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.
I was crying reading this. Your grandma was a awesome and fun person and she will be truly missed. Praying for you and your family.
Collin, I have been reading your posts and following your deals for over a year. I am a single mom and usually too busy to comment on anything. I never even registered for any of your drawings. But today, I NEED to spend some time here. I feel for you my friend. I know you miss her, but you are right, she is in heaven and smiling at you. I feel the blessings you must know in your heart to have had her for so long. Take good care Collin.
I am so sorry for your loss. You really are so blessed to have been so close to her, and had her in your life for so long. I will pray for comfort and blessings for you and your family. And also a special, happy birthday to you…she’d want you to enjoy every minute of it. 🙂
So sad for the loss you are feeling, but I am so happy you had such a wonderful person in your life. Best wishes and God bless!
Having buried my whole family, I can suggest your thinking of the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical “Carousel” and sing it to yourself. It wouldn’t take away all the sadness you feel now, but it helped me deal with some of the sadness.
I’m sorry for your loss. I just can’t believe she has gone. She looks fantastic in your video and she is always smiling and nice and kind. May she rest in peace and pray for comfort in your family!
I am so sorry for your loss. I also lost my 93 year old grandmother 3 weeks ago. I am glad that you are able to remember the legacy your grandmother has left and the good times you were able to spend with her.
So sorry to learn of your family’s loss (as is the rest of us hip fans’ too), my thoughts are with you and your family!
…Happy birthday Collin!
I am so sorry to hear this news of your Ma’s passing…she was a very special part of your and your family’s life. I know you feel the loss and pain but the memories of her will always be cherished and remembered!! Hugs.
Collin,
I am so sorry for your families loss. Thank you for sharing your Ma with us over the years. Please find comfort in all the beautiful memories you shared privately and thru your site. You could see how proud she was of you and your success and you made her a huge part of your wonderful work. Please take time for yourself and your family and know we will be waiting when you are ready to come back to work.
Thoughts and prayers to you and your family, Collin. I am so sorry for your loss.
Sorry for ur loss.
And happy bday dear!
So sorry for your loss, Collin!! Just looking at theses pictures, brings so much joy to a total stranger like myself. I’m so happy for you that you have so many AMAZING memories!
I love that you spent so much time together! How precious to have had that bond.
I am sorry for you and your family. I will remember Ma whenever I check this site. You and Ma had the great smile together. Before I go sleep, I check the site to get your power so that I feel ease and I can be ready for next day. Please live your life fullest as what your grandma told you. Please take easy for next few days and we, all the readers, will be waiting for you to feel better.
What an amazing woman ‘Ma’ has been to all of us– She is making Heaven a little more fun and leaving us all such sweet and cherished memories – thought & prayers for you & your family Collin !!!
This is such sad news! Everyone who has ever followed you knows how much this dear, special lady is to you and there is no doubt Ma will live on in your hearts and memories always. So very sorry for your loss! 🙁
Collin, you and your family are in my prayers. May the special memories of Ma you carry in your heart give you comfort. So very sorry for your loss.
When a person has a smile that conveys such warmth through a photograph, I can only imagine the kind of person she was. Our sympathy to your family. Continue to reflect on those precious moments and find comfort as you cherish her memory!
Oh no I’m so sorry Collin, I am going to miss Ma. She was so precious, I always looked forward to her videos. She had a beautiful and fun spirit – and she still does! Think of all the smiles she is giving heaven right now! She will truly be missed, thank you so much for sharing her with us, how lucky you were to have had such an amazing grandmother in your life.
So sorry for your loss. From what I saw from your post she was a wonderful lady, full of life. Thinking of you at this difficult time.
I too lost my grandma this summer also at 34, I’m lost but also so thankful for my time with her. The pictures you’ve chosen for this post show the live you guys lived together, and it’s beautiful. My grandmother left my children the Lincoln logs that were her children’s, the day I found out I cried and cried, every time I touch them, see them I am reminded of a childhood of building adventures. I know as you reminisce in the future you too will have such fond memories. May God bless your home and family with peace as you go through this emotional time.
Oh, this just breaks my heart. I felt like I knew Ma through your stories and videos. I hope your family can find comfort knowing that your Ma was a bright, shining lady who made thousands of your readers smile, on top of all the other great things she did. Praying for peace for all of you. <3
So sorry for your loss. Your posts with your Grandmother were so beautiful! Wonderful memories for sure!
May all the wonderful memories bring you comfort…
I truly love this post. It really made me smile and feel happy in a sense. It reminded me to love the people in our lives because we never know when their time or ours could end. I’m so sorry about this but I believe that your ma is still with us all! And by the way thank you so much for this website and the funny videos at target. I will miss seeing her with you in them.
HUGS!
While I never met your Ma, I always felt her welcoming smile and a warm virtual hug as if we had been in each others lives for as long as I can remember. A remarkable woman indeed!
I am sorry for your loss, but happy that you had such an amazing role model and friend to spend time with and create such wonderful memories with – she will be missed by both you and many of us in the “Hip2Save” family.
I hope that your birthday is as special as you are…
I am truly very sorry for your and your family’s loss. Ma was such a great spirited soul and her memory will live on. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Watching the videos of the two of you shopping always brought a smile to my face. And a big laugh, too!
We will all miss her.
Happy Birthday Colin. I hope you took a moment (or two) for yourself today.
A beautiful woman and a beautiful life, indeed. My condolences; I’m so sorry for your loss. Hugs to you and your family.
So sorry to hear of Ma’s passing. She brought even more joy to hip2save than anyone thought possible. Thanks for sharing her with us! Wishing you a happy birthday filled with joy peace and happy memories!!!
Collin and Bryn, I am very sorry about the loss of your grandmother. I know she was very special to you and will be missed. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
I hope you know how LOVED you are by all of the comments here! You and “Ma” touched so many lives!
I’m so sorry to hear this Collin. I am crying right now too as I remember Ma in many of your recent posts with her. She looked like such a wonderful woman who led a very happy and loving 93 years on this Earth. Take comfort in knowing she is smiling down on you from a place where there is only happiness. You are in my prayers! <3
The Valentines day clearancet pic is one I remember so vividly which is making it hard to hold back tears! Her smile in every picture shows her amazing spirit! Collin, I am so very sorry for your loss and hope you take comfort in knowing you will see that smile again! My prayers and THOUGHTS go out to you and your family.
Sorry for your loss
I am so sorry for your loss. Please except my and all Hip2Savers condolences in this hard time. During this difficult time always remember that you have a loving and an unlimited strong support group that will stand by your side and in your prayers. From the bottom of all of our hearts, we love you and will be your guardian angels.
I feel lucky to have gotten to know a little bit about ma from hip2save. Thank you and ma for sharing your daily lives, you have helped make me be a better person. My heart is sad for you and your loss.
I love how close you two are, and I’m so sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing such a hard time with us. I’m praying for your family.
Prayers for your family. I am so sorry. What a beautiful woman.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I love seeing your post with Ma. She was so energetic and happy that I would often smile reading/watching your post/videos. Happy Birthday by the way! I hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends.
Collin, I am truly sorry for your loss. Ma was such a special person and I am so glad you have so many beautiful memories together. You and your family are in our prayers. Hope you celebrating your day too! You deserve it!
I am very sorry for your loss. Prayers from my family to yours.
So very very sorry for your loss. I pray you’ll feel her with you everyday
The greater you love someone, the deeper the pain of grief. Don’t worry about being strong or holding back tears. Whatever you need to do to mourn and celebrate her life. We could all tell how much you loved Ma, just look at the pics, at how you look at her. And we could tell how proud of you she was. I’m so sorry for your loss. May you be wrapped in comfort from friends and family. You are so SO loved!
My heart just broke for you and your family. Hugs.
I’m so sorry for your loss 🙁 I loved watching your videos with ma in them, used to make me laugh and smile. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Grandmother’s hold a piece of our heart and yours seemed like a great one. Thank you for sharing her with us. Memories are a beautiful thing!
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your beautiful words made me cry, though we have never met, I truly understand how difficult it was to write each one. What a wonderful tribute to someone so special.