I wanted to share a special story about Suzie the Chevy Blazer today.
A gal named Charity (whom we had never previously met) responded to our shout out for an old truck a couple of weeks before we began shooting our pilot…
I emailed back and forth with her a couple of times, and then forwarded her email address to our producer so they could work out all the details. I didn’t really think about what a 1972 Blazer looked like…I was just grateful that Charity and her hubby were open to the idea of letting us use theirs for the week!
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The night before we began filming I went to bed anxious. I tossed and turned all night, and I had some really vivid dreams during the times I was actually able to fall asleep. One of which was about my Grandpa Richard.
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He and my Grandma Evelyn adopted my Dad in the mid-1950’s…
(My Dad- circa 1956)
(My Grandma Evelyn, my Dad, and my Grandpa Richard- circa 1974)
…and after over 50 years of marriage, my sweet Grandma passed away on Valentines Day in 1999. I visited my Grandpa for the last time last November.
In my dream that night in Suwanee, my Grandpa kept telling me everything was going to be okay. I don’t think I even said one word out loud to him the whole time…I just remember being there with both of them, and him telling me I was going to do fine. There was no mention of a pilot or anything like that…it was just them, and me, and comforting words.
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When I “came to” to the sound of Kev’s cell phone alarm that morning, I immediately began telling him about my dream. He didn’t sleep very soundly either, and as you can imagine, we both felt pretty weird and shaky, and we were both pretty anxious about what was going to happen once we walked out our hotel room door.
But then I sat in Suzie…
…and memories of riding around with my Grandpa Richard in his old Chevy Blazer started to put my worried mind at ease.
His Blazer was light green…like this one…
…and don’t you know I had to fight back tears when Charity told me that Suzie the newly-painted silver Blazer, was originally painted light green too.
PS- Special thanks to Shaunna for snapping this photo of my Mister sitting in Suzie…
We might just have to start savin’ our pennies up for a green one just like her one day!
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cailan
That is awfully sweet, Layla! So glad for your comforting dream and yes, you guys definitely “need” one of these! 🙂
nono
Oh Suzie, you are da bomb!! Love your story…just goes to show there are signs of our loved ones all around us. I might have to have to follow your lead and start saving up my pennies for a “Suzie” too. 🙂
Kacey
I love this story! How wonderful that your Grandpa is watching over you so diligently.
hello haha narf
your wonderful retelling of this touching story gave me chills. thrilled things turned out so well for you!
Luciane At HomeBunch.com
This post brought tears to my eyes. Interesting, but I also have grandparents that I’m very close to. They adopted my mother and basically raised me and my sister. They’re everything to me and unfortunately my grandma is very ill. This post touched my heart because I also know and experience grandparents’ love. I so believe that our loved ones will always care for us, in this plan or the other.
I have this same feeling. Don’t worry, don’t shake. Your future is so bright and this brightness comes from the Light of God. You both will succeeded because everything is being taken care. Just always follow your heart in this path and never forget that.
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Elizabeth
Oh my eyes are two little pools of water this is so awesome and sweet your grandfather is still whispering to you in your dreams…..Maybe you’ll find your Suzie….
leanne
love this…i have vivid dreams with my Papa Roots talking to me too…also my Mom who has been gone 9 years…they always have something important to say!! i get it and the fighting tears part too. xo
p.s. Papa had an old ford pick-up…we used to go to the corner gas station for donuts 🙂
Katie @ Wildwood Creek
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story. And, oh my, your dad was a hottie in the 70’s!
Deneen
Dreams are so important. When you listen to them they bring you to another level. I really believe we have angels watching over us. Your grandfather is an angel for you!
DeeDee
Such a sweet story Layla! I’m so luvin’ Suzie! If you ever come to Texas, we have a yummy little 1970 F100 you can make into a movie star! Her name is Chatita (little shorty)! I wish you both nothing but the best on your venture, I think it’s awesome! HUGS! 🙂
Frances
What a great story!
chris from midwest cottage and finds
isn’t it uplifting to know that those that have left us are still with us when we need them most..thank you for sharing…
Diana @ Our Vintage Home Love
Oh Layla, this story gave me chills and tears. How wonderful! I have dreams like that about my dad, too and during difficult times, I always come across a dove, I’m convinced it’s him watching out for me, letting me know everything will be okay. 🙂 Thanks for posting this. I’m so happy for you and your hubby! 🙂
brianne
That was such a sweet story. You got me all teary eyed too. My Grandpa was a caricature artist for Disneyland back in the 70’s. After he passed away in December I was browsing a thrift store and stumbled upon a drawing he had done nearly 40 years ago. I bought it for $7 and gave it to my Grandma to hold on to.
Melanie
That is so touching! They really are guardian angels. I just lost my mom, and I really believe that want to look after us an comfort us from above. And Suzie…oh yeah…Suzie is super cool!
Gloria
What a wonderful story. Isn’t it amazing how things like that happen? Your Grandpa was definitely there watching over you.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
What a great story and in a way, a wonderful tribute to your grandparents and the memories that y’all shared 🙂
Sheila Zeller
Layla, this was so moving… yes, tears came to my eyes and a lump to my throat. My grandparents, and my Mom have too moved on, but they never feel very far away… Thank you so much for sharing such a real and personal story. Aren’t stories great? They are the colour, the fibre, what makes life worth living… and our memories, something to hold dear…
I hope you have a fantastic day, and that there is a green Chevy Blazer in your future!
Sheila
Jules
That made me tear up. Great story.
susie bloop
I just got goosebumps…really! Cha Cha (Charity) told me about the car and I thought it was oh so neat. Now this story and I’m almost in tears in a good way. So funny how things work and comfort wraps around us in strange ways. I think you look a lot like your Dad 😉 I hope ya’ll get a chance to come to the deep south soon. Love n hugs, Susie Bloop~
Judy
I am so glad you were able to find this truck to use….it was truly meant to be! What a wonderful story!
Sheri
What a sweet story!
Jessica @ Nucheys MOmmy
What a sweet sweet story! Isn’t it amazing how things can happen & work out!? What are the chances of the little green truck coming into your life via facebook and then your dream & gramps truck……LOVE IT!
Tiff
Wow. Grandpas are very special and I’m glad you had a special reminder of him.
Kathleen
Beautiful story!
Emily @ On the V Side
I love this story!!! Such a comfort knowing your dear grandpa is looking after you, and that Suzie is one hot mama! Suits you and the Mr. just perfectly, I do believe 🙂
Katie
Layla, what a sweet story. It brought tears to my eyes. Your dream was great assurance that everything is going to work out, and don’t forget about the message from the fortune cookie with your meal last night. I don’t usually think much about a fortune cookie message, but yours was great.
Hope Kevin and you have a wonderful and restful time at the beach next week.
Love Mom.
Jennifer
What an amazing story, and an awesome truck! Thanks so much for sharing!
Kathy
Simply meant to be! Such a wonderful story!
Louise
I truly believe that some coincidences are much more than coincidences. Listen to that dream, imagine it, think of the words spoken , feel them, anytime you are nervous. Have been reading your blog for a long time, am very excited for you.
Diane@InMyOwnStyle
Yes – after having a dream like that I would be saving my pennies to buy a green Suzie, too. 🙂 She can be part of your shows logo.
Marianne@Songbird
What a lovely story. I am sure your grandfather was with you all the way.
Kaitlin B.
OMG love stories like this!! My grandpa was in my dream a few nights before my wedding, and I woke up crying (which had never happened to me before). He didn’t say anything to me, but I saw him hugging my future husband in the distance, and then walk him over to me with his hand on his shoulder. Crazy. God totally speaks through dreams.
Jane Meeker
God is so good! And our grandparents here are watching over us too! Love your story!
Krystle @ ColorTransformedFamily
Such a lovely story. I also like the fact that the pic of Kevin is black and white so it looks vintage!
Sandra
Such a sweet story. 🙂
Beth@UnskinnyBoppy
GOOSEBUMPS!!! That is such a great story, Layla. I love it.
Janny A.
No coincidences here. God’s love pours out in amazing ways! Rest assured, you are being taken care of! Thanks for sharing!
Cheri
Great story! God in a Chevy!
Anjanette
Psalms 145: 9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. What a tender mercy.
Diane
Oh Layla…Its a Kiss from heaven! My dad passed away many years ago, but when he was still alive he would talk about my then deceased grandma..well TO my grandma actually. When he was feeling stressed or alone or just missed her, he would say “mom, let me know you are still with me” And at some point in the next few hours he would get “a sign” It might be her favorite song that got played on the radio, an old picture he had forgotten about would mysteriously turn up, whatever…a sign! a couple of years ago we were telling my then 6 year old son about these “signs” and my son says…Oh you mean “Kisses from heaven?” my husband and I have NO idea where that came from, but we are sure that THAT is a sign. So Layla…you have been Kissed from heaven 🙂
Debbie~refreshrestyle
Thanks for sharing these precious moments!
Debbie
Shaunna
lovely story, friend. you’ll have to tell me more about him someday. 😉
love you,
shaunna
Heidi @ Show Some Decor
I am such a believer in receiving comfort and encouragment from loved ones that have passed. And I don’t believe in coincidences. Suzie was meant to be there; and of course, it would sweet-spirited Charity to bring her to you.
A whole lotta Wonderful. 🙂
Dorothy Brown
Oh, Layla, your sweet story brought tears to the eyes of this cynical child support officer! Of course, I loved Suzie from the first photo, but your dream… I’ve had a few of my own very comforting dreams and other experiences that made me feel my loved ones were watching over me and encouraging me in times of doubt. Hugs to you.
Cara
Beautiful truck, beautiful dream, pilot for two beautiful people. Blessings!
Funky Junk Interiors
That was much more than a ‘dream’. I have absolutely no doubt about it. 🙂
How comforting to know we’re being watched over!
Donna
claire
When I scrolled down and saw the green blazer under the silver one…TEARS!!!!!!!!! It’s those little goose bump moments that remind us that God takes joy in his orchestration of life.
Deb
You work so hard….and….as the story begins….for your new HGTV show…..(you are the real deal)….we as the general public love your real life struggles, your pure and natural style, and I personally think it would be a great thrill to make a show just showing the public how far you went to find a deeper inner strength to move you forward in this new and exiciting adventure!!!! Wishing you the very best and looking so forward to some good fresh pure style on HGTV!!!! Queenie
Amanda
I am a little freaked out – My Grandpa had a Scout. Have you ever seen one? Very similar to the Blazer, but most of them were swimming pool blue. I was at Home Depot YESTERDAY and I stopped dead in my tracks when I smelled an El Verso cigar. He used to smoke them in his Scout and in their garage where it was parked. I also choked back tears after I caought myself looking around the parking lot for him. He used to plow snow in it for free around our town. I loved snow days because I got to ride along with him. He was an amazing person, I would love to have one more day with him and one more ride in the Scout.