Grandpa

to my grandpa:

i can't believe it's already been a whole year that you have been gone. today doesn't make me sad, but it makes my heart happy to know that you have been in the presence of my Jesus for a whole year. i am sure that it hasn't felt that long for you, as there is so much wonder to take it and so much to be in awe of. it makes me so happy to know that you are whole in every way possible, to know that your body is no longer frail and filled with the pain of cancer, but you are now entirely complete in the presence of our God!

i remember last year when my dad called me at work to tell me the news that you were no longer here on earth with us. when i picked up the phone and i heard my dad on the other end before he even spoke a word i knew that you had passed. my dad said to me, "grandpa passed away this morning, but it's ok." through the brokenness in his voice i knew that he was happy that you had met our maker, but sad that he would never see you in the flesh again. as i sit in the same desk that i received that phone call in a year ago, i still feel a bit of the sadness that i felt that day. i remember thinking that day that you wouldn't be here on my wedding day. that brought so much sadness to me, and even though you weren't there in the flesh, i know that you were very much with me on my special day. i know that you saw the flowers, my dress, our family, the ceremony, and i hope you loved it as much as i did!

at your memorial service, the one thing that everyone said your legacy was is the fact that you loved your God, loved your family, and that you worked hard to instill those values in your family. your legacy is still very much alive today and your family is still growing! among those additions are two new great-grand babies, and a new "grandson". your legacy will always live on in your family as we all continue to live a life committed to love as you did.

grandpa, i miss you, i love you, and i can't wait to hug you and laugh with you in heaven someday!

loving you always,
[your last granddaughter/the caboose of the family]
kimberly ann