Grandpa

He had a sense of humor, thankfully my grandma did too. Many a time she had to keep a watchful eye as the dessert plate was passed around. In high school I remember sitting next to grandpa during Sunday lunches. It was there I gleaned nuggets of truth like "a broken cookie only has half the calories," "gum is dumb,"  or how the numerous benefits of dark chocolate warranted a second helping. 

It was also at that table, during my many college vacations, that I saw my grandpa and grandma start their day reading their bible, then the little red devotional, and praying for their family and christians around the world.

He was sweet enough to keep my 4th grade sculpture of an old man (I guess it was him, but a much older version) on his dresser for far too long. He was wise enough to discipline me when I lied about picking apples off of their old tree instead of off the ground like I had been told. 

He was fluent in Japanese. And by fluent I mean that he made up a song of poor "Saganaki", who had no toys. The song always moved him to tears while the rest of us were crying with laughter. He drank his coffee the "German" way. Two parts water, one part coffee. He was German so I guess it was his German way.

He introduced me to Hercule Poirot thanks to their VHS tapes.  

He made me blueberry blender shakes after my wisdom teeth came out. He also told EVERYONE he saw at church the next week that I had gotten them out. But people would have noticed my bruised, chipmunk cheeks anyways. 

He was either in his chair reading his Bible and doing studies for his sunday school class, or sitting on the couch doing a crossword puzzle with my grandma, or more recently doing a sudoku puzzle. 

He never learned to type and never really touched the computer, but he had an iPad before any of his grandchildren, and used that to continue to listen to the Word, catch up on news, and of course, practice a sudoku puzzle or two. He amused us all by getting on the Wii balance board one time. I think just to show us that he was not too old to try something new. 

My grandpa was pretty much the kind of grandpa everyone would want to have. 
And now he is gone. 

But not really.
He knew what was important. He did not value materials, but relationships. He led by example. His legacy will live on.
Because he loved Christ.

The day before he died, I was at bible study and John 14:3 was mentioned in our video-- Jesus had Grandpa's place ready to go, and He was ready to welcome him home. That thought filled me with such hope and peace. Its sad to have to say goodbye but I'm so grateful that my Grandpa can be home with his Savior.

As I imagined the reunion Grandpa had with Jesus, this picture came to my mind:

Alex and Julia ran to my parents with just joy in on their faces because they were seeing someone they loved. My parents' arms were open wide ready to embrace them.

Heaven's reunions will be so much more than we can ever imagine.

Thank you Jesus.
Thank you for my wonderful Grandpa.

Grandpa and Alex

Grandpa meeting Liam

(or W. Donald as Grandpa thought he should be called!)