Larger than Life

It's been kind of a sad week for our family. My Paw-paw passed away last Wednesday, but we know he is with Jesus now. It's been so weird because he has always seemed like this "larger than life" man. I think that most of us saw him as somewhat invincible. Obviously, deep down we knew he wasn't, but the things that we had seen him do throughout our lives made it seem that way. He was probably one of the strongest men I've ever known.

We did have some time this weekend to laugh about some of the funny memories we have with our grandpa. I remember him catching an armadillo that was running through his yard. The amazing thing... he caught it with his bare hands! See, larger than life. My middle brother, Russ, remembers my grandpa hanging a basketball goal by himself at our house when we were kids. Russ said, "I was 'helping', but he really did it all on his own." He had a stroke a couple of years ago, but no one told him that. A few months later, after a quick rehab, he was back on the roof of my parents house checking something out after a hurricane. The man could build anything. My mom and I saw a picture of him this weekend wearing his famous coveralls and we both noticed the pen in his pocket and we laughed that he always had a pen in case he needed to write down the measurements of something. I remember him building my brothers a bedroom suit when they were in jr high/high school. He built desks and twin beds with drawers underneath attached to a book shelf headboard. It was awesome, and he loved doing it. Pawpaw loved coffee more than anyone I've ever known. I have known since I was about 8 years old that he drinks his coffee black. Yet EVERY time he has coffee at our house, my dad says, "Dad, how do you want your coffee?" I think it is hilarious!

I was thinking today about my what my grandmother told him a few moments before he died. She said, "You've given me the greatest 47 years of my life. Now it's time for you to go be with Jesus. I'll be okay." I was thinking that the greatest gift he could have ever given her was the security of knowing that he would pass from this world into eternity with Jesus. There's no greater gift. This gift will always provide comfort and peace for her and for the rest of his family. I'm so thankful to already have that gift from my husband as well.

Hope you enjoyed the little picture of my grandpa today. He will be deeply missed.