We’re taking a different route this blog-post around, as I’m editing through my latest wedding, I thought I would take a little break and share a little bit about my family! This past weekend was Thanksgiving, and it was the first time in over a year that we had been together since my sisters wedding…in September 2011!!! Needless to say, time together was overdue, especially as my nephew is 9 months old and I hadn’t seen him since he was 6 weeks!! It was a great weekend jam-packed with family, and on Saturday morning we had my mom’s family over for breakfast, since none of my aunts, uncles or cousins had met baby Andrew yet. What made this especially special was that Andrew was able to meet my Grandpa Tom and Grandma Joanne. My grandpa was diagnosed with cancer a little over a year ago, and since then, his health has slowly been decreasing, so every family gathering with him is a blessing as we are not sure how much time we have left with him.
If I haven’t spoken about him before, my grandpa has been one of the most important and influential persons in my life, and he has played an incredible role in my family since before I was born. He is full of joy, and his sense of humor is simply unmatched. His love for his family is unconditional, and it was said on Saturday that his 8 children, 21 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren have never doubted his love. Now I guess we can’t speak for the 9-month-olds, but they’ll feel it soon enough, right?! That love goes all the way back 26 years ago when my grandpa led my dad to the Lord by coming alongside him and showing my dad the unconditional love Christ has for all of us. I have seen the Lord in my grandpa, my dad, my brother and I am confident His goodness and love will continue on in Andrew. I am so thankful to have had such amazing and God-fearing men in my life, and am grateful to learn new things from them every time I’m with them. My mom was also an amazing woman of strength, and as the years have passed by since she passed away 6 years ago, I see so many similarities between my grandpa and mom, especially when dealing with illness. As my mom said to me on my 16th birthday, “celebrate each day-it’s one of God’s precious gifts to you to enjoy and to use as a vehicle to love, honor and glorify Him!” And I can confidently say that my mom and grandpa faithfully lived lives that brought glory to God through the relationships they had and the experiences they shared with others.
Now the picture below is of my sweet sister and grandpa having a conversation on Saturday morning. Lindsey’s husband nudged me and had me sneak a pic, which I am so grateful for because I find this moment to be so beautiful and such an accurate representation of my grandpa and sister. There were a few moments throughout the morning when grandpa wasn’t speaking to anyone, he was just simply taking in the scene and smiling as he was surrounded by his family. Those that he loves with an unconditional love, and cherishes moments like the one pictured below. I am grateful to have witnessed those little but powerful moments, as I know his days are limited and he is truly taking in every moment with his family and closest friends. I just left the weekend with family feeling so lifted up and so thankful for the family God has blessed me with, and I hope this post, though a little different, encourages you this week!!
