My dad and I have started going to Roanoke about once a month to help out my grandma and visit for a few days. To let her go to church and to the store and whatever else she may need. Let me just say first, that my grandma is AMAZING. I should also probably warn her that I'm planning on writing about her next... Also, just to refresh, for those of you who don't know, my Pappy has dementia. I'll be honest, sometimes it's hard. Sometimes when he can't remember who I am, even though I know he can't help it, I want to cry. This was our first weekend visiting, and I found this picture. It's me and my Pappy when I was around two or three. I love this picture, so I took a picture of it on my phone and made it my profile picture. Tonight I was looking at my profile and I stared at this photo for just a second too long. I broke down. In fact, I'm still breaking down. I'm bawling as I type this. This picture just makes me think so much of all the wonderful memories I've had with my Pappy.
My Pappy is one of the most amazing men I've ever had the pleasure of knowing... He was in the Air Force. He is and has always been an amazing example of God's love and joy to me. He's one of those people that when you meet them, you just instantly like them, you can't even help it. He's one of those people that has the natural ability to make you feel comfortable. He has the best sense of humor. He has always been able to make anything that I thought was scary just seem funny. He can make a joke out of anything. I remember so many little things from when I was little that he would do to make me laugh. Like, he would stick his finger in his ear then push his tongue to the other side of his mouth, so that it would look like he had stuck his finger all the way through his head. He is the best at doing a Donald Duck impression, which is fitting because that's his name! That voice has always made me laugh. His joy is a mirror reflecting our Savior and it is so contagious; anyone that has met him can tell you that.
When I stayed the night at my grandparent's house when I was younger, he would rock me to sleep and sing to me. He would sleep in the next room so that I could sleep with my grandma and not have to be alone because I was afraid of the dark. He used to amaze me by making a broom stand up on his hand. I loved that trick. I could never figure out how he did it, I thought he was magical. He loves ice cream, he asks for it all of the time. This past weekend I told my grandma: "It's kind of nice. We don't know what might happen tomorrow, but we know Pappy will still love ice-cream.". He always wears a baseball cap when he goes out, and sometimes when he's just sitting around the house, but always takes it off when he prays. He loves music and has a beautiful voice. To this day, hearing him sing praise songs and hymns has this amazing ability to calm me down and give me this weird sense of peace. He loves to dance. If there is a song playing that is even a little upbeat, you can count on him doing one of his classic Pappy-dances that have always put a smile on my face.
He loves passionately. He loves the Lord, he loves his family, he loves friends, children, and random strangers. He is so full of God's love, it just spills over onto everyone he meets. He isn't afraid to be affectionate, I've always loved that. He's concerned about others before himself. He has always gotten on me about going barefoot all the time. It used to get on my nerves, but now it's just reassuring, if that makes any sense. He loves my grandma so much. My Pappy is one of the first men I think of when I think about the qualities I want in a husband. I want someone who will love me like my Pappy loves my Granny, and I won't settle. He gets upset watching the news because almost every story is a tragedy and he gets touched so deeply by them because he is so full of compassion.
My Pappy is even more amazing than I can express. I am so proud to be his granddaughter, and I pray he knows it. He constantly blesses my heart without even meaning to or realizing that he is. I love him so much. He doesn't really remember me very often any more, but when he does he always makes me feel special and loved. He reminds me how proud of me he is and how much he loves me. I am so thankful that I have all of these memories. They are a comfort to me because I know that when I'm older, I can think back on my Pappy and know that he is one of the most amazing men in the world. I'll always get to remember the Donald Duck voice, the balancing the broom, his crazy dances, him rocking me to sleep, his massive capacity to love, his ice cream obsession, his baseball caps, his voice, and the smile that always makes me feel better, no matter what. I don't really know who reads this blog. I don't know how many of you care about all of these memories, but I just needed to get out there how amazing my Pappy is. He has blessed and is blessing my life so much.
This is a video taken last Saturday. My cousins Anna and Alli, my aunt Deanna and my Pappy singing His Name is Wonderful.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=603466436334332&set=vb.100000129438541&type=2&theater
Comments
Post a Comment