So I Wont Forget

August 20, 2014

The morning started out just awful. It had been my worst morning as far as morning sickness goes: Sick 4 times in 2 hours. What?! I was moving slow and London was moving super fast. I did manage to shower and throw my hair in to a top knot, as I do everyday these days. London and I were upstairs in her room when my mom called. It was around lunch time, so I thought it was a little odd for her to call. I answered the phone and could tell she was crying before she even said anything. The sobbing and the words, 'I have some bad news,' that followed made my heart sink. 'Granddad just passed away.' Instantly I started crying asking, 'What?!" Seriously, no. I just saw him a few weeks ago at Grandmoms 80th birthday dinner at Provinos. He was fine. London, I, and the pups left immediately. As I learned how everything happened, I honestly know if granddad could've picked his way to leave this Earth it would've been the same way. On the golf course doing what he loved with people he loved. The whole family gathered together at Grandmom and Granddads house for the rest of the day and the next day we met at the funeral home to see him one last time and say our goodbyes. He was dressed in what he typically would be wearing: a golf shirt and slacks, as well as his golf glove that he wore the previous day when he died.

The whole time I was looking at him, holding my daughter on my hip, my heart ached knowing she wouldn't remember him and that baby #2 would never get to meet him. He got to hear London say 'granddad' for the first time at Grandmoms birthday dinner, and thats also when they found out about baby #2. Im grateful for that moment. And then I started thinking about other moments I am grateful for which is the whole purpose of this post, to jot them down so I won't forget…(in no particular order)

1. Im grateful for the period of time when my mom and I lived with you and grandmom when I was little. I don't remember it. But we have a ton of home videos that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

2. Im grateful for the times spent in your upholstery shop. Playing upstairs on all the big rolls of upholstery and in the cubbies that were hidden behind all of your sample books.

3. Im grateful for all the halloweens of seeing you as Frankenstein. You were the best.

My 1st Halloween 1988

Halloween 1996

4. Im grateful for the memories of you playing with my ears. Mostly because it drove mama crazy, but it felt good too.

5. Im grateful for the song I always sang to you, "Granddad's gonna get in trouuuuble," while shrugging my shoulders back in fourth.

6. Im grateful for the big hugs and kisses on top of my head that were joined with a 'Hey/Bye Honey or Sugar.'

New Years 2012

7. Im grateful that you were the FIRST person to know that Jason wanted to ask me to marry him.

8. Im grateful you got to see me marry the man of my dreams.

9. Im grateful that you and Jason could talk for hours about whatever. But mostly about Jesus.

10. Im grateful for the memories of swinging on your back swing with you. You always wanted to know how things were going and what was new.

11. Im grateful for you getting to meet London. And especially for getting to hear her say 'Granddad to you', which by the way, she still does when she see's your picture.

12. Im thankful you got to be there for Londons 1st birthday party. Its the only one you will have gotten to attend.

13. Im grateful for the pool you had built and kept up so the grandkids to have one to play in any time we wanted. And for the memory of when you tried getting in one time on your chair float (and it could fold out to be a chaise lounge type thing) and it flipped over backwards with you in it.

14. Im grateful for the time you came out and I made dinner and we took your and grand moms pictures in photo booth on the funny settings.