Dear Gramps,
Wow, what a crazy week I have
had. It almost doesn’t seem real to me that you are gone. It feels like just
yesterday you were rushing home to see Scarlette and already her time with you
is over on this earth, at this time. How I treasure every moment you got to
spend with her. The Lord works in mysterious ways and I sometimes wonder “Why my Grandpa?” “Why Now?”. I know that
Scarlette will grow up and ask about you and I know what I will tell her.
Simply, “He was the best Grandpa a girl could ask for”. I was your first
granddaughter and you always made me feel so special. You came to all of my
soccer games, choir concerts, award ceremonies and life events. I looked
forward to you picking me up from school to take me to orthodontic appointments
and when we would go on trips together. 22 ½ years is a long time to know
somebody and I pray that our memories will stay with me in time. What an
amazing blessing it was for you to be with me in the temple while my parents
waited outside. This gift is something none of the other grandchildren will
experience with you in your earthly body. I hope I may feel of your spirit as I
attend the temple in the future. Gramps, I just love you so much. As I am
writing this I think to myself how many words I left unspoken yet how they
didn’t need to be spoken for you to know.
The
memories that I will treasure most include:
1.
Our trip to Wyoming and how we never let you
fall asleep.
2.
Our trip to Salt Lake to go to Maggie’s wedding
and you taking us to see every temple without complaint. Your sleeping pill
incident and how we laughed and laughed as you snored on.
3.
The few times you stopped by unannounced to our
new place on the west side. How grateful I am that we were home for you to
spend time with us. I wish I had brought Scarlette over more.
4.
When I came over to make the beanbag and I was
able to help you make those labels. You were so proud over something so small.
5.
When you rushed home to see Scarlette and how
you were able to be in her blessing circle.
6.
I knew if I sat next to Grandpa my toes would
get popped!
7.
You calling my “Nikki-Cole”.
There are so many more memories
that we share but the most important ones to me are the instances where you
simply dropped everything to help me out. Your love was spoken through deeds
and I will never forget them.
Tonight as I ponder how tomorrow
will go I am touched by the Holy Spirit. How grateful I am for temples here on
the earth. How grateful I am for the power of the priesthood. How grateful I am
for our Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation.
Grandpa, I know you are with your
parents and siblings. I take comfort in the fact that you are at peace and in a
state of rest. I look forward to the day I will see you again and promise you
with all my heart that I will try to live my life in a way that is conducive
with how my Heavenly Father would want me to live my life. Your charity is
amazing and I hope to be one tenth of the person you are one day. You
exemplified the Savior with your missionary work and generosity. I hope and pray
the Lord will give me more opportunities to serve others and choose to be more
like you. Gramps, I promise to treasure everyday I am given with my family. I
promise to always keep you in my heart but to keep on living as you would want
me to do. I promise to take care of Grandma and love her like you loved her. I
promise to take care of Mom and love her SO much for you. Everyday I will
choose to be a missionary and spread the gospel. Tomorrow I dedicate my song to
you and every other song I sing I will be thinking about you.
This letter could go on and on if
I let it but I know you probably have more important things to do in the spirit
world. I will leave my letter with my humble testimony that I know Jesus is the
Christ. I know the gospel has been restored here on the earth. I know Joseph
Smith is a true prophet of God. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living
prophet today. I know that prayer is how we communicate with our Heavenly
Father.
I
know that families are forever.
I
bear testimony of these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
I
love you Gramps.
So it is coming on Andrew and I's 2 year anniversary on the 19th of February. I am not sure what to expect but I can tell that it is going to be a good one! I know this may sound crazy but in my personal opinion the first 6 months-1 year of marriage was the hardest...mostly the first 6 months. You have just entered into a totally different kind of relationship after you get married. Things that your significant other didn't see before you got married are all of a sudden out in the open. Most people feel that they know their spouse pretty good but even after dating for almost and year and a half, I can tell you that there was and is a lot to learn about Andrew. During the first 6 months I really felt myself focusing on the negatives but now as we are coming on the 2 year mark I can't believe how much I focus on the positives. I admit, as Andrew will probably point out, that I have my days when I am super hard on him but for the most part I feel that marriage is starting to hit that wonderful stage everyone talks about! Andrew is one of the most giving people I have ever met, he is constantly asking me if he can get me anything and he ALWAYS makes sure I treat myself. Never once has Andrew made me feel bad if I purchase a little extra in the grocery department (Treats etc.) or buy a movie that we definitely don't need. He is always supportive of my dreams and aspirations and always tries to give me encouragement when I am feeling less then confident. Andrew also makes sure that I get my "mommy-time" and never a day goes by that he doesn't take the baby off my hands while I take a shower or read a book. Andrew works so hard for our family and making sure that we are provided for, he would work 24/7 if he could make sure Scarlette gets whatever she needs/wants! Andrew is kind and loving, always trying to squeeze a hug out of me or get me to calm down and snuggle with him (I'm kind of a busy body). He is 100% willing to do anything I need him to if I tell him it is important to me. Andrew will be the first to admit that he slacks in the cleaning up after himself/cleaning up in general department but just tonight he got up and did the dishes and there has been times where he cleans up the living room without being asked.....now if I could find a way to get him to do a bathroom lol!! Lastly, and most importantly, Andrew is an AMAZING father!!! I couldn't have been on this journey without him. I don't know how some women do it alone. Andrew is always talking away to Scarlette and trying to get her to smile at him. He constantly tries to teach her how to do more things and is patient with her when she is grumpy. You will often here me say that I got a "devil child" but Andrew always says "oh she isn't, she is such a good girl!!" So here's to my handsome husband!!! Thanks for putting up with me for the past 2 years and I'm glad you get to put up with me for eternity!! He definitely got the short end of the stick!!! I love you hunny!!!
