Seven Weeks Later

At this time my iphoto is down and Brad's is asleep so this is only photo I can get right now.

Brad's grandfather passed away this week just seven short weeks after his beloved wife. 

He was committed to his family and hard work. 

He loved nature and taught his children to appreciate and respect it.

At the funeral Brad's Uncle Mike shared Grandpa's life; his struggles, his accomplishments and everything in between.

We (at least I do) put Grandparents on pedestals (rightfully so I think). The years between us are so far that we only know them when they are wise and experienced; forgetting what gave them their wisdom. That they too walked in our same shoes, experiencing similar emotions, short comings, heart break, and failures. 

I am so eternally grateful for all of our grandparents, the examples they have been in our lives and the legacy they will be in our children's . All of our Grandparents remained committed in their marriages, and the strong marriages we witnessed growing up were not simply given but earned. 

Grandpa overcame so much. He lost his father at a young age, struggled through the Great Depression, and spent time away from his family to put himself through school.  And despite the odds against him, built himself a beautiful life, one in which he was committed to his family, his God, and his garden.