A Beautiful Life…
On August 18th, the world lost a little bit of sunshine when my grandmother known as “Ma” passed away in her home surrounded by people she loved. She was 93 years old and lived a beautiful life. One of her greatest joys in life was her family – she raised six children and always said that her most important and cherished role was being a mother.
As I type this, tears are flowing down my cheeks. I miss her so much already. She was a very special person in my life and played such a huge role in who I am today.
She taught me to live life to the fullest, to laugh often, to dance whenever and wherever possible and to never take any days for granted. I also learned so much from her about being comfortable and confident in my own skin… and letting my authentic self shine.
Anyone who can get a TSA Agent to smile, while getting mad at him for trying to confiscate her full bottle of water that she tried to take through security, has to be pretty special… 🙂
I know many of you have felt a connection to Ma from her presence here on Hip2Save. She absolutely loved being a part of Hip2Save and raved about the Hip2Save community – so thank you for bringing her so much joy throughout the years with your kind and uplifting comments, emails and messages.
Although I am feeling so much loss today, I can’t also help but smile a bit as I picture my grandmother and grandfather together again… smiling down on myself and my family.
I am writing this post on August 20th, my birthday. Today, I not only celebrate my own birth, but I celebrate the amazing life my grandmother led. I celebrate how blessed I am to have gotten to spend so much of my 34 years here on earth with such an amazing person. I celebrate all of the laughs, all of the love, and all of the incredible memories that I’ve had because of having Ma in my life.
Today, I celebrate life and I know she’s right there celebrating it with me.
I love you, Ma. I know you’ll always be by my side.
This is such a beautiful post. Thinking of you and your family.
God bless Ma
I’m so sorry, now I am crying too. She was adorable and it is clear that you both adored each other. My grandmother too was a special and wonderful person in my life. She passed away on Dec. 1st of this year. Luckily you have great memories, video, and pictures to help you remember her.
Oh Collin, when I saw this post I started crying. Thank you so much for sharing Ma with the rest of the world through your site. I am so sorry for your loss.
Oh Collin, I’m so sorry for your loss, I will miss your videos with her. 🙁 Hugs!
I will miss seeing the two of you together. They were my favorite videos. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ma will be missed so much. What a special soul she was…we know how you adored her! Love and blessings to you!
What a blessing Ma was. Collin you obviously have her spirit. All of your posts with her over the years have really made me smile. We are all thinking of you.
So sorry for your loss Collin! Rest easy knowing she is with her hubby now 🙂
So sorry for your loss! I loved seeing here in your posts.
Praying for u and ur family. Your kind words for ur grandmother r such a beautiful way to honor her life. May u always feel her spirit close and ur heart be filled with her many blessings…
A beautiful tribute to a beautiful lady.
So sorry for your loss. Ma was very special, she was a joy to see in your videos. Blessings to you and your family 🌷
I was crying while reading this. Much love to your family…
I am so sorry to hear about your grandma’s passing. I cried as I read everything and thinking about my grandmother who died 6 years ago. Thank you for sharing her with us. It has been such a pleasure reading your fun and full of life posts with “Ma”. May you have very special memories of her life with your family!
I’m really sorry to read about Ma’s passing. She was just so wonderful to watch in your videos and she loved you so much. Many many condolences to you and your family.
Nooooo….Collin, I am so sorry and can only thank you for sharing Ma with us all. Through your videos and pictures I am sure we all felt a love for Ma. Such a beautiful soul that will be missed from all around the world. Hugs to you and yours from Japan.
Collin- so sorry for your loss. She was a hoot and you were so lucky to have her by your side sharing your lives with gusto right up until the end of her great life. Hugs!
So sorry for your loss! God bless.
I am so sorry for your loss Colin. Her amazing personality and love shone through in your videos and she always brought a smile to my face. Loss is hard, but it’s comforting knowing she’s in heaven looking down on you and being a guardian angel for you and your family. Prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Will keep you in my prayers!
Sending prayers to you and your family…
Im so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I loved seeing videos of your Ma. She will be missed.
I’m so sorry to hear about your “Ma”. I also lost my Grandmom a little over a year ago at 95 who was similar in that she left more people laughing and smiling in a room when she left it than coming in. After a year I still miss her every day but in hindsight I wish I took more time after her leaving celebrating than being sad. It’s what she would have wanted and as you spend time with family and friends to say goodbye, make sure to set aside the crying, if you
can to raise a drink and take time to dance a little just for her.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. She was always a favorite of mine. Her presence will be deeply missed by all of us here.
I’m so sorry for your and your family’s loss. She was my favorite part of the videos.
Sending love and prayers to you and your family. Thank you for sharing Ma with us. What a beautiful tribute this post is.
Ma was an amazing woman who cracked me up every time she was on camera. Prayers go out to you and your family. Much love to you!
Worst post ever <3 🙁 I have been with you since the beginning. I truly feel love for this women I have never met, Ma. She doubled the enjoyment reading posts, and watching videos with her in them. She lit up your page. I remember you being on vacation in one of the first videos I saw Ma in. How I wished to be part of the readers you two met, I just feel like I know you both, and you two are hilarious. I am sending prayers, for your family.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss. Right there with you as I lost my mom too soon at only 69 im 2004 and my grandma after. Loved them so much. So glad for all the memories and to making more with my mom’s only sister. Thank you for sharing her.
Collin, I am so sorry to hear about Ma. I have to say that I love and appreciate the way you chose to honor her in your post. Although sadness and grief are inevitable, you highlighted all her good qualities and life lessons she instilled in you. You are a testimony to her greatness in this life. I too lost my grandmother just a couple months ago and can say that I felt exactly the same about her. What a blessing to have had such marvelous women in our lives. Blessings and hugs to you and your family. <3
My condolences- she is a guardian angel at home watching over the family
We are ALL going to miss seeing Ma. She was such a beautiful woman! We will all cherish the memories of her beautiful pics and face! 🙂
So sorry 🙁
Collin, I must say you had a truly awesome relationship with Ma. To have a granddaughter treat a grandmother the way you did was inspiring. She was so lucky to have you in her life and I am sure you are going to miss that bond deeply. I had a similar relationship with my oma who passed away 10 years ago. I miss her often but am thankful that I am able to say we spent lots of fun times together. I am sorry for your pain.
So very sorry for your loss!
I’m sorry for your loss. Ma was the best!!
Thank you for sharing your ‘Ma ‘ and letting us get to know her. I loved seeing you two coupon together.
I am so sorry, she was such a blessing each and every time we watched her on your videos, she will truly be missed. She is now with her beloved husband which is comforting to know. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. You are very blessed to have had such an amazing women in your life. Loving hugs to you and your family.
so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful essay about Ma
May her memory forever be a blessing~ we are privileged to be a part of your network of friends and to have had her in our lives too. Hugs and love sent your way.
My heart breaks for you. I know how special she will always be to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time. You better believe she’s watching down from heaven with your grandpa, amazed at the wonderful granddaughter they helped raise.
Collin my condolences go out to you and your family. Ma will be missed…
So sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. I really loved the videos with you and Ma they were so special and so much fun to watch. Happy birthday Colin. May you find peace that your grandma and grandpa are together again. Prayers to you and your family.
So sorry for your loss.
Collin…oh, I am so sorry! I wish you a Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday To You… And May You Have Many More…
So sorry for you and your families loss Collin! MA was a sweet and special lady that all of us have grown to love. The love that you both had for each other was aspiring. God bless.