Some memories are so special that no matter how much time passes, you can close your eyes and feel like you're right back in that moment.
This is one of those for me.
My gramie was one of my people. You know those people in your life who help shape who you become? The ones whose influence stays with you long after you've grown up? She was that person for me.
She was an incredibly talented seamstress, meticulous in everything she did, organized, gracious, kind, and sweet-tempered. She taught me to sew, to pay attention to the little details, and to take pride in whatever I was creating.
She even made me my very first wedding dress when I was just six years old. Looking back, I can't help but smile at how much of who I am today started with her.
As she grew older and we knew our time with her was becoming limited, our family planned one last trip to the beach, a place she loved so much.
I remember leaving the house that day in tears.
I knew this trip would be different. I knew we were making memories that we would someday hold onto a little tighter. And the thought of losing her was almost more than my heart could handle.
I wasn't ready.
I don't think we're ever really ready to say goodbye to the people who have helped make us who we are.
Somewhere along the way, I noticed something.
Pier 33.
Now, if you've read the story behind 333 Designs, you know that those numbers have held a special place in my heart for years. They've become a personal reminder to stop, pray, and remember God's faithfulness, especially when life feels uncertain.
I stopped for coffee, and in that moment, I felt the sweetest reassurance wash over me.
I've got you.
It didn't take away the sadness. It didn't change what was ahead. And it certainly didn't mean I suddenly understood why life has to include such painful goodbyes.
But it gave me comfort.
A little reminder, right there in the middle of a heartbreaking season, that I wasn't walking through it alone.
I've thought about that moment so many times since.
My grandmother gave me so much more than sewing lessons or a beautiful little wedding dress. She helped teach me what it looks like to do things with care, to love people well, and to find beauty in the smallest details.
Those are things I still carry with me today.
And I hope that in some small way, the work I create, the way I treat people, and the love I pour into my family reflect a little of the wonderful woman she was.
I know not everyone will understand why seeing Pier 33 meant so much to me that day. And that's okay.
For me, it wasn't really about the number.
It was about a moment of peace when my heart was hurting, and a reminder of the God who has carried me through so many seasons of life.
Sometimes God's sweetest reminders come when we need them most.
And sometimes, they show up beside a pier, on the way to one last family trip to the beach.