For years I loved April Fools Day, and one of the best pranks I ever pulled was hiding under my desk at my old sales job and having the VP and my co-workers convince my boss I had just up and quit.  I had packed my desk up and hid the box under a co-workers desk while listening to my boss frantically try and call me and search the parking lot for my car.  I know it sounds so mean and a harsh joke, I worked in a very fun and laid-back office and our boss would constantly joke with and on us too.

But last year, that day, such a fun prankster day, changed for me.  I lost my beautiful Nana on 4/1/2014...this day, last year.  I reflect back to that day and the days that followed, remembering the raw emotions our family felt and being there for my mother, who had just lost her best friend.  It is never easy losing someone you love, and while life goes on and the pain gets better, I find myself missing her more and more every day.

She was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer right after Thanksgiving 2013, a month before my son was born.  And she fought her battle with courage, strength, and love during those last short months.  I will never forget her crying and telling my mom she was just sad that she may never get to meet her very first great grandson, my baby boy Ryan.  And honestly, that was one of my biggest fears and heartaches.  Ryan was too young to travel those first months of his life, especially in the dead of winter.  It was hard knowing I was in Tennessee with my new baby, and my Nana was in Virginia fighting for her life.

I had a hard time coping with it. All of our family was able to by her side during those last months, but I was so far away.  I wanted to be there, in every moment, to help her.  We did get to chat via Facetime and she got to see Ryan from afar but it broke my heart that I didn't know if she would make it until we were able to bring Ryan home.

When we knew, the last week of March 2014, that it was the end, I had the mad desire to be there with her in those final moments, to let her know I was there, and to bring Ryan to her.  I couldn't let her go without getting to see her great grandson.  Russell and I packed up the baby and drove 14 hours and made it to her on her very last night she was awake.  Her eyes locked with Ryan, and although she couldn't speak, she smiled.  I gave her one of the things she wanted most, to meet her great grandson. It crushed me that she couldn't hold him, but she locked eyes with him, we placed her hand on him, and savored those moments.  She passed 2 days later.

I miss her.  I miss her terribly.  I watch Ryan grow up and it hurts to know that she isn't here to see it, but I am comforted in knowing that she got to meet him.  And the memories, there are always the wonderful memories.  She was there for my dance recitals, my high school graduation, graduating from college, my wedding, my baby shower.... countless, beautiful memories. She was married to a man she adored, raised 4 children, and loved ALL of her grandchildren (and there are a TON of us).  Her family was her world.

 As this day is a reminder of our family's loss but Heaven's gain, it is also a reminder of our strong love for her, as her memory lives on in our hearts forever.

"Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven, where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us, to let us know they are happy." - Unknown

XOXO,

Sherri

20 Get to Know Me Questions

During my free time during the week, (yes I do squeeze some in here and there) I enjoy reading my list of favorite blogs that I have and learning more about the author behind them.  We all write about our families, lives, etc, so it is nice to know a little more about the person right?  I stumbled across this "Get to Know Me" survey Ashley @ A Lady Goes West wrote and thought it would be perfect to incorporate into my post today so that YOU can get to know ME :)

So here goes nothing...

20-Question "Get to Know Me"

1. What’s your whole name?

Sherri Edwards Schwartz (Edwards is my maiden name)

2. Are you named after anyone?

Nope.

3. Do you have any siblings?

Yes, I have one younger sister who lives in North Carolina

My sister and I at Ryan's 1st birthday party.  She is younger but MUCH taller than me! (I was wearing heels)

4. Where did you grow up?

Virginia!  I was born and raised in a teeny town called Franklin (about an hour outside of Virginia Beach).

5. What activities did you do in high school?

I danced for 15 years, was in Varsity cheering, Varsity Tennis, member of DECA (President my senior year), and competed in pageants.  (Was Miss Virginia National Teenager in 2004.)

DECA trip to Orlando, FL my senior year of high school. (me in center with shorts)

6. Where did you go to college?

I went to George Mason University!  GM-U-know!

7. What activities did you do in college?

I was in Alpha Phi in college and was Director of Philanthropy for A Phi my junior year.

My senior year of college with my little, grand little, and great grand little

My initiation day

8. What did you study in college?

Major in Journalism and minor in Business Administration.

9. What was your first job out of college?

My first job out of college, I was an Inside Account Manager with ADS.  ADS is a government distributor and my customers with West Coast Navy.

10. What kind of music do you like?

I like a mix of everything but you will mostly find me listening to alternative and pop.  Love the dance beats!  I occasionally get on an 90's hip hop kick.

11. What’s one hobby that you’d like to take up?

I wish I was crafty and could refurbish furniture.  I have seen so many pieces that have been painted and stained that I love.  To buy a used/cheap piece and make it look awesome and contemporary... man, what a skill/hobby.

12. What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?

I KNEW I was going to be the next Katie Couric.  Seriously, ask anyone who knew me.  I even interned at the Washington, DC, NBC studios.

13. What’s the biggest project on your to-do list right now?

Painting my one of my spare bathrooms.  I have an extra can of paint from when we painted our master bath (a year ago) and it is enough to do one of our other baths.  But I have been putting it off for a year.

14. Do you have any irrational fears?

I am terrified of lightening.  I am such a baby about it.  It all stems from one summer in high school where I was leaving a house I was babysitting at.  A storm was approaching and as soon as I stepped out the house, lightening struck the tree 20ft. away...then, just an hour later, another storm approached and lightening struck my house and I was in the living room.  From that point on, I was dunzo.  No more lightening for me.

15. Have you ever traveled outside the country? If so, where and when?

I studied abroad for 2 week to Cuernavaca, Mexico my sophomore year of college.

With my abroad roommate at one of the ruins.

16. When’s your next vacation and where are you going?

We are taking our very first family vacation since Ryan was born, in May.  We are heading to the Outer Banks in North Carolina to celebrate our 3-yr anniversary and my husband's 30th birthday for the week.

Our wedding day, May 19, 2012.  Hard to believe it will be three years.

17. Do you speak any other languages?

I wish I remembered my Spanish since I had to take all four years of it in college but I can't.  I mean, I can remember key phrases and words but I cannot write it.

18. What’s one talent that you wish you had?

I really wish I could sing.  I am so envious of the beautiful singers and I feel so bad for Ryan to have to hear ME sing to him at night.

19. What’s something that you wish you did more of?

I wish I had more vacation time to visit our family.  Our family on both sides in back in Virginia and since we are in Memphis, flights are expensive, and it's a 14-hr car ride, we don't get home as often as we like.  I hate it for Ryan, not knowing his family as well as we would like.

20. If you weren’t in your current job, what would you want to be doing?

I really would love to be a radio dj.  I have my favorite show I listen to in the mornings on my way to work and they are always goofing off and just talking about all kinds of crazy stuff.  Seems like more fun than work; sign me up!

So there you go!  That's 20 answers to 20 questions about me.  You learn something new?

XOXO,
Sherri


Questions:
Are there any other questions you would add to this survey?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Any irrational fears?