I love my family. I don't know how I got so lucky to be blessed with them, but I did. Not only do I have an extraordinary nuclear family, but my extended family is likewise incredible. Shortly after starting college I wrote letters to my grandpa's and my father's father wrote back. For whatever reason I was impressed to call him instead of responding via post. That phone call was much longer then I anticipated it to be, and it was enlightening. I'd always liked my grandpa, but I had never known we were two peas in a pod. What followed were weekly phone calls and the blossoming of one of my sweetest friendships that we cherished. Last August we found out grandpa had an aneurysm by his heart, and in November it was discovered that it was leaking. I am grateful that we had a heads up and there was plenty of time for final words to be spoken. More then that I am grateful for the impression to write him, that he wrote me back, and for the further impression to call him so that for the years after our first phone call I could get to know him and seek his advice. Grandpa's famous words of counsel to me when I was fretting over what to do or pursue were: "Once you say 'can't' you're whipped." He was a hard worker, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was active in many charitable causes, very involved and valuable member in the local Mason Lodge, a natural learner, and fun loving.
When he passed I was blessed to have a family who was tenderly concerned with how I was doing, and friends who dropped much to comfort me. It was noticed and much appreciated. I really struggled at his death, not for him, but for me. I know where he is, I know he is with family who love him, and I am certain he is happy. I am so grateful I know I will get to be with him when I leave this moral existence. I struggled though because I was so very sad that he is not here, right now, with me. I was deeply saddened that my future husband won't know the great man he was, and that my children won't have the chance to know him in this life. All this being said, the comfort I feel from the gospel providing answers about death, where he is now, the fact that I will be with him again, and that we will continue to have a relationship throughout eternity is precious to me.
This is four generations of the Smith family. Grandpa, Jay, my pops, and my brother Christopher.
Grandpa, grandma Julie, me, Esther (my sister-in-law), Jay, Chis, pops, and mother.
(Hey check it out! With 3 inch heels and a slight hill I am almost as tall as Esther! I'm the runt of the littler...my mother feed my brother more, so naturally I got less...stunting my growth. She always said she gave him more because he was bigger then me, "DUH, he's bigger because you feed him more!" Without heels I'm 5'3" and he is 6'3"...account for that.) (Note: I am not bitter about this, there are many things I can do on account of my size...such as I never have to duck when walking under trees, I always win at hide-n-seek because I fit in the craziest places, and I can wear any heal and still be shorter then 95% of guys--greatly increasing my dating pool.)
