I am a child of God!

I AM A CHILD OF GOD

This past week as I stayed with Grandpa. I had the privilege of serving him one last time before he passes into the next life. This was my way of showing my gratitude and love for him. Though he was the one being taken care of, I feel like I got more out of it than he did. I got to know him better.

I learned the title of his and my Grandma's song and also learned that "I Am a Child of God" was the first song he learned when he became a member of the church. Maggie and I sang a couple of songs to him to help him relax every night we stayed, but on Friday night while we were sitting there Mom, Maggie, Aunt Amy and I, Maggie and I decided to sing to him to help him sleep. We asked him what song to sing and he requested "I Am a Child of God."

It was the most spiritual rendition of the song I have ever heard. All four of us started to sing and within the first line of the song Grandpa joined in. He didn't miss a word and his speech was not slurred the entire 3 verses. It was such a great moment that I will cherish the rest of my life.

As I look back on my memories with him, I have many. Most involve the little black triumph car that my dad now has possession of. Grandpa would take us to breakfast in this little car and we would always order strawberry waffles. Still to this day, I get those when I go out for breakfast. He also would take us to get shakes and then go off to Salem to show us where he grew up.

Oh I loved going to his house in the summers. He had this massive backyard and it was the perfect place to play croquette and have summer barbecues. He love the small succulent plants called Hens & Chicks, he loved to garden. I still have a spider plant off his massive plant. He would teach me all about plants and how to take care of them. He had a garage that he turned into a small green house full of geraniums. Also, when we would stay up there, he would show us trains and we would run to see the trains coming up the street. He loved trains.

After I got married, he took Chris in as if he was his own. Chris loves Grandpa and his naughty streak, which is not so naughty. He also got to witness Grandpa change. We had opportunities to stay with him and learn about his family history. We learned of his childhood and how sad it really was. We learned about his dad and his grandmother who raised him. He even took us to their graves so I could document them.

I will miss my Grandpa, but I am excited for him to see his beautiful wife after 48 years of separation and his son when he goes. I am also excited that he will be made whole again, after having to live with the after math of his childhood polio. I will miss his walk, though he had not been able to do so in a while. I will miss his hands. I noticed this past weekend as I held his hand, that I had his hands. I will miss his love for animals and people. He welcomes everyone and had brought so much to those he lived with in Jamestown Retirement Home.

I witnessed lines of people on Sunday, giving him their respect and heard stories of how he made that place the place it is. They said the whole meeting on Sunday (Fast Sunday) was about my grandpa and his impact on their lives. My grandpa is an amazing person and a huge example of the atonement. I'll miss you Grandpa but it won't be long before I will see you again.

Last good picture I have with Grandpa.
I have a couple from this weekend, but this is how I remember him. Not sickly in bed.

Love You Always Grandpa!