I love you Grandpa

This is my sweet grandpa. He passed away this last Father's Day. I've been so spoiled to have grown up all my life knowing all 4 of my grandparents and 3 great-grandmas. All my life I have lived within a 25 minute drive from Grandpa Richard and Grandma LaWana. Because of this I have been able to have a very close relationship with them. However it makes it harder to say good-bye.

There are so many good memories that have been coming to mind the last few days. Grandpa was diabetic, so there is always sugar free candy at the house. That didn't stop him from finding the good stuff and sneaking treats, though. My grandpa was funny. He would sass my grandma (she kind of likes to boss people a bit) and I was lucky enough to witness it! One of my favorite times was when I walked into the kitchen, and into a little spat...

Cassie: "I hope you two aren't fighting again."
Grandma: "We're not fighting."
Grandpa: "She's still standin', ain't she?"

I witnessed my cute grandpa sticking his tongue out at grandma when she was trying to give him his medicine; putting up his fists like he was ready for a boxing match when she was trying to boss him a little bit; and putting an empty banana peel on the counter like it still had the banana in it to try to trick her. I tattled on him for the banana, told gram that he hadn't finished his dinner. He called me a traitor! I had to work really hard for the rest of the evening to get back my "favorite grand-daughter" status. I did it though.

Grandpa spent his life working with his hands. I believe he may have even been a mechanic and worked on airplanes during one of the wars, I'll have to double check with Gram on that. He has a wood shop out back where he could build anything. I have a desk that he built me one year for Christmas when I was younger. He loved making these little wishing wells. All my aunts and uncles have one, and he even made a mini one to go on their fire place in the living room. Alyssa loves to play with the bucket and rolls it up and down in the well.

He could fix anything. Even cars, but not if they're foreign. If it's not a Chevy, then you shouldn't even be driving it, according to Grandpa.
As he got older and worked less outside, he came to LOVE word search puzzles. He was always at the kitchen table doing a word search. I, of course, liked to help him find words that he'd had trouble finding, and could usually do it pretty quickly. He would just look up at me like "how did you know that was there?" and say "I've been lookin' for that one."

Grandpa loves Alyssa. Whenever I would take her over, he would brighten right up and say "Come here to Grandpa." Of course Alyssa, not really liking to go to anyone would run off. But before the visit was through Grandpa would have his hug and kiss from her. Just last week, on Thursday, we took him out on the back deck in his wheel chair. Alyssa climbed on up on his lap and got to go for rides around the deck. She loved it so much she cried when it was time to get down and come inside.

Grandpa also loves stuffed animals. The super soft kind. Every time he had to go to the hospital my mom would get him a "hospital" prize. He has so many stuffed animals they don't all fit on his bed anymore. Whenever he would get a new one, he would bring it out to the living room and ask if we had met his new friend that was "keeping him company." The past couple years he's been sleeping with a stuffed puppy that I gave to him. Alyssa loves all of them, of course, and Grandpa was always so willing to share them with her.

My most precious gift from my Grandpa is my piano. I believe it was his mother's. My mom put me in piano lessons when I was 5 years old, and we would go to my grandparents so I could practice. When my parents moved to their house in Kearns Grandpa said we could take it with us so I could have it. It's the same piano that's sitting in my living room today. Grandpa always talked about this music box that used to be attached beneath the keys at the top of the keyboard. Knowing how old the piano was, I couldn't really picture what he was talking about, but sure enough, there are holes under the keyboard to attach something, exactly where he said they were. I am so grateful to have that piece of my Grandpa in my home.

I love my Grandpa. I'm going to miss him so much. I am truly thankful for my knowledge of the gospel. I know I will be able to see him again. I know that he's with our Father in Heaven and has been reunited with his family that has past on before. I know he's been able to spend time with Kadence. I believe that he's taking his time loving on little Karlee before she comes to join us here on earth. And for probably the first time ever, he and my uncle Willis may actually win aunt Donna in an argument. Grandma isn't there after all to even things out or help take the lead.

I love you Grandpa. I miss you so much already and can't wait to see you again.