inspiration for my every day.

Meet my grandmother, Rosemarie...


Isn't she stunning? 


I was blessed to have 11 years on this earth with her...
but I've spent the other fourteen with her in my heart


For almost half of her life, she fought Parkinson's disease. Her strength throughout that 33-year battle will always inspire me. On the days my life seems tough, I try to put it all in perspective. At 25, I get frustrated with a sore Achilles tendon or the makings of a cold. At 36, she was diagnosed with a disease that still lacks a cure. When I think about it like that, it's then when I realize what's important. I'm just grateful that God gave me 11 years to learn that lesson from her.

Who inspires you?
xoxo {av}


One small note: With class on Monday and Wednesday nights for the next month {plus a full-time job}, I don't have as much time as I'd like to keep up with all your lovely blogs. Have no fear--I promise to get back up to speed later in the week.  Thank you so much for understanding :) I assure you I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth!

21 comments:

  1. hey girl take your time with school and work!! and wow your grandmother is gorgeous!! My grandfathers inspire me !

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  2. Wow, she is stunning! My Bobo is who inspires me. I lost him 2 years ago to complications of a minor surgery. I'm still not over it. Your post reminds me a lot of him. I only have wonderful memories and keep him in my heart every day.

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  3. beautiful post alison! lovely tribute to a wonderful lady. she has the biggest, bestest smile. you're so right about perspective, we are so blessed to have teachers like your grandmother who take the brunt of those lessons for us. my dad was that for me, he was diagnosed with lymphoma and passed away several years ago now but while here he gave so much and i am who i am mainly because of him. i really love the way you worded the part about having 11 years on this earth with her...but spending the other 14 with her in your heart. that really touches me so. ♥

    pea ess: you take all the time you need, xo

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  4. She is BEAUTIFUL! & what an inspiration!
    What class are you taking?! My hubs has class Mon/Wed night now & it looks like I may be starting grad school in the spring -- it seems to never end!
    <3 Leigh

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  5. your grandmother is gorgeous! what a courageous woman. my grandmother also inspires me, we have a close relationship and she is always positive and upbeat, never afraid to speak her mind.

    hang in there!! hopefully you'll have time to breathe soon. xoxo jcd

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  6. She is precious! I'm so glad that you had so many great years with her. You are SO sweet!

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  7. Your grandmother's so beautiful! I love vintage photos like that. My mom is definitely my number one inspiration (is it weird that I've never even told her that?). She's independent, successful, and incredibly generous -- and that's without counting how great a mother she is.

    P.S. Thank you for your virtual hugs! They helped so much -- things are already starting to look up, I think. :)

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  8. what a great post - your grandmother is surely smiling!

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  9. She was such a beautiful women. My great grandmother was named Rosemary, and I lost her last year. She was such a strong women and I look up to who she was everyday.

    <3Chelsea Elizabeth

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  10. what a precious, beautiful & strong woman!

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  11. this was such a lovely and inspiring post! She is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this! xx

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  12. She really is gorgeous! I loved this post... it made me smile and made me think of my grandma who I love so much. So thank you!

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  13. How inspirational. The first photo is gorgeous, thank you for sharing. I hope you have fun in class tonight, xo

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  14. she is so gorgeous! true story, my pop pop passed away from Parkinson's about six years ago, it's an illness near and dear to my heart.

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  15. Your Grandmother is a fabulous inspiration!! I hope school and work is going well xoxo

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  16. great post. my gran passed away a long time ago, and it took me years to realize what a great source of inspiration she was and how she still influences me, in her quiet and simple way...

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  17. I saw this post, my uncle was recently diagnosed at 39 with parkinsons.. It is insane to watch what a few years of the disease has done to him, I hope your grandma had peace and that you do too. :)

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  18. Hello,

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