compared to someone else.

2. You could be found in your garden working at the age of 90, even though you had to use the hoe as a cane half of the time and were battling cancer. You are my inspiration to keep going because if you could do it, so can I.

3. Your lilac bush and flowers were the envy of the whole town. It is from you that I developed my love of plants. Unfortunately, I didn't inherit your green thumb. You also taught me that watering flowers is way more fun when you use an adorable old tea kettle.

4. The spaghetti she made is actually bisghetti. Any other argument is irrelevant.

5. All of your cooking in general (with the exception of that one time you fed me liver) was exceptional. Your baked bread, apple pies from your very own apple tree and homemade jams still hit me with a wave of nostalgia.

6. Lemon drops are always a suitable snack, and chocolate milk mix is a perfectly acceptable ice cream topping.

7. Making runs to the store for you were always my favorite.

8. I'll never forget the first time you had a corn dog. As a woman who survived the Great Depression, you were utterly disappointed by all the hype and preferred your own cooking.

For Papa:

1. I'm sorry I never went out for basketball. I just never had the coordination for it.

2. We named your car "The Grandpa Car" after you and sometimes refer to it lovingly as the "The Boat."

3. I still think of you whenever I see trail mix and ginger snaps.

4. Your dedication to mowing your lawn throughout the years will never cease to amaze me. I was fed up with it after three times.

5. My brother is moving to a house right by your retirement home, and it's pretty neat to imagine him watching the same crops get planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. You helped inspire in me a love of land and the great outdoors.

6. Thank you for sharing your shrimp with me. I know how much you liked it, and you knew how it is one of my favorites. Those little things mean a lot.

7. Your chair will always be your chair, in my mind. Picturing anyone else sitting in it just seems wrong.

8. The way you took care of Grandma gives me something to aspire to, including the typical "old married couple" bickering.

For Grandma Cress:

1. I lost you most recently, so thinking about you still hurts. You taught me so much about love and acceptance of everyone.

2. Our trips to Chicago instilled in me the importance of imaginary play; those play dates, along with the stories of your adventures inspired me to travel and have adventures of my own.

3. "Just smile and be nice." That quote has become one of my favorites. Just like you said, it really isn't that hard.

4. I am convinced that a large portion of my sass and spunk were inherited and nurtured by you, and I will forever be grateful.

5. Being thrifty can be glamorous. You can also get a lot of dolls and tea cups by going to rummage sales.

6. You showed me how to be a great hostess by always being prepared to offer up food to visitors. You also knew how to throw the best tea parties, complete with chocolate milk made with chocolate syrup, a few card games, and one napkin. Thank you for always making sure you had crunchy peanut butter in stock for me.

7. A quarter is the standard betting amount. They are also great incentives to offer eager grandkids as a reward for finding lost items.

8. As your memory and health faded, some things got scarier. It wasn't easy when I came to visit and you felt utterly lost and confused, but you taught me how to love and care for someone unconditionally. In the end, you left us with grace, spunk, dignity and a sermon full of advice that I will never forget.

Getting the chance to know each and everyone one of you has been an opportunity I will forever be grateful for. I love and miss you all so much.