About an hour ago, Denyce's great-grandmother passed away at her home in Texas.  We usually called her "Granny Rice" or just "Granny."  She was 95 years old.  It seems like everyone in the family is, while understandably sad that she's gone, ultimately happy for her that this Christian woman has been able to go home after such a long and full life.  

The family members that live with her, and close by her, had seen this coming for several days at least, and so a lot of family were already on hand together there by today.  Last night we did a Skype call with Denyce's mom and some other relatives there at the house, and Denyce got to speak a little bit to Granny at that time (she wasn't able to respond, but was probably able to hear).

Granny was Denyce's maternal grandmother's mother, to give a picture of the family tree.  Denyce's mother's mother's mother.  That also makes her our boys' great-great-grandmother.  Quite amazing to me, especially since on my side of the family, my grandparents were all gone before we even had kids. 

That's Granny Rice with Malachi and Silas.  This was in September of 2008, right about one month before we moved to Ukraine.  In case anyone ever wonders why it's so valuable for missionaries to get to see their family before they leave for the field, this is why.

Although the day the above picture was taken was the last time that I personally saw Granny Rice, it didn't end up being the last for Denyce and the boys.  A little over a year ago when Denyce's grandfather (Granny Rice's son-in-law) was dying from cancer, Denyce and the boys took a trip back to be with the family then.  That was when this picture was taken:

5 generations in one photo, March 2009.  That's Granny in the wheelchair, of course, and to her right is Meme, Denyce's grandmother.  In the middle is Kathy, Denyce's mom (her grandmotherly name is K-K, for the record).  Then there's Denyce on the right with our boys.  I think this photo is so meaningful, and I'm really grateful for whoever had the idea to take it. 

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