YouTube Link to Celebration of Life video – YouTube Link to funeral service video
Dropbox link to Celebration of Life with original music
For My Grandma Lavonne Lamb (1938-2023):
“I can only imagine, What it will be like, When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine, What my eyes would see, When Your face is before me
Surrounded by Your glory, What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus, Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine.”
Credit: Bart Millard of MercyMe – ” I Can Only Imagine”
MY Grandma Lamb doesn’t have to imagine. She is there and oh what a sight! You are the matriarch of this Lamb Family. You may have been born a Cline, but you have been a Lamb for 65+ years. Without you I would not be here. Grandma, without you, twenty-five of us would not be here today. Between the 25 immediate family members here (including all great grandkids), you’ve been loved for a combined 600 years plus. I had to round for some ages and weddings. Both of your kids turned out great. Most of your grandkids turned out pretty good. There’s still hope for Jeremy. All of your GREAT Grand kids are amazing and beautiful. Alex will get there. Sorry buddy, you have me to blame for that.
Alex, I am so grateful you were able to meet all your great grandparents. Unfortunately, I did not. Well, I don’t remember most of them. My Great GrandMOTHER Lamb passed away when I was a little younger than you. I remember seeing all the crying and didn’t quite understand. I do now. It’s truly amazing how God can take a stubborn military-trained, fighting machine, idiot like me and make me into a softy when it comes to things like this. It wasn’t too long ago that I can remember saying I only cried 5 times in my life.
- When my Great Grandmother Lamb died, at her funeral. I remember looking at my Aunt Pam and my dad and they were crying, so my eyes started watering too
- My dad wrote me a letter that I read when I went off to Army boot camp
- My son was born, watching We Were Soldiers afterwards
- Marrying my wife
- My daughter was born
- And now, My Grandma passing
You may know two things in life are certain, taxes and that other thing. I can tell you a few others. Grandma always had ice cream. She always wanted to make sure you had enough to eat and you were probably looking like you needed to eat some more. Most would call that skinny. But in the South, you’re just looking a little too unhealthy if you don’t have some meat on your bones, also a little gravy too. Grandma is a southern gal through and through. She may have been in Indiana for the last 60+ years but she is from the south.
I know the general statement of “Grandma is in a better place.” Truly only God knows a person’s heart but we mere humans see their actions and hear their words. Not once can I remember my Grandma getting angry or upset or loud or frustrated (besides a little with Grandpa). I actually remember her reminding us to trust in God and live for him. Jeremy has a snapchat video proving this if you want to watch it later. She always expected us to pray before our meals and of course wash our hands. I remember being tucked in bed by her and she reminded me to say my night time prayers. These are words of a God-fearing woman. I know she went to church every Sunday and was in BSF, a weekly bible study with Mrs. Mary Ann DeMotte. I know every one who knew her had only the best things to say about her, once they found out I was her Grandson.
A final thank you to the wonderful staff at Otterbein for taking care of my Grandma in her last years. I am sorry if she was anything but the most pleasant person you have ever met, because she was. We can blame that on her failing mind. Thank you to the Bell family and staff. Thank you to Pastor Gary Johnson for the service. I have known you since first attending Indian Creek in 1994 and most of us grew up there. Grandma was there on many occasions, as well. I still use some Johnson-isms when teaching to my Middle school boys at my church in Cleveland. Thank you to the family who came into town from all over. Thank you to the Grandma’s friends or friends of the family who are here to support us. Thank you to my beautiful wife. I can only hope and pray for 65 years on this earth with you. Grandpa, thank you for showing your family how to be a Godly loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. And finally, Grandma, you will forever be missed on this earth. Until we see each other again, in Heaven…I love you.
God Bless you all and thank you.