To a good man.

The last time I saw my grandpa he was in my parent’s office and he was sitting on the couch talking to my cousin about a few legal things. I had gone in to give him a picture that will forever be cherished. The picture is of Parker and Grandpa laughing at the Combe Christmas party. There is one thing I regret; my grandparents asked Willie and me to attend the temple with them. My parents had offered to give Willie and I a date (we never go on a date) the same night and my parents invitation was first. In the long run I decided to go on the date. I wish that I had gone to the temple that night. What would I have learned from my Grandpa? I suppose the next time I go I can think of that question.

The lessons learned from Grandpa are as follows;

- Work hard

- Don’t let time slip by

- Finish everything you put on your plate

- Slow down; whether it’s running through the halls in the house or in life

- If the light’s on, turn it off

- If you open the door, close it (but not if it’s the gate and the cows get out!)

- Always give what you can

- Pay attention (My cousin Tony told a story of picking up rocks and Grandpa coming up from behind on the tractor telling him to pay attention)

I learned at the funeral that my Grandpa was shot in the chest when he was a teenager. From three feet away a friend had accidentally shot him. The friend telling this story said it was the first Priesthood blessing he had ever given. Grandpa’s lung had been hit, but he lived. He never really liked guns after that. I learned that Grandpa would drive just about anywhere as long as he had some way to pay for gas along the route. They once packed up corn and cantaloupe to sell along the path. No one ever bought the cantaloupe so they ate it. My Grandpa really loved to eat fruit. But no fruit can be as good as the fruit from the Tree of Life.

Grandpa, thank you for everything that you taught me. Thank you for being an example of how to be Christ-like. I love you and I can't wait to see you again.