This picture was from summer of 2007 -- Grandpa with 3-year-old Benjamin. Grandpa LOVED to fish and here he is cleaning a few fish we had caught together.
It was a beautiful funeral. Granny was so strong and gracious. Many of the 165 family members were able to be there, and it was nice to see so many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. The theme I got from the service is to live your life according to the Spirit . . . do all you can to be able to hear the Spirit and then go and obey. Both of my grandparents have been such wonderful examples of righteous living, and I am so grateful for the heritage they've provided for me!
I especially loved a story I had never heard before: When Grandpa was 7 years old, his dad decided that he was old enough to go out on the horse and tend the cows in a field away from home all day long. As he was getting ready to go, his dad put a small Book of Mormon and New Testament in Grandpa's shirt pocket and said, "It can be lonely out there all day and you'll want to have something to read." That year, at the age of 7, he read the Book of Mormon and gained a strong and deep testimony of the gospel and looked forward to his baptism. I realized that I underestimate what my little ones are capable of reading and understanding. I want to emulate my great-grandfather's example and help my kids develop a strong testimony in their youth, that they can be strong to withstand the trials and temptations they will face.
Here are some pictures we took at the luncheon afterwards. I was so amazed that Granny and Grandpa's ward fed all 100 or so of us! Wow!
Elizabeth enjoyed her cookie and my brownie!
Creamies . . . I remember getting these all the time at Granny and Grandpa's house when we would visit each summer. I was the same age these 2 boys are now.
Sam and Melissa sitting by Joshua. Sam got home from his mission the night before Grandpa died.
I see you!
Nathan was so excited to be able to take some of the flowers home.
Joshua got this flower from the arrangement on the casket at the cemetery. Any family member who wanted a flower was able to take one. I smile that he picked my favorite flower (he didn't know it at the time) and it even matched our family!
2 comments:
Sorry to hear about your Grandpa! Funerals are so bitter sweet.
Funerals are always bittersweet. YOu know they have gone to a better place...but somehow funerals have a way of bringing loved ones together. David and I both lost an uncle in the last three weeks. We have been doing a lot of funeraling at our house.
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