Friday, January 18, 2008

Grandpa

I lost my Grandpa yesterday - he fought a long, hard battle and we are glad he is with His Maker, but it made me reflect on all I've learned from him.

My Grandpa was the man who....

...taught me to love oatmeal for breakfast.
...gave me my love of the farm and all animals.
...showed me gracefully how to get out of the cow drop - even with my Sunday Clothes on!!
...inspired my love of a large bowl of popcorn - completely soaked in butter.
...was the smallest man I know, but worked his whole life with huge dairy cows!
...was often stooped under the weight of large pails he was lugging on the farm.
...showed me how important it is to start your day with God.
...I wanted to make sure my kids knew ~ so we went to visit him every time we went back home.
...loved to laugh ~ it came all the way from his toes - I never knew such a great laugh could come from such a small man. It was contagious.
...wanted to make sure his children and grandchildren had a Godly heritage.
...would scare me by falling asleep in his big chair, head tipped back, mouth wide open, and a toothpick dangling half in and half out of his mouth. I just knew he'd suck that toothpick right down his windpipe sometime!
...taught me to drive a tractor.
...would be driving along and close the eye closest to me so I would think he was asleep - scared me every time he did it!
...taught me to bale hay.
...loved every man equally.
...knew no earthly wealth except that of his family and His God.
...I couldn't wait to spend a week with every summer growing up.
...introduced me to newborn chicks...AND later, the fine art of putting chickens in crates to take them to be butchered.
...tried to teach me to milk a cow and gave up and showed me how to attach automatic milkers instead!
...always gave me a hug - even though I knew hugging wasn't his "thing".
...will live on in my memory as one of the finest, most Godly, men I know.
...never complained - but showed me how to find something positive - even when I knew he could have found plenty to complain about.
...was his happiest sitting atop his John Deere tractor or out with his cows. He loved his farm.
...was not afraid of hard work - he worked hard everyday of his life until he couldn't work anymore - and then you could just see his discontent with being cooped up inside all day.
...everyone liked Grandpa ~ I didn't know anyone that spoke a mean word about him.
...was a grandchild's gift ~ a very rare gift.
...knew how to handle disappointment - I could learn a lot from him.
...who earned the respect of many.
...who was incredibly humble.
...is now with His Heavenly Father.

(This isn't the greatest picture of my Grandpa, but I love it with his hand on Micah's.)

38 comments:

jennifer said...

I am so sorry for your loss. How blessed you are to have had such a wonderful man speak into your life as you were growing up.

Steffie B. said...

I am so sorry Becky.....you are in my thoughts and prayers....

Jen said...

You are very blessed to have had such a great relationship with and such great memories of your grandpa! I'm sorry for your sadness but rejoice with you that he is now in heaven.

Lisa said...

Becky - I'm so sorry about the loss of your Grandpa. Praying that God's peace floods your heart and your family.

Verna said...

Your granpa was a great man. Celebrate that he is in the presence of the Almighty God. (Wonder if there are cow in heaven? I grew up on a dairy farm.)

sara h. said...

let's not forget....

---always stood while driving his big tractor, while various grandkids sat on the seat and he would yell "hang on to your whiskers" when he started to go.(your warning to really hold on!)

---had to be awoken by a grandchild yelling "grandpa your in the rocks" on the way home from sunday night church. (quite often really...rather amazing he never went in the ditch.)

---named almost every cat that ever was at his house puff.

--- eating pizza pockets at "bob's tasty treats" while "helping" him deliver the chickens (that we loved as chicks then chased to send to butcher)

---used to milk the cows before anyone even thought of getting up then would come inside and scrape the creamy gunk stuff off the top of the milk and put in on a piece of bread and eat it! YUCK! but boy he loved it!

---was the sweetest strongest cutest little grandpa anyone could be lucky enough to have!

Kim said...

So sorry for your loss..
I know how special Grandparents are and when you lose them it is sooo hard..
Hugs to you my friend.
You are in my thoughts and prayers..

A Mom- In-W8ing said...

I am so sorry for your loss. I will be thinking of you durring this difficult time.

Smiles! :o)
Nikki

Monkey Giggles said...

Dear Sweet Friend, I am truly sorry for your loss. I love to hear Grandpa and Grandma stories. It brought tears to my eyes.

You and your family will be in my prayers.

Here is a hug!

Jana said...

What a beautiful tribute to a man who obviously, despite his slight stature, was larger than life. My prayers are with you and your family. May you find comfort and peace in your loving memories and in the arms of family and friends.

jana

Mr.Brian said...

Becky what a wonderful post.
I sat hear and had tears running down my cheeks reading it.He sounds like a wonderful man.
I think of my grandpa often and how I was always his little buddy.Those memories will last a lifetime.
Please know I will be thinking of you and praying for you.
God bless,
Love Mr.Brian

Carrie said...

Becky, I am sorry to hear about your loving granfather. You have so many wonderful memories that sounded like life building lessons for you and what a rare gift! Keeping you in thought and prayer along with your family knowing you will celebrate his life.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for the lost of your Grandpa, Becky. You have some wonderful memories to hold on to.

Sandra said...

I am sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts...

Middle-Aged Moi said...

That was a wonderful tribute to what sounds like a great man.

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

My prayers will be with you and your family. My deepest sympathy.....

Denise C said...

OH Becky,

That was the most beautiful tribute to your Grandfather! He sounded like such a fine man with a HUGE heart who is rejoicing with the angels right now! What a gift his life was to you and many others who were blessed to meet him!

I'll be lifting your sweet family in prayer as you deal with all that this time of loss entails.

Standing in the gap for you my sister in Christ!

Love and hugs,
Denise C

Eileen said...

I'm so sorry Becky. What a beautiful tribute to your grandpa!

Amy said...

I'm sorry, it is hard to lose such a gift.

JulieM said...

Becky I'm so sorry for your loss!! What a beautiful tribute to your grandpa and what wonderful memories you have and are able to share with your kidos of a very special grandpa!

Rachael said...

Sorry for your family's loss, Becky.

Anonymous said...

My love to you. Such a bittersweet time, sad for you and joyous for your grandpa. I love the picture of him with Micah, very precious.

Anonymous said...

Becky, Thank you for the tribute to such a nice man; and thank you Sara for adding to it. You have a wonderful family legacy. I am so glad your kids got to know him. Give your Mama an extra hug!
Love, Aunt Jan

Whitty's Four said...

Your in my prayers Mrs. Becky. We were so sorry to hear of your loss.

Karen

Nikki said...

Oh Becky, I'm sorry I'm so late in reading this...I'm sooo sorry for your loss. I just sobbed thru this post. I love how much you loved your grandpa and he seemed like an incredible man who indeed taught you A LOT.
I love the picture - his hand placement is the first thing I noticed.
XOXO

Anonymous said...

Dear Becky, just read your blog and wanted to send my deepest sympathy for the loss of your wonderful grandpa. I smile at the picture of you learning to drive a tractor with him! Love and prayers, Kristi Hend

kitchu said...

Becky,
I am so sorry for your loss. Your grandfather sounds like such an amazing man. That part about starting the day with God? Wow. I want to pass that on to my own child as well.

Beautiful post. I hope you find healing in all those great memories.

Pam said...

Becky, I'm sorry for your lose. Your post was sweet. It made me think of my granddaddy that I lost when I was 13.

Jewels of My Heart said...

I am so sorry for your loss... what a special legacy he left behind. How comforting to know he is laughing with his Lord and Savior Jesus now...
God's Peace,
Daleea

Barbie said...

Your grandpa sounds like he was a very special man. What a blessing that he knew his Savior. I will be praying for your family.

Julie said...

I am so sorry for your loss.
Sounds like you have some wonderful memories to hang on to.

Anonymous said...

Oh Becky, I am so sorry.

m & m said...

Becky,
Sorry to hear about your loss! What a treasure to have been blessed with such a strong and loving male role model! I had tears reading your post. Be happy in the knowledge that he lived life well and is now smiling down on you and your family and is watching over you all! Blessings! Melissa

Carey said...

What a wonderful tribute, Becky, and a wonderful legacy. Praying for God's peace for you until you get to see him again in Heaven someday!

Kim N Jeff said...

Becky,
Sorry to hear about your loss sounds like he was a wonderful man who will be missed by many but will live on in your hearts.

k1 said...

Sorry you lost a Grandpa that obviously was a very special man.

Wish I had positive memories of my (step) grandfather. Cherish those memories when you start to miss him!

Gwen Oatsvall said...

so sorry for your lose, but rejoicing for the angels in heaven ... grandparents are like no other and your grandpa did a great job in shaping you because you are one of a kind !!!!

Patricia said...

I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute to an amazing man! May you find peace and comfort in your loving memories of him.

Patricia/NYC

When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don't go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all you do.
~Deuteronomy 24:19

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