Grandpa

Grandma, Me and Grandpa at my wedding in 2003

My Grandpa passed away on Monday this week. Matt and I have been home spending time with family and attending Grandpa's memorial service. He had a beautiful service. Exactly like he would have wanted it. We sang all his favorite hymns and the music was so beautiful and praise-filled. I have never been able to sing at a funeral like I did at his. But it was easy to sing out because I know that's what he wanted me to do.

He never let me leave from visiting with him without telling me how proud he was of me and how much he loved me and Matt. I called him when I got the job here in Tampa and he and I talked about God's plan and how good He was and how blessed we all were. He loved God, his wife, his daughters and sons-in-law and all us grandkids so so much. I know this without a doubt. He was funny. He gave good hugs. He was solid. He was supportive. I was proud to be his granddaughter.

Grandpa was a leader in his church and when I want to hear his voice it's easiest to pull the memory of him leading singing at church. One song in particular sticks out. It's called "A Beautiful Life" - I've thought of this song so much this past week and imagined him leading it. I thought we sang it at his funeral (it was one of the choices, but we didn't end up singing it.) The first verse is:

Each day I'll do,
A golden deed
By helping Those
Who are in need
My life on earth
is but a span
and so I'll do
the best I can.

I love that I can hear his voice sing this song in my head. My Grandpa had a truly beautiful life loving God and his family. And I believe he did the very best he could and is reaping those rewards in heaven today.

He was 88-years-young and had been feeling sick and tired for a while. I got to visit with him on the weekend before he passed away and he had a great weekend. I know where he was going and while I'm sad he's not here with me, because he was a REALLY WONDERFUL Grandpa. I am comforted knowing he's up there in heaven with old friends and new friends and looking out for us down here. He's probably got a garden growing and he's making rocking horses, dollhouses and trains for the kids in heaven just like he did for us. He's also probably fishing in a river where the fish are always biting. And I bet while he's doing all of it he never stops singing.