Two weeks later...

Well, tomorrow will mark two weeks since grandpa has been gone from us. We had a beautiful memorial service for him last week and an equally beautiful graveside service yesterday, and yet it is still hard for me to believe and accept that he's gone. I miss him. I knew losing him would be hard, but I didn't know it would be this hard.

While part of me wants to go on and on about my memories of him and how truly wonderful he was, I don't think I will. After all, family reading this already knows all of this, and those of you who didn't know him... ask me sometime, I'd be happy to tell you all about him:) Though I'm not sure I'd be able to do my memories and his legacy justice....I think you probably had to know him to know what I mean.

Anyway, my overwhelming feeling now is simply that I miss him. A lot. When Steve and I first told Travis the news of grandpa's passing, his first words were "I'm really going to miss him a lot". He nailed it. I will miss his stories, ranging from "the little girl who got her dress dirty" to WWII Navy stories. I'll miss his and grandma's frequent random stops by our house...the last of which was just a few days before his hospitalization. I'll miss watching him play with our kids, especially Travis, and his genuine love and care for Steve, too. I'll miss his interactions with grandma. I'll miss his wisdom, humor, concern, and his ability to love so many people, each completely. I'll miss his support and pride in me. And I would do just about anything for a hug from him right now.

I know that with time, the sadness will ease for all of us. But I will always miss him. I couldn't be more thankful for the assurance that I'll see him again someday! Before moving on, I wanted to share a few of my favorite pictures of him.

My wedding in 2001. (please disregard how much younger and skinnier I looked:)

Summer 2006. My family at the time minus Sam and Michele. Celebrating grandma's 80th birthday. 2007, at 85 years old! Not sure who was having more fun here!

They have a pool at their house that we grew up swimming in, and the great-grandkids swim in, as well. Travis was 2 here...he apparently needed a break and - without prompting - pulled a chair up next to grandpa and copied him by putting his feet up, too.

Early summer, 2008.

Steve's graduation from the police academy, October 2008.

A navy salute.

Grandpa was SO proud to be a WWII Navy veteran. Their first years of marriage were spent with him at war. His stories (and hers, of life at home) of this time have always fascinated me and made me so proud of them.

I think this was taken just at Thanksgiving (by a cousin). They are so cute. My favorite couple ever, for sure. I am selfishly praying for many, many more years with grandma :) I love her dearly. You would love her, too :)

Despite the turmoil of the last month, we were in fact able to enjoy the Christmas season together as a family, and I really want to post some of those pictures/stories...but that will have to wait until tomorrow night. I'm tired. I did want to give a huge "thank you" to all of you who have called, emailed, commented on this blog or facebook with prayers and loving words. Like I said in an earlier post, I know that that there is so much more to pray for in the world and in each of our lives, so thank you for encouraging me anyway, and validating my emotions, and just for caring. I've always known the importance of caring for others in this way, but this gave me another personal reminder of how much it really does help.