The radiant sun setting behind Mt. Baker and the British Columbia sky glowing with an indelible silhouette of colors was the perfect ending for a day filled with celebrating my Grandpa's life. One of triumph. Overcoming. Legacy. Beauty. Devotion. Sacrifice.
I have tears of sadness at the simple reality that I miss him. I miss the weekly emails. I miss him telling me to give Matt a swift kick in the pants for him. I miss just being in the same room as him; I always left filled, better, inspired, and reflective.
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| Our Edmonds Walk on Thanksgiving |
This past Thanksgiving while the turkey was baking, and we were waiting for family to arrive I decided to briefly drive to my favorite spot: the Edmonds waterfront. The landscape feels like you've entered a painting with the bright blue Puget Sound below the majestic Olympic Mountain Range and whistling ferries and gentle boats on the water. My 92-year-old Grandpa headed to his room at my parent's
house to take a rest when I disrupted it with, "Grandpa, do you want to go with me to Edmonds?"
He looked at me with his inquisitive, always thinking and loving eyes and immediately said, "Well, of course."
It is one of my most special memories. Him and I walking arm and arm in the clear, brisk November air as we took in the beauty, talked about life, I listened to stories, and sat in silence with my head on his strong shoulders.
He never wanted to miss moments in each and every day.
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| Didn't know this would be our last picture together. |
And so today we said goodbye. As we crossed back into the US from Canada, I felt like the family's anchor was pulled from the ship suddenly. The pain is real. But somehow, in a strange and amazing way, the ship sails and the compass points north, and the anchor remains in the life Grandpa gave us and taught us.
I thank the Lord for this man who helped guide me. And his beautiful life forever continues in our hearts and the way we live each day.
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| 11 of his 14 great-grandkids he prayed for daily |
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