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.
So sorry for your loss, keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Whenever she was a guest in your videos she always brought a smile to my face!
Sorry for your loss, Collin. May you have no more hardship or pain. May you and your family be comforted during this time.
I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s comforting she lived a long happy life and you and your kids got to meet her and enjoy her!
So very sorry Collin. I have followed your blog for years, and Ma has brought me many smiles and laughs. So very sorry for your loss. Sending healing to you, the hip2save team, and your family.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m sure she would be happy that you are celebrating life today, both yours and hers.
A Beautiful Life Indeed, Collin! Thanks so much for sharing her with us. Her smile was infectious. The strong love the two of you shared is evident in the photos. I must admit, I liked her from the first post I saw that included her picture! She truly had style. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Happy Birthday.
Sorry for your loss. Such fun photos and memories of you and her.
I’m so sorry for your loss. You are so right, you are so blessed to have spent that time with her. Always cherish it. I lost my last grandparent at age 9 and just last year at age 29, I lost my mother to cancer. I am so glad you didn’t take your time for granted.
I’m so sorry to hear about ma. She was a special little lady that really left an imprint on my heart through your blog. Prayers and hugs out to you Collin! She is smiling and dancing in heaven now!!!
Those videos with your grandma were a treat to the eye. Extremely sad at your and our loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. You wrote a beautiful tribute about a women who inspired all.
Thank you for all you and your family have done for all of us couponers. You have such a wonderful way of looking at things. Take care and God bless!
I am so sorry for your loss. Remembering all the fun videos you and Ma did together.
I’m so sorry for your loss Collin, your grandmother was a beautiful person! By the time i was done reading your post, i had tears in my eyes. Thank you for sharing your life with us. I hope you have a happy birthday.
So sorry for your loss – I know you will miss her greatly. Your closeness to her was sweetly obvious. Will be praying for your family as you adjust to a new chapter in life without one you love.
Prayers.
Nicole Cassady
“When someone u love becomes a memory,the memory becomes a treasure”🙏💔😢😇
What a beautiful picture and a beautiful soul. She will be missed. You are truly blessed to have had her for so long. Thanks for sharing her.
So sorry for your loss. We all know you loved her very much. Have a blessed birthday.
My heart aches for you. I’m very sorry for your loss. Your family is in my thoughts at this difficult time. Family is everything. May your loving and happy memories comfort you.
What a blessing she was to all. Keep those happy memories wit you as you mourn the loss of this lovely lady.
I am so sorry for your loss! What a very beautiful and touching post! Big hugs as you and your family get through this difficult time!
I am so sorry! Many prayers for you and your family. Through Hip2Save, we have come to know and love Ma, like a beloved member of our own family. Your site touches so many people in so many ways as you can probably see and feel by all the emotions and hugs we are all sending you. This is just devastating, but know that all our good wishes and prayers will help lift you up at a time when you need it most…you are blessed to have had such a wonderful person in your life, as we have been blessed to know her through you! Wishing you and your family much solace and healing through this very difficult time.
So very sorry for your loss.
Your views on life are remarkable. Thank you for sharing your Ma with us all these years. You and your Ma touch the hearts of your followers worldwide. Please know, as time passes, if the heartbreak remains, we are all fondly and steadfastly here to help you. I’m so sorry for your loss.
What a blessing to have her for so long in your life. What a beautiful lovely woman!
Prayers to your and your family! Your posts featuring Ma always made me smile 🙂
🌺Happy Birthday 🌺
I am so sorry for your loss. May God watch over you and your family.
Sorry for your loss. Happy Birthday!
I’m so sorry for your loss. She always brought a smile to my face when I saw her in your videos. It was easy to see how proud she was of you and how much she loved your family.
I am sitting here reading this and have tears in my eyes. I felt like I got to know her through your videos and that she was part of my family. So sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss! Ma was such a special lady, I really enjoyed the videos with you two laughing and being silly together. She will be missed! Hugs and prayers to you and your family ❤️ And happy birthday
I find myself with tears also, even though I never met Ma. It is amazing the connection we feel to you, Collin, for letting us into your life every day. Please take comfort in knowing that there are thousands of people praying for you and your family. God bless you…
I am sorry for you loss – I lost my grandma in 2002 and think about her everyday – but know she is in a better place with no more pain. May God bless your family.
I’m sorry for your loss, Collin!! It seems that you at least got to spend a lot of time with Ma and make many beautiful memories.
Happy Birthday!!!
I’m so sorry for your loss! Keep all your happy memories with you, she was a blessing to all!
So sorry for your loss colin!
Her place in your life and your heart was obvious to your readers. My deepest sympathies during this time.
Sorry for your loss. My God help you and your family to heal. 😢
Collin, I’m so very sorry for your loss. From the pictures and memories you have of her, it doesn’t seem like you can expect better a life. She must have been a joy and true inspiration and her spirit lives on in you and your children.
Iam so sorry to hear that Collin. She will be missed here so much.
I am so sorry for your loss! I loved seeing posts with Ma! You wrote that post beautifully! She is so proud of you!
I am very sorry for your loss. The pictures you posted are great! You will always have the memories.
Sorry for your family’s loss. To share all those wonderful memories on your birthday is special and you two obviously meant a great deal to each other and have a special bond. I’m sure she is smiling down on you.
I read a quote by an anonymous person that said, the more we are blessed the harder it hearts when we lose that blessing.
So sorry for your loss
Sorry for your loss. Keeping your family in our prayer.
Hi, dear Collin,
I’ve written you before about how special and blessed both you and your Ma are. I think it is so cool how she came to visit you, and how you opened up your life to her. Cherishing and appreciating the elderly are missing in today’s society, especially among the young–and both generations miss out on sharing their lives together and the older teaching the younger, etc. You have been a role model in this, Collin. I loved your Ma’s spunk and I love your spunk, too! I just wish you lived in Georgia instead of Idaho so I could meet you!
May God comfort and strengthen both you and your family during this season of loss and a new normal.
Very sorry for your loss. the videos / photos you posted, showed how much you truly loved each other and enjoyed each others company.
Reading this made me cry, too. I loved seeing the photos of you and Ma! So sorry to hear of your loss… she was a beautiful woman.