Recently my Grandpa passed away and it was so tough. He was an amazing man who served his country and his faith for many years. I think I'm ready to talk about some of my memories and stories...
He loved talking about being in the military and was proud of his accomplishments! He often told funny stories of the things that happened. I remember only a couple of times him telling us of the darker, deeper stories of men being blown up in front of him or the guy next to him having his arm shot to pieces. I think he wanted to protect us from those scary real life moments as his granddaughters. I always will remember him as being a brave man!
Another thing he enjoyed was preaching the Gospel and sharing God's love. He was the Pastor of our church for over 20 years. I remember if we were at their house on a Saturday we had to be sure to stay out of his office and be a little more quiet because he had to study. I thought for sure he must have known the Bible from cover to cover because he studied ALL the time. As little girls, my sister and I would often fall asleep during the Sunday evening service while he was preaching and he enjoyed teasing us about how boring he must have been! Then later when we were having dinner he would ask one of us to pray for the meal and as soon as we would say "Amen" he would start snoring, turning the tables on us!
Every time I pass a Kit Kat Bar I think of him because it was his favorite. He would stop by our house every few weeks and as soon as he pulled up we knew there would be a treat for us. He would either have them tucked in his shirt pocket or a brown paper bag. It was the best!
My Grandpa has also been a part of so many of my memories... He baptized me on my 6th birthday. He and my Grandma were at all of my birthday parties. They attended my High School graduation and he was so proud. He and my Uncle Steve married Jeff and I. He was at the hospital for the birth of all three of my boys and was beaming about having another Great Grandson.
I am so thankful for the time my own boys had to spend with him because they have wonderful memories of their Great Grandpa! He was always spoiling them with toys and money. He was a wonderful Great Grandpa and I know they will cherish those memories!
What an amazing man... I thank God for giving him to me as a Grandpa!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
In Memory of my Gramps...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Feels like forever
It's been so long since I posted here. I've missed you blogging friends but facebook has stolen so much of my time from you! If you're on there, stop by and say hi.
We've had lots going on while I was away...
~ Celebrated my 28th birthday
~ Celebrated my 9th anniversary with Jeff
~ Celebrated with 2 friends as they brought babies home
~ Attended a wedding for two sweet friends
~ Enjoyed 2 wonderful weeks of spring break with Josh
~ Enjoyed 2 Fridays in a row with hubby being home
~ Started the GO missions training with the HS students at church
There's probably more but my mind can't process it all right now. I'll be back to share more later. Just thought I better update a little so you didn't think I was gone forever :o)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Can you believe he's the first?
With three boys in our family you would think this wasn't anything new. Monday we were visiting at Grandma and Papa's house and I heard a smack and then crying. The kind of crying where a Mama knows something is definitely wrong. I guess my Mom said "Someone's going to need stitches" and I didn't even hear her. I was so focused on getting out there to see what happened.
Come to find out, Josh was "teaching" Seth to golf with a big piece of wood. It was actually one of those rods that you hang your clothes on in the closet. Unfortunately for Seth his head became the golf ball! Josh felt horrible and was patting Seth on the back saying, "You know I would never hurt you on purpose, right Seth?"
We decided to head to urgent care because we only have to pay a $20 co-pay there. Plus, we thought we might get in and out quicker and be on our way. We sat in the waiting room for about 25 minutes and then went back to the room. They came in, cleaned it up and put some numbing medicine on it. We had to wait another 15 minutes for that to kick in. Then the doc came in and got all ready... let the freak out begin! Jeff, Grandma and I all tried to hold him down while the doc sat back and waited. I was getting frustrated that he wouldn't give us a hand. So after a couple minutes he said he was done and it just wasn't going to work.
We got to the ER and the waiting room was packed! We waited to be seen in triage for about 30 minutes. They told us it would probably be about a 2 hour wait. What to do with a kid that has blood running down his face for 2 hours in a dirty, infected waiting room. We asked if we could go grab something to eat and got the okay. Seth was excited to find cheese pizza in the cafeteria and even more excited to have strawberry milk with it!
Back in the ER, we were entertained by another family sitting next to us. They laughed and joked with us about life. Grandma and Seth played one of his favorite games where you draw shapes, numbers and letters on his back and he figures out what it is. Great education while filling time. It took a little over 3 hours before they called his name but we made the most of it and there will always be memories of that night!
Sorry, that ended up being longer than I intended it to be! Here's what you get when you mix two little boys and a rod...
The deal Grandma made with him... A $10 toy from Toys R Us!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
As for Me and My House...
Thursday started out a little rough. Josh woke up and realized he hadn't done his homework the night before so that sent him into a tizzy trying to get it done. Then Seth woke up very cranky and only wanted some "Mama Loving" (as he calls it). Jacob was just an innocent bystander unfortunately and cried because that's how he deals some times! We got the homework finished up, packed a lunch and we were headed for the garage.
By the time we got in the van, everyone was in a bad mood, especially me. Then it was arguing because Seth's seat wasn't in the right spot and it had to have been Josh's fault. Josh then yelled at Seth because he wasn't the one who had moved the seat but thought I had. You get the point!
I had finally had it and said loudly to the children and anyone listening... "That is it! Satan you don't have a place here and I will not let you control our day. You will not come in my house because we serve the Lord and you need to get OUT!" The kids looked shocked because I've only done this a few times in the past and usually I do it quietly. I then prayed and took Josh to school.
The day went on and I thought nothing else about the situation. Until later that day when my three boys and the two I babysit were all in the backyard playing. They were playing just fine until something set one of them off and the arguing began. This is what I hear Seth screaming in the backyard...
"Satan came in! Satan came in! He's needs to get out!!"
I could only imagine what my neighbors were thinking! Josh came running in to make sure I could hear what was happening. I guess it really hit home with Seth and he was not going to let Satan come back to our home and mess with us!
I love that my children take these things so seriously because the evil one is lurking about and wants to control and derail our days. I once heard Beth Moore say that God has a plan for your life but the Satan does, too! It's so scary to think about and so real. We need to guard our hearts, minds and homes from his evil plots and schemes and if that means kicking his butt to the curb once in a while... you better believe I will!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tag
Directions:
Open up the 6th picture folder on your computer.
Post the 6th picture in the folder and tell the story of it.
Then tag 6 of your friends.
This is a picture I took of my Grandpa with Jacob last summer. My Grandpa has been pretty sick for the last ten years. We have had some close calls and never thought he'd still be here but he still keeps right on kicking. I snapped this picture so Jacob would have some way to look back and remember his Great Grandpa. Makes me feel so blessed that my Grandparents are involved in my kids lives!
Thanks for tagging me Kim!
I'm tagging... Mom, Sherry, Julie, Jen, Jodi and Shawnette
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The sky is falling
My son Josh is a hypochondriac and I feel for him, I really do. Last night I was leaving Starbucks after a night out with some of the High School girls and ended up having to pull over because I got so sick. My mind was racing and felt like it might explode... my mini van is messy enough without brains splattered all over! I honestly don't remember all of it and think I gave my sister a bit of a scare. She kept asking these strange questions and I have a feeling I was talking crazy. Sorry Sherry!
I'm so blessed to have parents that live close by. They met me about half way and my Mom drove me home. Anyway, as soon as my Mom got me in the door Josh heard what was going on and started to panic. I heard him say, "Does she need to go to the ER?" I was out of it after that but Jeff says he immediately started saying he was sick and couldn't make it through school the next day. This happens whenever one of his brothers gets sick. He mysteriously ends up with the same thing!
Jeff and I laugh inside because it really is pretty funny. We are onto him though. Jeff said this morning he was actually crying as he got out of the car and would not look back! I will pick him up in about 10 minutes and we'll see how the day went. I have a feeling he's all better now!
Friday, February 06, 2009
Prayer
Jen posted something amazing about her girls praying today and I loved it... Go check it out!
We have talked with the boys about prayer so many times. We try to help them understand that it's not all about asking but also about thanking and praising. They've gotten better but once in a while they get in a rut and can't seem to get out.
Thinking about kids praying reminds me that Jacob said his first prayer about a month ago and it was so sweet. We've been trying to read the Bible in the evening with the boys and then we start with the youngest and make our way around to the oldest for prayer time. Jeff was going to start with Seth but since he's not the youngest, he was offended. He wanted Jacob to go first. Jeff told him that Jake was too young to pray. I disagreed and gave it a try, here's how it went...
Me: Dear Jesus
Jacob: Jeeeesus
Me: Thank you for this day
Jacob: Tank ooow da
Me: I love you
Jacob: Yu ooow
Me: Amen
Jacob: Ameeeee
It melted my heart to hear him saying those words to the Lord. I think it's a great start!
