Last Tuesday, March 17th, my sweet 91 year-old grandfather passed from this home to his eternal Home. I imagine it was a sweet reunion filled with many smiles, hugs and laughter between him, my grandmother, and my mom. Grandfather was a WWII pilot. His study was filled with model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and I used to love going in there, grabbing a true glass bottle of coke, and looking at all the pictures of him and his bride, he in his airforce uniform, etc.
He loved steaks and cooked them for the family as often as he could. He was, without a doubt, the slowest eater I have ever met. I remember him laughing so hard watching Johnny Carson that tears would run down his face. When you asked him to recount what was so funny he couldn't ever get the story out because he couldn't stop laughing.
He knew and loved the Lord, and taught Sunday School at his church. I saw him trust the Lord in good times and in the most difficult of times. He loved his family tremendously, although having all 8 of us grandkids in the house at one time made him a nervous wreck. He loved my grandmother well and they enjoyed nearly 65 years of marriage before she too went Home three years ago. I will never forget how quickly they jumped up to dance when a big band song played at my wedding, even though they were 80 and 81 years old and Grandmother had just had her knees replaced. I'll never forget how hard losing my mom was on him.
I bounced back and forth on whether or not to go to the funeral because it was in North Carolina, tickets were expensive, and I had just gotten back from a youth trip days before. But I am so glad I went. I know that I have an amazing family, but it made my heart swell with love and pride being surrounded by them. There is a legacy of love for the Lord, love for family, and love for others that is painted so beautifully in the lives of my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc.
Grandfather, I'm so thankful for what you have meant in my life and I look forward to spending eternity with you in a place where we will expereince no more tears, sorrow, death, or mourning. Please plant some azaleas around my mansion and set aside some time to teach Jason and I to dance as well as you and Grandmother did. And give my Mom a kiss for me. What it must be like to be in the presence of the King! I'm glad you are truly Home.
"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands." Deut. 7:9
(Forgot my suitcase with my camera in it up in NC so once I get that back...thank you Bruce and Lauren...I'll post some pics from the trip.)
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