Grandpa is his name.
|14.Jul.2007Grandpa.
For many of us, the name Grandpa stirs up warm fuzzies. Grandpa stands tall and sure. Grandpa leads you around and around the lake and back pastures on a horse until you can ride on your own. Grandpa shows his endless patience by rescuing go-carts from barbed wire fences and then secretly places a governor on the go-cart to reduce future go-cart calamities.
Grandpa rises early to help Grandma make pancakes, eggs and biscuits. Grandpa is a cozy shoulder to lean against while he reads God’s Word with Grandma in morning devotions. Grandpa plays the piano every evening before Big 2 News. Grandpa wears blue coveralls and a straw hat and can build a tractor from the ground up. If you look closely, Grandpa’s straw hat can be seen above the stalks of corn in the garden. Grandpa loves peanuts and pears and corn on the cob. Grandpa is old fashioned, peaceful, loving and kind.
The word Grandpa stirs up the warmest of memories and the deepest affection.
Grandpa is 91 years old now. He lost Grandma to Alzheimer’s 5 years ago. He doesn’t hear well, see well, or get around well. He uses a scooter to attend his downsized garden, has his letters read to him, can’t see the TV unless he’s right up on it, and speaks about heaven and his “perfect body” every time I’m with him.
He broke his hip this week. He didn’t fall … just took one step that was too much pressure on an already fractured bone. He’s been in the hospital and will go through rehab. He’s not much for hospitals – not this man that couldn’t bear to stay in the house for longer than it took to sleep, shower or help cook and eat a meal. He’ll need a cheering squad.
And he has one.
I love my Grandpa. So many of my sweetest memories of childhood involve this man, Grandma, and their ranch. What a blessing. I count him as one of my life’s great riches.
And speaking of the name Grandpa … another Grandpa was gracious enough to spare me of the imminent pie in the face threat. A very large contribution from one of the girls’ Grandpas put us over the top in missions offerings. I had the absolute DELIGHT of being the pie tosser and not the pie receiver. If anyone shares their photos of the event, I’ll share them with you!
15 Comments
Aileen
Way to avoid the pie carnage!! Did you rub it in? ;-)
This is a very sweet and loving tribute to your grandpa. I, sadly, have none, as both have passed on years before, and my little girl will never get to know her grampy who left this world before she turned 1. I cherish the memories I have with mine.
nyjlm
I hope grandpa gets better quickly. I’m sending some cheer out for him.
So sad to see our grandparents ill or hurt like that, isn’t it? I’ll never forget seeing my grandpa after he was hit by a car.
and hooray for avoiding pie in the face.
Lanna
You made me tear up. Both my grandpas wore coveralls/overalls and could build a tractor, house or combine from the ground up (and actually did it!). Although one Grandpa listened to Laurence Welk on PBS or record before the King5 news. ;) Now I miss my grandparents and want to go cry because they never got to meet dh or their great-grandsons… :(
Holley
I lost my only grandfather five years ago to cancer. He was a lovable giant in my eyes. A big man who played football for The Bear at the University of Alabama. When I went to Auburn University, he switched allegiance. I truly miss Hatporter ( Porter Hatfield), my cousin nicknamed him when we were little.
I’ll pray for your grandpa’s swift recovery. The tears welled up while reading his story, so if you don’t mind, I think I’ll love your grandpa too.
sherry
What a wonderful tear-bringing tribute to a great Grandpa. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family for a full recovery.
Laura/PinkFontGirl
(there were a bunch of hearts here)
that was sweet…i think in every grandpa we can all find a bit of our own.
(and more here)
KYouell
Wow. What a treasure to still have him around and for your kids to be able to know him. My grandparents are long gone; they didn’t see me married let alone have kids. In fact, something my hubby said when he proposed was that he was sorry he waited until after my grandpa was gone.
It’s our anniversary today (3 years married, 13 years together) so it was on my mind. Thanks for sharing your grandpa with us.
Sandra
What a lovely tribute to your Grandpa. I lost mine when I was a small child but still have wonderful memories of the time we had together.
I will pray for a speedy recovery for him. My mom (who uses a walker) recently had knee replacement surgery and although the recovery did take about a month in rehab, she is much better now and home again. Although the recovery is long and slow, he will be much better after the surgery and rehab and will likely be able to get around alot better once he is fully healed. Just thought I’d give you a ray of sunshine that this hip replacement may be a blessing to him once he gets through rehab.
Vicki
I will keep you all in my prayers … I never got to know my grandfathers very well … but my grandmothers were very special to me … Miss them all …
OMSH
Aileen – Of course I did an extra ‘twist’ of the pie dish once it hit its mark. :)
I understand about the memories you cherish. I have so many of them that when I start writing they just pour out. I keep sharing them with my kiddos – they have no idea how fortunate they are to have GREAT-grandparents.
nyjlm – I lost my great grandfather because of a car accident. It was quick, and then he was gone, but at 97 he still could drive to the post office and back home (across the road) without much ado. But that one day … well, it was hard. It was even harder watching my grandmother (his daughter) mourn his death.
Lanna – Although one Grandpa listened to Laurence Welk on PBS – Bwahahaha! My uncle taped hours and hours of Lawrence Welk for my Grandpa to watch/listen to!
Holley – I don’t mind – and neither would he. Love him all you want! Prayers work too! *wink*
sherry – We’ll certainly take those prayers! And thank you. :)
Laura/PinkFontGirl – Thanks for all the hearts – and I fully agree. Something about that abundance of love and the wisdom that life has shown them just works wonders, doesn’t it?
KYouell – Jeff often mentions he wishes that Kenny knew his father – he died 8 years ago from renal cancer. He only knew Em, but never met Mer and Kenny. I think of all the people who have impacted my life and I do feel blessed that a good deal of them are still here with me to impact my children’s lives too.
Sandra – I know he is doped up, but they already had him on a walker and he mentioned that he wasn’t in pain. Of course, he fractured the bone, they believe, back in May. And then, the hip was broken for 3 days before he allowed his son and son-in-law to get him to the doctor. His pain tolerance is rather high. But I do worry that rehab will sadden him – being inside and all. That is my biggest concern right now.
Vicki – Thank you. *HUGS*
Kristine
What a beautiful post and precious pictures.
Angella
What a tribute to an amazing man. You are blessed to have such a wonderful Grandpa!
OMSH
Kristine and Angella – Thank ou so much. ;) I am blessed, yes. :)
Loralee
Oh, I needed this post. Someone who really “Gets” Grandpa’s. I lost mine in 1992 and I miss him terribly. Due to family losses the past few weeks he has been on my mind a lot. I think our Grandpa’s have many similarities…They even had similar wardrobe choices (And a very strong faith).
Thanks again. This lifted my heart.
Mom2Six
About 12-15 years ago, my grandfather broke his hip, too, when his horse spooked. He loved to joke about setting off metal detectors at the airport because of his replacement hip. He was back on his horses ropin’ with his older brother until Grandpa passed away almost two years ago. I still miss him.
I wish your grandfather a speedy recovery, and hope you can share many memories yet to come!