Grandpa

This past week, October 20, my sweet Grandpa Salmon passed away. His last day was spent eating ice cream with his lovely sweetheart.

 I never imagined life without someone who has been such a huge part of my life, as Grandpa has. I have truly been blessed to have grandparents who have been there for me in every phase of my life and there are so many sweet memories that I will hold onto always.

I wish I could describe him just perfectly, in every detail, so that everyone could know and love him as much as all of us do. 

The funeral was full of emotions; laughing and crying. All the cousins had the chance to share a favorite memory of Grandpa and it seemed like every story was shared with laughter of the memory through tears because we'd never experience it again. My grandpa was an amazing man that I could only hope to find for myself. Hearing stories of him, makes me want to be better, love more, and serve always. A story that was shared at the funeral touched me so much and portrayed the very person of Grandpa perfectly. 

My Uncle Bob contracted polio when he was a young boy. He had to stay in the hospital for 3 weeks and at that time parents were not allowed to stay overnight. Bob told his father (my grandpa) how he was scared to stay alone and wished for him to stay. My grandpa told him that he would never leave him. He then went on to sleep on the grass outside of Bob's hospital window every night for 3 weeks so that every time he looked out the window, his dad was always there.

Things I love about Grandpa:

His laugh

The twinkle in his blue eyes

How he'd hold my hand and tell me "Kate, you get prettier every time I see you," and mean it

Tea Parties

The way he'd haggle prices at Saturday morning garage sales

How he could wiggle his ears

"Hot" mints

His gruff voice

How he teased and loved to be teased

His love for the roses in his front yard and how he'd gather them in a bouquet for Grandma

His and Grandma's attendance at every single performance, concert, and game

When he took me to my "Daddy-Daughter Dance"

The alley

The way he'd pull me on his knee and kiss my cheek

How anytime I went shopping with Grandma, he'd make me model all my clothes for him

His love of ice cream

"Mmm Boy" and "Don't be bashful just cause I am"...

His jokes

How he'd wake me up from sleepovers at their house with tickles

His selfless service

The way he'd look at Grandma

His love for his family above all else

How he'd make Taryn and I sing for him and Grandma

The way he made each of us feel like the most important person in his life

Seeing him dressed in white in the temple and telling everyone that I belonged to him

McDonald's

"Sure do love you, Kate"

Grandma is truly an amazing and wonderful woman. The two of them are perfect exemplars of Christ. I sure love my Grandma and she means the world to me. My heart hurts for her loss, but I know they will be together forever again after this life. That thought brings me and my family such peace and comfort. "God could not be everywhere, so he created grandmas."

All the cousins came down and it was so wonderful to see everyone because it's been so long since we were all together. We enjoyed our time spent together and I know Grandpa was looking down on us, happy we were all together, just as he would have wanted it.

Being with my all family together makes me want to do whatever it takes to be a family forever. It would not be heaven with any one of them missing. I am so grateful for the knowledge that families can be together forever.

Simply Stated: Sure do love you, Grandpa